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"I? Certainly not," replied the count "No; I should only regret if the horse had not proved good"

"It is so good, that I have distanced M de Chateau-Renaud, one of the best riders in France, and M Debray, who both mount the minister's Arabians; and close on their heels are the horses of Madaues an hour"

"Then they follow you?" asked Monte Cristo

"See, they are here" And at the sa horses, accoate, which opened before thee drove round, and stopped at the steps, followed by the horseround, he was at the carriage-door He offered his hand to the baroness, who, descending, took it with a peculiarity of manner i escaped the count's notice, and he observed a little note, passed with the facility that indicates frequent practice, frolars to that of the minister's secretary After his wife the banker descended, as pale as though he had issued frolars threw a rapid and inquiring glance which could only be interpreted by Monte Cristo, around the court-yard, over the peristyle, and across the front of the house, then, repressing a slight emotion, which must have been seen on her countenance if she had not kept her color, she ascended the steps, saying to Morrel, "Sir, if you were a friend of mine, I should ask you if you would sell your horse"

Morrel srimace, and then turned round to Monte Cristo, as if to ask him to extricate him from his embarrassment The count understood him "Ah, madame," he said, "why did you not make that request of me?"

"With you, sir," replied the baroness, "one can wish for nothing, one is so sure to obtain it If it were so with M Morrel"-"Unfortunately," replied the count, "I aive up his horse, his honor being engaged in keeping it"

"How so?"

"He laid a wager he would tame Medeah in the space of six et rid of the animal before the time named, he would not only lose his bet, but people would say he was afraid; and a brave captain of Spahis cannot risk this, even to gratify a pretty woations in the world"