Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 2).djvu/186

168 The evening was no longer joy, but delirium. Albert nothing doubted but that the fair unknown would reply in the same manner. Franz anticipated his wishes by telling him the noise fatigued him, and that he should pass the next day in writing and looking over his journal.

Albert was not deceived, for the next evening Franz saw him enter, shaking triumphantly a folded paper he held by one comer.

"Well," said he, "was I mistaken?"

"She has answered you!" cried Franz.

"Read!"

This word was pronounced in a manner impossible to describe. Franz took the letter, and read:

"Tuesday evening, at seven o'clock, descend from your carriage opposite the Via dei Ponteflci, and follow the Roman peasant who snatches your moccoletto from you. When you arrive at the first step of the church of San Giacomo, be sure to fasten a knot of rose-colored ribands to the shoulder of your costume of paillasse, in order that you may be recognized. Until then you will not see me. Constancy and Discretion."

"Well," asked he, when Franz had finished, "what do you think of that?"

"I think that the adventure is assuming a very agreeable appearance."

"I think so also," replied Albert; "and I very much fear you will go alone to the Duke of Bracciano's ball."

Franz and Albert had received that morning an invitation from the celebrated Roman banker.

"Take care, Albert," said Franz, "all the nobility of Rome will be present; and if your fair incognita belong to the higher class of society, she must go there."

"Whether she goes there or not, my opinion is still the same," returned Albert. "You have read the letter?"

"Yes."

"You know how imperfectly the women of the mezzo cito are educated in Italy?" (The lower class are thus styled.)

"Yes,"

"Well; read the letter again. Look at the writing, and find a fault in the language or orthography." The writing was in reality charm ing, and the orthography irreproachable.

"You are born to good fortune," said Franz, as he returned the letter.

"Laugh as much as you will," replied Albert; "I am in love."

"You alarm me!" cried Franz. "I see that I shall not only go alone to the Duke of Bracciano's, but also return to Florence alone."