Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 2).djvu/268

250 The footman obeyed his orders. A long paused ensued, which lasted until all the flowers were removed.

"What is this name of Monte-Cristo?" inquired the countess, when the servant had taken away the last vase of flowers. "Is it a family name, or the name of the estate, or a simple title?"

"I believe, mother, it is merely a simple title. The count purchased an island in the Tuscan Archipelago, and, as he told you to-day, has founded a commandery. You know the same thing was done for Saint Stephen of Florence, Saint George Constantinian of Parma, and even for the Order of Malta. Except this, he has no pretension to nobility, and calls himself a chance count, although the general opinion at Rome is that the count is a man of very high distinction."

"His manners are admirable!" said the countess, "at least, as far as I could judge in the few moments he remained here."

"They are perfect, mother, so perfect that they surpass by far all I have known in the leading aristocracy of the three proudest noblesses of Europe—the English aristocracy, Spanish aristocracy, and German aristocracy."

The countess paused a moment: then, after a slight hesitation, she resumed.

"You have seen, my dear Albert,—I ask the question as a mother,—you have seen M. de Monte-Cristo in his house; you are quicksighted,—have much knowledge of the world,—more tact than is usual at your age; do you think the count is really what he appears to be?"

"What does he appear to be?"

"Why, you have just said,—a man of high distinction."

"I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such."

"But what is your own opinion, Albert?"

"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinion respecting him, but I think him a Maltese."

"I do not ask you of his origin, but what he is."

"Ah! what he is; that is quite another thing. I have seen so many remarkable things of him, that if you would have me really say what I think, I shall reply that I really do look upon him as one of Byron's heroes, whom ill-fortune has marked with a fatal brand; some Manfred, some Lara, some Werner, one of those wrecks, as it were, of some ancient family, who, disinherited of their patrimony, have achieved one by the force of their adventurous genius, which has placed them above the laws of society."

"You say"

"I say that Monte-Cristo is an island in the midst of the Mediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resort of smugglers of all