man whose name is Franz d’Épinay or Albert de Morcerf has not much difficulty in procuring them.”
“No, he arrived accompanied simply by the guest I am going to present to you.”
“Ah, this gentleman is a Hercules killing Cacus, a Perseus freeing Andromeda.”
“No, he is a man about my own size.”
“Armed to the teeth?”
“He had not even a knitting-needle.”
“But he paid your ransom?”
“He said two words to the chief and I was free.”
“And they apologized to him for having carried you off?” said Beauchamp.
“Just so.”
“Why, he is a second Ariosto.”
“No, his name is the Count of Monte Cristo.”
“There is no Count of Monte Cristo,” said Debray.
“I do not think so,” added Château-Renaud, with the air of a man who knows the