“Yes, in so many words; and it must be so, for the abbé knows correctly the amount of all the largest fortunes in Europe.”
“Be it half a million, then; but on my word of honor, I had no idea that it was so much.”
“Because you are robbed by your steward. You must make some reformation in that quarter.”
“You have opened my eyes,” said the Italian gravely; “I will show the gentleman the door.”
Monte Cristo resumed the perusal of the letter:
“ ‘And who only needs one thing more to make him happy.’ ”
“Yes, indeed but one!” said the major with a sigh.
“ ‘Which is to recover a lost and adored son.’ ”
“A lost and adored son!”
“ ‘Stolen away in his infancy, either by an enemy of his noble family or by the gypsies.’ ”
“At the age of five years!” said the major with a deep sigh, and raising his eye to heaven.
“Unhappy father,” said Monte Cristo. The count continued:
“ ‘I have given him renewed life and hope, in the assurance that you have the power of restoring the son whom he has vainly sought for fifteen years.’ ”
The major looked at the count with an indescribable expression of anxiety.