Volume I Part 47 (1/2)
”Gratillet”
Monte-Cristo wrote the name in his pocketbook and then said:
”If I should happen to find Gratillet, I shall not forget your recommendation”
”Thanks beforehand Gratillet is a curious fellow, and I shall not feel surprised if you meet him in peaceful transactions with a panther He is not afraid of any kind of devil”
”Then he is theupon further follies, you will, no doubt, do it? I should like to establish a large journal, and Gratillet is in this case indispensable to reat”
”But God is greater Then I shall be with you this evening Where can I find you?”
”Only inquire for the Palace Monte-Cristo, and now adieu till later Who knohether you will not now accoeria!”
”Oh, I should certainly not feel indisposed, but my duties chain ht here require entlemen separated, and while the count ordered the porter to show the Zouave, should he inquire for him, to the palace of Monte-Cristo, Beauchaicians then I have seen one to-day!”
CHAPTER XL
THE SACRIFICE
Not far from the harbor, with a beautiful view of the sea, the Villa Monte-Cristo lay It was like all dwellings of the count, rich and elegantly furnished, and a splendid terrace with exotic plants could readily induce the inhabitants to believe they were really in a tropical region Parrots ofon the branches of tamarind-trees--the sycamore rustled, and leafy bananas and beautiful palm-trees reflected their branches in the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea
On the evening of the day Monte-Cristo arrived in Marseilles, the count sat with Haydee on the terrace Both seehted with the splendid panorama before them, and from ti over a book, sat reading in the adjacent conservatory Now, Monte-Cristo re back in an otto woman's neck, he whispered:
”Haydee, look at azed steadfastly upon the noble face of her husband, and the slided softly into his
”Haydee,” said Monte-Cristo, earnestly, ”do you believe in me?”
Haydee raised herself half sorrowfully
”Do I believe in you?” she repeated, rather vexed; ”are you not my master, my God? do we ask the slave if he believes in his employer?”
”Haydee, I am not your employer, and you are not my slave”
”You are my husband, my all! Oh, could you read in my soul, you would not question me in this manner Listen I was present when my father was betrayed and ed rief and death awaited me”
Haydee continued: ”Then you appeared--like a God you stepped before my tearful eyes, and from that moment I lived for you only in the world!
You purchased me and I became yours--yours in body and soul, and daily I bless the hour when first I saw you!”
Haydee drew her husband's hand to her lips, and then in a low tone continued: