l take the five scraps of paper that I now hold as bonds, with your
signature alone, and here is a receipt in full for the six millions
between us. I had prepared it beforehand, for I am much in want of money
to-day." And Monte Cristo placed the bonds in his pocket with one
hand, while with the other he held out the receipt to Danglars. If
a thunderbolt had fallen at the banker's feet, he could not have
experienced greater terror.

"What," he stammered, "do you mean to keep that money? Excuse me,
excuse me, but I owe this money to the charity fund,--a deposit which I
promised to pay this morning."

"Oh, well, then," said Monte Cristo, "I am not particular about these
five notes, pay me in a different form; I wished, from curiosity, to
take these, that I might be able to say that without any advice or
preparation the house of Danglars had paid me five millions without a
minute's delay; it would have been remarkable. But here are your bonds;
pay me differently;" and he held the bonds towards Danglars, who seized
them like a vulture extending its claws to withhold the food that is
being wrested from its grasp. Suddenly he rallied, made a violent effort
to restrain himself, and then a smile gradually widened the features of
his disturbed countenance.

"Certainly," he said, "your receipt is money."

"Oh dear, yes; and if you were at Rome, the house of Thomson & French
would make no more difficulty about paying the money on my receipt than
you have just done."

"Pardon me, count, pardon me."

"Then I may keep this money?"

"Yes," said Danglars, while the perspiration started from the roots of
his hair. "Yes, keep it--keep it."

Monte Cristo replaced the notes in his pocket with that indescribable
expression which seemed to say, "Come, reflect; if you repent there is
still time."

"No," said Danglars, "no, decidedly no; keep my signatures. But you know
none are so formal as bankers in transacting business; I intended this
money for the charity fund, and I seemed to be robbing them if I did not
pay them with these precise bonds. How absurd--as if one crown were
not as good as another. Excuse me;" and he began to laugh loudly, but
nervously.

"Certainly, I excuse you," said Monte Cristo graciously, "and pocket
them." And he placed the bonds in his pocket-book.

"But," said Danglars, "there is still a sum of one hundred thousand
francs?"

"Oh, a mere nothing," said Monte Cristo. "The balance would come to
about t