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"You are mistaken, for I have made a vow never to return to Africa." "You were very much frightened, then?" asked Beauchamp. "Well, yes, and I had good reason to be so," replied Chateau-Renaud. "I was retreating on foot, for my horse was dead. Six Arabs came up, full gallop, to cut off my head. He had assigned himself the task of saving a man's life that day; chance caused that man to be myself.
"The woman," he went on, "must be Ursula de Vesc, and if so you can spend your hour or two's walk from Château-Renaud to Amboise adding a verse to your love song." "Why not a new song all for herself!" replied La Mothe, the twinkle broadening to a laugh, "or had I better wait till I see her?
"I was not sure, but I thought it might be so. So much the better; the more honorable men there are here the better I shall be satisfied." "M. Morrel," said Chateau-Renaud, "will you apprise the Count of Monte Cristo that M. de Morcerf is arrived, and we are at his disposal?" Morrel was preparing to fulfil his commission. Beauchamp had meanwhile drawn the box of pistols from the carriage.
"I? Certainly not," replied the count. "No; I should only regret if the horse had not proved good." "It is so good, that I have distanced M. de Chateau-Renaud, one of the best riders in France, and M. Debray, who both mount the minister's Arabians; and close on their heels are the horses of Madame Danglars, who always go at six leagues an hour." "Then they follow you?" asked Monte Cristo.
And Prince Cavalcanti sang with Mademoiselle Eugenie yesterday? It must have been charming, indeed. I regret not having heard them. But I was unable to accept your invitation, having promised to accompany my mother to a German concert given by the Baroness of Chateau-Renaud." This was followed by rather an awkward silence.
In his company was the young officer, Maximilian Morrel, who was so shocked at the death of his beloved Valentine as not to be any longer recognizable as the gay young officer who, with Chateau-Renaud, Beauchamp and Debray formed the leading cavaliers of the capital.
"A great man in his own country," added Debray. "A great man in every country, M. Debray," said Chateau-Renaud. The count was, it may be remembered, a most temperate guest. Albert remarked this, expressing his fears lest, at the outset, the Parisian mode of life should displease the traveller in the most essential point.
"Surely," said Albert, as the door of a box on the first circle opened, "that must be the Countess G ." "And who is the Countess G ?" inquired Chateau-Renaud. "What a question! Now, do you know, baron, I have a great mind to pick a quarrel with you for asking it; as if all the world did not know who the Countess G was." "Ah, to be sure," replied Chateau-Renaud; "the lovely Venetian, is it not?"
But whom are you seeking, Debray?" "I am seeking the Count of Monte Cristo" said the young man. "I met him on the boulevard, on my way here," said Beauchamp. "I think he is about to leave Paris; he was going to his banker." "His banker? Danglars is his banker, is he not?" asked Chateau-Renaud of Debray. "I believe so," replied the secretary with slight uneasiness.
M. de Villefort had on the right hand Madame Danglars, on his left Morrel. The count was seated between Madame de Villefort and Danglars; the other seats were filled by Debray, who was placed between the two Cavalcanti, and by Chateau-Renaud, seated between Madame de Villefort and Morrel.
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