“Yes; must I not be prepared for everything, dear friend? But what did you do yesterday after you left me?”
“I went to Tortoni’s, where, as I expected, I found Beauchamp and Château-Renaud. I own I was seeking them.”
“Why, when all was arranged?”
“Listen, count; the affair is serious and unavoidable.”
“Did you doubt it!”
“No; the offence was public, and everyone is already talking of it.”
“Well?”
“Well, I hoped to get an exchange of arms—to substitute the sword for the pistol; the pistol is blind.”
“Have you succeeded?” asked Monte Cristo quickly, with an imperceptible gleam of hope.
“No; for your skill