Part 91 (2/2)
”I fire first?”
”Oh, I obtained, or rather claih for them to yield us that”
”And at what distance?”
”Twenty paces” A smile of terrible import passed over the count's lips ”Morrel,” said he, ”do not forget what you have just seen”
”The only chance for Albert's safety, then, will arise from your emotion”
”I suffer froenerosity, ood a marksman as you are, I may say ould appear absurd to another”
”What is that?”
”Break his arm--wound him--but do not kill him”
”I will tell you, Morrel,” said the count, ”that I do not need entreating to spare the life of M de Morcerf; he shall be so well spared, that he will return quietly with his two friends, while I”-- ”And you?”
”That will be another thing; I shall be brought home”
”No, no,” cried Maxis
”As I told you, my dear Morrel, M de Morcerf will kill me” Morrel looked at him in utter a, count?”
”The saht before the battle of Philippi; I have seen a ghost”
”And that ghost”-- ”Told h” Maximilian and Emmanuel looked at each other Monte Cristo drew out his watch ”Let us go,” said he; ”it is five ht o'clock” A carriage was in readiness at the door Monte Cristo stepped into it with his two friends He had stopped a e to listen at a door, and Maximilian and Emmanuel, who had considerately passed forward a few steps, thought they heard hih to a sob froht they drove up to the place ofout of the”Excuse me, sir,” said Baptistin, who had followed his e down there under the trees”
Monte Cristo sprang lightly froe, and offered his hand to assist Emmanuel and Maximilian The latter retained the count's hand between his ”I like,” said he, ”to feel a hand like this, when its owner relies on the goodness of his cause”
”It see ” Monte Cristo drew Morrel a step or two behind his brother-in-law ”Maxied?” Morrel looked at Monte Cristo with astonishment ”I do not seek your confidence, my dear friend I only ask you a simple question; answer it;--that is all I require”
”I love a young girl, count”
”Do you love her much?”
”More than my life”
”Another hope defeated!” said the count Then, with a sigh, ”Poor Haidee!” murmured he
”To tell the truth, count, if I knew less of you, I should think that you were less brave than you are”
”Because I sigh when thinking of so? Coe of courage Do I regret life? What is it to me, who have passed twenty years between life and death? Moreover, do not alarm yourself, Morrel; this weakness, if it is such, is betrayed to you alone I know the world is a drawing-room, from which we must retire politely and honestly; that is, with a bow, and our debts of honor paid”
”That is to the purpose Have you brought your arentlemen have theirs”
”I will inquire,” said Morrel
”Do; but make no treaty--you understand me?”
”You need not fear” Morrel advanced towards Beaucha his intention, ca men bowed to each other courteously, if not affably
”Excuse entlemen,” said Morrel, ”but I do not see M de Morcerf”
”He sent us word this ,” replied Chateau-Renaud, ”that he would round”
”Ah,” said Morrel Beauchaht,” said he to Morrel; ”there is not much time lost yet”
”Oh, I made no allusion of that kind,” replied Morrel
”There is a carriage co one of the avenues leading towards the open space where they were asseentle his”
”We had anticipated this kindness on the part of the count,” said Beauchaht or ten days since, thinking to want them on a similar occasion They are quite new, and have not yet been used Will you examine them”
”Oh, M Beauchamp, if you assure me that M de Morcerf does not know these pistols, you may readily believe that your ill be quite sufficient”
”Gentle in that carriage;--faith, it is Franz and Debray!” The two young s you here, gentle hands with each of the to request us to coed looks of astonishment ”I think I understand his reason,” said Morrel
”What is it?”
”Yesterday afternoon I received a letter fro me to attend the opera”
”And I,” said Debray
”And I also,” said Franz
”And we, too,” added Beaucha wished you all to witness the challenge, he noishes you to be present at the combat”