Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 3).djvu/160

140 "Well, look through this opening, and you will see the beautiful new horse which I rode here."

"Ah! what a beautiful creature!" cried Valentine; "why did you not bring it close to the gate, that I might talk to it and pat it?"

"It is, as you say, a very valuable animal," said Maximilian. "You know that my means are limited, and that I am what would be designated a man of moderate pretensions. Well, I went to a horse-dealer's, where I saw this magnificent horse, which I have named Medeah. I asked the price of it; they told me it was four thousand five hundred francs. I was, therefore, obliged to give it up, as you may imagine; but I went away with rather a heavy heart, for the horse had looked at me affectionately, had rubbed its head against me, and, when I mounted it, had pranced in the most coquettish way imaginable, so that I was altogether fascinated with it. The same evening some friends of mine visited me, M. de Chateau-Benaud, M. Debray, and five or six other choice spirits, whom you do not know, even by name. They proposed la louillotte. I never play, for I am not rich enough to afford to lose, nor sufficiently poor to desire to gain. But I was at my own house, you understand, so there was nothing to be done but to send for the cards, which I did. Just as they were sitting down to table, M. de Monte-Cristo arrived. He took his seat amongst them; they played, and I won. I am almost ashamed to say that my gains amounted to five thousand francs. We separated at midnight. I could not defer my pleasure, so I took a cabriolet and drove to the horse-dealer's. Feverish and excited, I rang at the door. The person who opened it must have taken me for a madman, for I rushed at once for the stable. Medeah was standing at the rack, eating her hay. I immediately put on the saddle and bridle, to which operation she lent herself with the best grace possible; then putting the four thousand five hundred francs into the hands of the astonished dealer, I proceeded to fulfill my intention of passing the night in riding in the Champs Elysees. As I rode by the count's house I perceived a light in one of the windows, and fancied I saw the shadow of his figure moving behind the curtain. Now, Valentine, I firmly believe that he knew of my wish to possess this horse, and that he lost expressly to give me the means of procuring it."

"My dear Maximilian, you are really too fanciful; you will not love me long. A man who accustoms himself to live in such a world of poetry must find little excitement in an every-day attachment such as ours. But they are calling me. Do you hear?"

"Ah, Valentine!" said Maximilian," give me but one finger through this opening in the grating, that I may have the happiness of kissing it."