The Count of Monte Cristo

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been a little disconcerted at the announcement of his name. The latter
took in the whole scene at a glance.

The baroness was partially reclining on a sofa, Eugenie sat near her,
and Cavalcanti was standing. Cavalcanti, dressed in black, like one
of Goethe's heroes, with varnished shoes and white silk open-worked
stockings, passed a white and tolerably nice-looking hand through his
light hair, and so displayed a sparkling diamond, that in spite of Monte
Cristo's advice the vain young man had been unable to resist putting on
his little finger. This movement was accompanied by killing glances
at Mademoiselle Danglars, and by sighs launched in the same direction.
Mademoiselle Danglars was still the same--cold, beautiful, and
satirical. Not one of these glances, nor one sigh, was lost on her;
they might have been said to fall on the shield of Minerva, which some
philosophers assert protected sometimes the breast of Sappho. Eugenie
bowed coldly to the count, and availed herself of the first moment when
the conversation became earnest to escape to her study, whence very soon