The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 87 (2/2)
When he reached the hotel, to his great surprise he found the doors wide open and the courtyard blazing with lights Carriage after carriage was driving up, and stopping at the vestibule
”Upon h”
He stepped into a wine-shop, and asked for a bottle of wine; as he drank it he said to himself: ”How the deuce auests Of course, she won't coet a _billet doux_, but if the o to the mountain, which means, that if Miss Caro to her!”
At this moment a Chasseur d'Afrique entered the wine-shop
”Will you have the kindness to tell me,” he asked, of the shop-keeper, ”where I shall find the hotel of a rich banker about here? Laisangy, I think, is the naes stand”
”Ah! thanks!” And as the soldier turned round he saw Coucon
The recognition was mutual, and the two former companions fell into each other's arms
”Galaret!” cried Coucon
”Yes And now let us have a glass”
”Can't stop, have a commission to perform!”
Nevertheless, Coucon did stop to drink a little, and to gossip ”When did you come to Paris?” he asked
”This very day, in the escort of Mohaht he slipped on the stairs and wrenched his ankle Take another glass, friend Well, as I was saying, he was asked to this _soiree_ at the banker's and had to write a refusal As he lies on his sofa, and is likely to lie there for some little time, this note I must deliver”
Coucon did not see, but suddenly exclaieois, at another table:
”What are you staring at?”
In vain did theat theress, the police were called in, and Galaret was arrested
”Givemanner, ”I will see that it is delivered”
And he dashed out of the shop with suspicious alacrity ”You are a fool, Coucon,” he said to hie to deliver your own note at the same time!”
Our readers must not suppose that Coucon was so siy salons, even with the note he had obtained in so abominable a manner from his friend The plan he had devised was more audacious and more sure Ten minutes later the former Zouave entered the shop of a costumer in the Rue de Peletere And in five nificent Bedouin, draped in white and wearing an enormous turban He called out to the astonished coachman:
”Rue de Rivoli! and drive fast!”
CHAPTER LXIII
CARMEN KEEPS HER WORD