The Count of Monte Cristo

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with him in case of accident, he would then find himself possessor of
about 50,000 livres, which he philosophically considered as no very
deplorable condition after all. Moreover, he reckoned much on
the interest of the Danglars to hush up the rumor of their own
misadventures. These were the reasons which, added to the fatigue,
caused Andrea to sleep so soundly. In order that he might awaken early
he did not close the shutters, but contented himself with bolting the
door and placing on the table an unclasped and long-pointed knife, whose
temper he well knew, and which was never absent from him. About seven in
the morning Andrea was awakened by a ray of sunlight, which played,
warm and brilliant, upon his face. In all well-organized brains, the
predominating idea--and there always is one--is sure to be the last
thought before sleeping, and the first upon waking in the morning.
Andrea had scarcely opened his eyes when his predominating idea
presented itself, and whispered in his ear that he had slept too long.
He jumped out of bed and ran to the window. A gendarme was crossing the
court. A gendarme is one of the most striking objects in the world, even