ney mitigates many trials;
and if you admit the efficacy of this sovereign balm, you ought to
be very easily consoled--you, the king of finance, the focus of
immeasurable power."

Danglars looked at him askance, as though to ascertain whether he spoke
seriously. "Yes," he answered, "if a fortune brings consolation, I ought
to be consoled; I am rich."

"So rich, dear sir, that your fortune resembles the pyramids; if you
wished to demolish them you could not, and if it were possible, you
would not dare!" Danglars smiled at the good-natured pleasantry of the
count. "That reminds me," he said, "that when you entered I was on the
point of signing five little bonds; I have already signed two: will you
allow me to do the same to the others?"

"Pray do so."

There was a moment's silence, during which the noise of the banker's pen
was alone heard, while Monte Cristo examined the gilt mouldings on the
ceiling. "Are they Spanish, Haitian, or Neapolitan bonds?" said Monte
Cristo. "No," said Danglars, smiling, "they are bonds on the bank of
France, payable to bearer. Stay, count," he added, "you, who may be
called the emperor, if I claim the title of king of finance, have you
many pieces of paper of this size, each worth a million?" The count took
into his hands the papers, which Danglars had so proudly presented to
him, and read:--

"To the Governor of the Bank. Please pay to my order, from the fund
deposited by me, the sum of a million, and charge the same to my
account.

"Baron Danglars."

"One, two, three, four, five," said Monte Cristo; "five millions--why
what a Croesus you are!"

"This is how I transact business," said Danglars.

"It is really wonderful," said the count; "above all, if, as I suppose,
it is payable at sight."

"It is, indeed, said Danglars.

"It is a fine thing to have such credit; really, it is only in France
these things are done. Five millions on five little scraps of paper!--it
must be seen to be believed."

"You do not doubt it?"

"No!"

"You say so with an accent--stay, you shall be convinced; take my clerk
to the bank, and you will see him leave it with an order on the Treasury
for the same sum."

"No," said Monte Cristo folding the five notes, "most decidedly not; the
thing is so curious, I will make the experiment myself. I am credited
on you for six millions. I have drawn nine hundred thousand francs, you
therefore still owe me five millions and a hundred thousand francs. I
wil