Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 3).djvu/96

76 "It is probable; therefore, go."

"Adieu! I sacrifice myself, remember that," said Albert, as he made his parting bow.

As he had predicted, just as he was passing the count's box the door opened, and Monte-Cristo came forth. After giving some directions in Arabic to Ali, who stood in the lobby, the count took Albert's arm.

Carefully closing the box-door, Ali placed himself before it, while a crowd of wondering spectators assembled round the Nubian.

"Upon my word," said Monte-Cristo, "Paris is a strange city, and the Parisians a very strange people; really, one might suppose poor Ali was the only Nubian they had ever beheld; now, I will pledge myself that a Frenchman might show himself in public, either in Tunis, Constantinople, Bagdad, or Cairo, without drawing a circle of gazers around him."

"That shows that the Eastern nations have good sense, and look only at what is worth looking at. However, as far as Ali is concerned, I can assure you, the interest he excites is merely from the circumstance of his being your attendant; you, who are, at this moment, the fashionable person."

"Really? and what has procured me so flattering a distinction?"

"What? why, yourself, to be sure! You give away horses worth a thousand louis; you save the lives of ladies of rank; you enter thor oughbred racers under the name of Major Black, with little marmoset jockeys; then, when you have carried off the gold cup, you give it to some handsome woman."

"And who has filled your head with all this nonsense?"

"Why, in the first place, Madame Danglars, who, by the by, is dying to see you in her box, or to have you seen there by others; secondly, Beauchamp's journal; and thirdly, from my own imagination. Why, if you sought concealment, did you call your horse Vampa?"

"That was an oversight, certainly," replied the count; "but tell me, does the Count de Morcerf never visit the opera? I have been looking for him, but without success."

"He will be here to-night."

"In what part of the house?"

"In the baroness's box, I believe."

"Is the charming young person with her her daughter?"

"Yes."

"Indeed? then I congratulate you." Morcerf smiled.

"We will discuss that subject at length some future time," said he. "But what think you of the music?"

"What music?"