"All the nobility of Rome will be present, and if your fair incognita belong to the higher class of society, she must go there.""Whether she goes there or not, my opinion is still the same," returned Albert."You have read the letter?""Yes."
"You know how imperfectly the women of the mezzo cito are educated in Italy?" (This is the name of the lower class.)"Yes."
"Well, read the letter again.Look at the writing, and find if you can, any blemish in the language or orthography."(The writing was, in reality, charming, and the orthography irreproachable.) "You are born to good fortune," said Franz, as he returned the letter.
"Laugh as much as you will," replied Albert, "I am in love.""You alarm me," cried Franz."I see that I shall not only go alone to the Duke of Bracciano's, but also return to Florence alone.""If my unknown be as amiable as she is beautiful," said Albert, "I shall fix myself at Rome for six weeks, at least.
I adore Rome, and I have always had a great taste for archaeology.""Come, two or three more such adventures, and I do not despair of seeing you a member of the Academy." Doubtless Albert was about to discuss seriously his right to the academic chair when they were informed that dinner was ready.Albert's love had not taken away his appetite.He hastened with Franz to seat himself, free to recommence the discussion after dinner.After dinner, the Count of Monte Cristo was announced.They had not seen him for two days.
Signor Pastrini informed them that business had called him to Civita Vecchia.He had started the previous evening, and had only returned an hour since.He was charming.Whether he kept a watch over himself, or whether by accident he did not sound the acrimonious chords that in other circumstances had been touched, he was to-night like everybody else.The man was an enigma to Franz.The count must feel sure that Franz recognized him; and yet he had not let fall a single word indicating any previous acquaintance between them.On his side, however great Franz's desire was to allude to their former interview, the fear of being disagreeable to the man who had loaded him and his friend with kindness prevented him from mentioning it.The count had learned that the two friends had sent to secure a box at the Argentina Theatre, and were told they were all let.In consequence, he brought them the key of his own -- at least such was the apparent motive of his visit.Franz and Albert made some difficulty, alleging their fear of depriving him of it; but the count replied that, as he was going to the Palli Theatre, the box at the Argentina Theatre would he lost if they did not profit by it.This assurance determined the two friends to accept it.
Franz had by degrees become accustomed to the count's pallor, which had so forcibly struck him at their first meeting.He could not refrain from admiring the severe beauty of his features, the only defect, or rather the principal quality of which was the pallor.Truly, a Byronic hero! Franz could not, we will not say see him, but even think of him without imagining his stern head upon Manfred's shoulders, or beneath Lara's helmet.His forehead was marked with the line that indicates the constant presence of bitter thoughts; he had the fiery eyes that seem to penetrate to the very soul, and the haughty and disdainful upper lip that gives to the words it utters a peculiar character that impresses them on the minds of those to whom they are addressed.The count was no longer young.He was at least forty; and yet it was easy to understand that he was formed to rule the young men with whom he associated at present.
And, to complete his resemblance with the fantastic heroes of the English poet, the count seemed to have the power of fascination.Albert was constantly expatiating on their good fortune in meeting such a man.Franz was less enthusiastic;but the count exercised over him also the ascendency a strong mind always acquires over a mind less domineering.He thought several times of the project the count had of visiting Paris; and he had no doubt but that, with his eccentric character, his characteristic face, and his colossal fortune, he would produce a great effect there.And yet he did not wish to be at Paris when the count was there.
The evening passed as evenings mostly pass at Italian theatres; that is, not in listening to the music, but in paying visits and conversing.The Countess G---- wished to revive the subject of the count, but Franz announced he had something far newer to tell her, and, in spite of Albert's demonstrations of false modesty, he informed the countess of the great event which had preoccupied them for the last three days.As similar intrigues are not uncommon in Italy, if we may credit travellers, the comtess did not manifest the least incredulity, but congratulated Albert on his success.They promised, upon separating, to meet at the Duke of Bracciano's ball, to which all Rome was invited.The heroine of the bouquet kept her word; she gave Albert no sign of her existence the morrow or the day after.
At length Tuesday came, the last and most tumultuous day of the Carnival.On Tuesday, the theatres open at ten o'clock in the morning, as Lent begins after eight at night.On Tuesday, all those who through want of money, time, or enthusiasm, have not been to see the Carnival before, mingle in the gayety, and contribute to the noise and excitement.