“It might cause him to fail in some desirable matrimonial alliance.”
“ O peccato! ”
“You must know that in France they are very particular on these points; it is not sufficient, as in Italy, to go to the priest and say, ‘We love each other, and want you to marry us.’ Marriage is a civil affair in France, and in order to marry in an orthodox manner you must have papers which undeniably establish your identity.”
“That is the misfortune! You see I have not these necessary papers.”
“Fortunately, I have them, though,” said Monte Cristo.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You have them?”
“I have them.”
“Ah, indeed?” said the major, who, seeing the object of his journey frustrated by the absence of the papers, feared also that his forgetfulness might give rise to some difficulty concerning the 48,000 francs—“ah, indeed, that is a fortunate circumstance; yes, that really is lucky, for it never occurred to me to bring them.”
“I do not at all wonder at it—one cannot think of everything; but, happily, the Abbé Busoni thought for you.”
“He is an excellent person.”
“He is extremely prudent and thoughtful.”
“He is an admirable man,” said the major; “and he sent them to you?”