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M and Madame de Villefort found on their return that the Count of Monte Cristo, who had come to visit the-roo them there Madame de Villefort, who had not yet sufficiently recovered fro visitors so immediately, retired to her bedroom, while the procureur, who could better depend upon hih M de Villefort flattered himself that, to all outward view, he had co in hison his brow, so much so that the count, whose shtful air "Ma foi," said Monte Cristo, after the first compliments were over, "what is the matter with you, M de Villefort? Have I arrived at theup an indictment for a capital crime?" Villefort tried to smile "No, count," he replied, "I am the only victim in this case It is I who lose my cause, and it is ill-luck, obstinacy, and folly which have caused it to be decided against me"

"To what do you refer?" said Monte Cristo ell-feigned interest "Have you really reat misfortune?"

"Oh, no, monsieur," said Villefort with a bitter smile; "it is only a loss of , I assure you"

"True," said Monte Cristo, "the loss of a sum of money becomes almost immaterial with a fortune such as you possess, and to one of your philosophic spirit"

"It is not so much the loss of the h, after all, 900,000 francs are worth regretting; but I am the more annoyed with this fate, chance, or whatever you please to call the pohich has destroyed my hopes and my fortune, and may blast the prospects of my child also, as it is all occasioned by an old man relapsed into second childhood"

"What do you say?" said the count; "900,000 francs? It is indeed a suretted even by a philosopher And who is the cause of all this annoyance?"

"My father, as I told you"

"M Noirtier? But I thought you told me he had become entirely paralyzed, and that all his faculties were completely destroyed?"

"Yes, his bodily faculties, for he can neither move nor speak, nevertheless he thinks, acts, and wills in the o, and he is now occupied in dictating his will to two notaries"