The Count of Monte Cristo

Back Forward Menu

to leave separately. The major seated himself, therefore, by the side
of Danglars, who was more and more charmed with the ideas of order and
economy which ruled this man, and yet who, being able to allow his son
60,000 francs a year, might be supposed to possess a fortune of 500,000
or 600,000 livres.

As for Andrea, he began, by way of showing off, to scold his groom, who,
instead of bringing the tilbury to the steps of the house, had taken it
to the outer door, thus giving him the trouble of walking thirty steps
to reach it. The groom heard him with humility, took the bit of the
impatient animal with his left hand, and with the right held out the
reins to Andrea, who, taking them from him, rested his polished boot
lightly on the step. At that moment a hand touched his shoulder. The
young man turned round, thinking that Danglars or Monte Cristo had
forgotten something they wished to tell him, and had returned just as
they were starting. But instead of either of these, he saw nothing but a
strange face, sunburnt, and encircled by a beard, with eyes brilliant as