Volume I Part 46 (2/2)
”Distribute thisas you think proper, and if you wish to favor me do not bestow any of it toward public collections I dislike this ostentatious mode of benevolence”
”I am of the same opinion But now tell me hoill you be able to console Madame de Morcerf?”
”First step here to the , Monsieur Beauchamp; do you see the yacht which has her steam up?”
”Yes What is the matter with that fine shi+p?”
”It will depart for foreign parts to-”
”And what is her destination?”
”Algiers”
”Ah, now I understand--you are sending emissaries for the discovery of poor Albert”
Monte-Cristo smiled and then said:
”Monsieur Beaucha to your satisfaction, hoould you go to work?”
”Well, that is very simple, because I should attend to it iers to find Captain Joliette”
”Have I understood you right? You are ready to venture into the desert?
Count, you have undertaken a difficult task, and although I do not doubt your courage nor energy, I must nevertheless say that your resolution is a very bold one In Algiers it is not only necessary to combat with ers of nature are there arrayed in battle against you! The simoom, the fatal breath of the desert, has put many a one there under the sand, and bleached bones caution the wanderer not to set his step on the deceptive ground of the Sahara!”
”Monsieur Beauchamp,” replied the count earnestly, ”if you were to knohat I have already gone through you would not discouragemy duty What is that to the combat with beasts in huo and do my duty; I am not afraid of the Sahara”
”But the countess and her son?”
A shadow fell across Monte-Cristo's face, but his voice sounded clear and steady when he replied:
”Visit , and you shall have my answer”
”With pleasure Where do you live? Here in so; ”since a law-court has condemned me to pay a heavy fine because I had no domicile in France, I have come to a different conclusion”
”How is that?”
”Well, I possess now in every large town in France a house, and in Paris and Lyons and other chief towns a palace”
”Excellent--it is only a pity that this expedient is not at everybody's command But when did this fine in money take effect? It was not I suppose in the lawsuits you had against Andrea Cavalcanti, alias Benedetto? Yes? But do you knohat I have heard? Benedetto is said to have escaped froer in human shape, it is surely Benedetto!”
”I know it, Monsieur Beauchamp,” replied the count, reluctantly; ”Benedetto is the embodiment of evil principles--Satan in person! But one day I shall stretch out o to the corners of the world to find him, he will not escape me”
”To that I respond amen As to the Jackal Coucou, take hiet hiood service, in the hell of Algiers which he knows as well as his pocket But so struck ht bring you in contact with one of our co-workers, who, Heaven knows, roves about perhaps in Tiood sketches about Abd-el-Kader, and then becaentleman's name?”