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320 "With your tastes, and means of gratifying them," continued Danglars, "you will exhibit a splendor that must effectually put us poor miserable millionaires quite in the background. If I mistake not, you are an admirer of paintings; at least, I judged so from the attention you appeared to be bestowing on mine when I entered the room. If you will permit me, I shall be happy to show you my picture gallery, com posed entirely of works by the ancient masters—warranted as such. I cannot endure the modern school."

"You are perfectly right in objecting to them, for this one great fault—that they have not yet had time to become old."

"Or will you allow me to show you several fine statues by Thorwaldsen, Bartoloni, and Canova—all foreign artists 1 for, as you may per ceive, I do not appreciate French sculptors."

"You have a right to be unjust to your own countrymen, if such is your pleasure."

"But all this can wait until another opportunity, when we shall be better known to each other. For the present, I will confine myself, if perfectly agreeable to you, to introducing you to Madame la Baronne Danglars. Excuse my impatience, M. le Comte, but a person of your wealth and influence cannot receive too much attention."

Monte-Cristo bowed, in sign that he accepted the proffered honor, and the financier immediately rang a bell, which was answered by a servant in a showy livery.

"Is Madame la Baronne at home?" inquired Danglars.

"Yes, M. le Baron," answered the man.

"And alone?"

"No, M. le Baron; madame has visitors."

"Have you any objection to meet any persons who may be with madame, or do you desire to preserve a strict incognito?"

"No, indeed," replied Monte-Cristo, with a smile, "I do not arrogate to myself the right of so doing."

"And who is with madame! M. Debray?" inquired Danglars, with an air of indulgence and good-nature that made Monte-Cristo smile, acquainted as he was with the secret of the banker's domestic life.

"Yes, M. le Baron," replied the servant, "M. Debray is with madame." Danglars nodded his head; then, turning to Monte-Cristo, said, "M. Lucien Debray is an old friend of ours, and private secretary to the Minister of the Interior. As for my wife, I must tell you, she lowered her self by marrying me, for she belongs to an ancient family. Her maiden name was De Servieres, and her first husband was M. le Colonel Marquis de Nargonne."

"I have not the honor of knowing Madame Danglars; but I have already met M. Lucien Debray."