"But," continued Morcerf, "a propos of Danglars, -- we have strangely wandered from the subject.We were speaking of a suitable habitation for the Count of Monte Cristo.Come, gentlemen, let us all propose some place.Where shall we lodge this new guest in our great capital?""Faubourg Saint-Germain," said Chateau-Renaud."The count will find there a charming hotel, with a court and garden.""Bah, Chateau-Renaud," returned Debray, "you only know your dull and gloomy Faubourg Saint-Germain; do not pay any attention to him, count -- live in the Chaussee d'Antin, that's the real centre of Paris.""Boulevard de l'Opera," said Beauchamp; "the second floor --a house with a balcony.The count will have his cushions of silver cloth brought there, and as he smokes his chibouque, see all Paris pass before him.""You have no idea, then, Morrel?" asked Chateau-Renaud; "you do not propose anything.""Oh, yes," returned the young man, smiling; "on the contrary, I have one, but I expected the count would be tempted by one of the brilliant proposals made him, yet as he has not replied to any of them, I will venture to offer him a suite of apartments in a charming hotel, in the Pompadour style, that my sister has inhabited for a year, in the Rue Meslay.""You have a sister?" asked the count.
"Yes, monsieur, a most excellent sister.""Married?"
"Nearly nine years."
"Happy?" asked the count again.
"As happy as it is permitted to a human creature to be,"replied Maximilian."She married the man she loved, who remained faithful to us in our fallen fortunes -- Emmanuel Herbaut." Monte Cristo smiled imperceptibly."I live there during my leave of absence," continued Maximilian; "and Ishall be, together with my brother-in-law Emmanuel, at the disposition of the Count, whenever he thinks fit to honor us.""One minute," cried Albert, without giving Monte Cristo the time to reply."Take care, you are going to immure a traveller, Sinbad the Sailor, a man who comes to see Paris;you are going to make a patriarch of him.""Oh, no," said Morrel; "my sister is five and twenty, my brother-in-law is thirty, they are gay, young, and happy.
Besides, the count will be in his own house, and only see them when he thinks fit to do so.""Thanks, monsieur," said Monte Cristo; "I shall content myself with being presented to your sister and her husband, if you will do me the honor to introduce me; but I cannot accept the offer of any one of these gentlemen, since my habitation is already prepared.""What," cried Morcerf; "you are, then, going to an hotel --that will be very dull for you."
"Was I so badly lodged at Rome?" said Monte Cristo smiling.
"Parbleu, at Rome you spent fifty thousand piastres in furnishing your apartments, but I presume that you are not disposed to spend a similar sum every day.""It is not that which deterred me," replied Monte Cristo;"but as I determined to have a house to myself, I sent on my valet de chambre, and he ought by this time to have bought the house and furnished it.""But you have, then, a valet de chambre who knows Paris?"said Beauchamp.
"It is the first time he has ever been in Paris.He is black, and cannot speak," returned Monte Cristo.
"It is Ali!" cried Albert, in the midst of the general surprise.