Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 3).djvu/95

Rh "If you like. What is it that constitutes a princess I Jewels! And she is one blaze of diamonds."

"To me she seems overloaded," observed Eugenie; "she would look far better if she wore fewer, and we should then be able to see her finely-formed throat and wrists."

"See the artist!" exclaimed Madame Danglars; "my poor Eugenie, you must conceal your passion for the fine arts."

"I admire all that is beautiful," returned the young lady.

"What do you think of the count?" inquired Debray; "he is not much amiss, according to my ideas."

"The count?" repeated Eugenie, as though it had not occurred to her to observe him sooner; "the count? oh! he is dreadfully pale."

"I quite agree with you," said Morcerf; "and it is in that very paleness that consists the secret we want to find out. The Countess G insists upon it he is a vampire."

"Then the Countess G has returned, has she?" inquired the baroness.

"Is that she, mamma?" asked Eugenie; "almost opposite to us, with that profusion of beautiful light hair?"

"Yes, yes, there she is!" cried Madame Danglars; "shall I tell you what you ought to do, Morcerf?"

"Command me, madame."

"Well, then, you should go and bring your Count of Monte-Cristo to us."

"What for?" asked Eugenie.

"What for! why, to converse with him, of course; have you no curiosity to see him?"

"None whatever," replied Eugenie.

"Strange girl!" murmured the baroness.

"He will very probably come of his own accord," said Morcerf. "There! do you see, madame, he recognizes you, and bows."

The baroness returned the salute in the most smiling and graceful manner.

"Well," said Morcerf, "I may as well be magnanimous, and tear myself away. I will go and try if there are any means of speaking to him."

"Go straight to his box that will be the simplest plan."

"But I have never been presented."

"Presented to whom?"

"To the beautiful Greek."

"You say she is only a slave?"

"While you assert that she is a princess. No; I hope that when he observes me leave you, he will come and take my place."