The Count of Monte Cristo

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society towards more complete perfection? Yet man will never be perfect
until he learns to create and destroy; he does know how to destroy, and
that is half the battle."

"So," added Madame de Villefort, constantly returning to her object,
"the poisons of the Borgias, the Medicis, the Renes, the Ruggieris,
and later, probably, that of Baron de Trenck, whose story has been so
misused by modern drama and romance"--

"Were objects of art, madame, and nothing more," replied the count. "Do
you suppose that the real savant addresses himself stupidly to the mere
individual? By no means. Science loves eccentricities, leaps and bounds,
trials of strength, fancies, if I may be allowed so to term them. Thus,
for instance, the excellent Abbe Adelmonte, of whom I spoke just now,
made in this way some marvellous experiments."

"Really?"