"It is very clear, notwithstanding," replied the young man, with an
artlessness wholly free from affectation; "tell her some fine morning
an unheard-of piece of intelligence--some telegraphic despatch, of
which you alone are in possession; for instance, that Henri IV. was
seen yesterday at Gabrielle's. That would boom the market; she will
buy heavily, and she will certainly lose when Beauchamp announces the
following day, in his gazette, 'The report circulated by some usually
well-informed persons that the king was seen yesterday at Gabrielle's
house, is totally without foundation. We can positively assert that his
majesty did not quit the Pont-Neuf.'" Lucien half smiled. Monte
Cristo, although apparently indifferent, had not lost one word of this
conversation, and his penetrating eye had even read a hidden secret
in the embarrassed manner of the secretary. This embarrassment had
completely escaped Albert, but it caused Lucien to shorten his visit;
he was evidently ill at ease. The count, in taking leave of him, said
something in a low voice, to which he answered, "Willingly, count; I
accept." The count returned to young Morcerf.
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