auchamp of Chateau-Renaud; "we
appear to make a very sorry figure here."

"In truth, what Albert has just done is either very despicable or very
noble," replied the baron.

"What can it mean?" said Debray to Franz. "The Count of Monte Cristo
acts dishonorably to M. de Morcerf, and is justified by his son! Had I
ten Yaninas in my family, I should only consider myself the more bound
to fight ten times." As for Monte Cristo, his head was bent down, his
arms were powerless. Bowing under the weight of twenty-four
years' reminiscences, he thought not of Albert, of Beauchamp, of
Chateau-Renaud, or of any of that group; but he thought of that
courageous woman who had come to plead for her son's life, to whom
he had offered his, and who had now saved it by the revelation of a
dreadful family secret, capable of destroying forever in that young
man's heart every feeling of filial piety.

"Providence still," murmured he; "now only am I fully convinced of being
the emissary of God!"

Chapter 91. Mother and Son.

The Count of Monte Cristo bowed to the five young men with a melancholy
and dignified smile, and got into his carriage with Maximilian and
Emmanuel. Albert, Beauchamp, and Chateau-Renaud remained alone. Albert
looked at his two friends, not timidly, but in a way that appeared to
ask their opinion of what he had just done.

"Indeed, my dear friend," said Beauchamp first, who had either the most
feeling or the least dissimulation, "allow me to congratulate you; this
is a very unhoped-for conclusion of a very disagreeable affair."

Albert remained silent and wrapped in thought. Chateau-Renaud contented
himself with tapping his boot with his flexible cane. "Are we not
going?" said he, after this embarrassing silence. "When you please,"
replied Beauchamp; "allow me only to compliment M. de Morcerf, who has
given proof to-day of rare chivalric generosity."

"Oh, yes," said Chateau-Renaud.

"It is magnificent," continued Beauchamp, "to be able to exercise so
much self-control!"

"Assuredly; as for me, I should have been incapable of it," said
Chateau-Renaud, with most significant coolness.

"Gentlemen," interrupted Albert, "I think you did not understand
that something very serious had passed between M. de Monte Cristo and
myself."

"Possibly, possibly," said Beauchamp immediately; "but every simpleton
would not be able to understand your heroism, and sooner or later you
will find yourself compelled to explain i