The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 88 (2/2)

”What more do you want?” she asked, iy, with some pomposity, ”you have, doubtless, ere this discovered that matters of finance are composed of a thousand details more important than those of diplo is a troublesoh her teeth, and with intense disdain

Laisangy pretended not to hear this

”To-night,” he said, with perfect _sang froid_, ”we leave the Tuileries”

He had counted on the effect of these words Cared her shoulders, which certainly was not respectful to the Ereatly disturbed,” continued the banker ”It may be necessary for me to leave for an hour I shall pretend indisposition, which may be attributed to the heat, and while I ao out and attend to o out, then?”

”Certainly; did you not understand?”

”Why do you not tell y was annoyed He saw that Carmen was on the _qui vive_, and Car, and some infernal machination is on foot I ently:

”But I care little about these matters; the Bourse does not interest ht be called away?”

”About ood Then you would like e you to withdraw?”

”Precisely!” answered the banker, much pleased ”Ah, Carmen, hoell you understand overned France!”

”Not I!” answered Carmen, abruptly ”We are companions, not accomplices

I do not understand you, and I do not propose to aid you in your infay started, and thus confir him

He took her hand, and she withdrew it quickly He had obtained what he desired, and was now ready to depart

”What is he planning?” said Carmen to herself ”Is it really so about, or is it----?”

Goutran's na to justify her in her belief, and yet she knew that her woain she was tempted to retract her promise, for the idea of this fete was intolerable to her She thought of Goutran, and re came, and Carmen's maid could hardly believe it was she who replied:

”What dress, did you say? I don't care in the least!”

Nevertheless, when Carmen appeared in the salons there was an audible murmur of admiration In her white dress, with a feers in her beautiful hair, Carh the roo for Goutran, as not there, as we know

Little did Carmen care for these men and women, ere the tools and slaves of the y was radiant, however Carmen shi+vered whenever she looked at him It seemed to her that he was in a state of unusual excitehtfully, and lacqueys were announcing the first names of the empire--counts, and barons, and princes Suddenly a new nanificent personage, wearing the Legion of Honor on his white bournous, entered the roonificent looking Arab With a gravity that was truly oriental, and with his face half concealed in the folds of his mantle, his brown hands folded on his breast, Mohay went forward to ood fortune Mohaerians who, listening to the counsel of French financiers, always cherished the project of eria into a veritable El Dorado, and had now come to France to lend the support of his name and authority to some one of the speculations built on the sands of the desert, of which the Tuileries people were so fond