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"Really? Does it happen to be Jacopo Manfredi?"

"Exactly so Iine a man who has transacted business with , to the a the year Never a mistake or delay--a felloho paid like a prince Well, I was a million in advance with him, and now my fine Jacopo Manfredi suspends payment!"

"Really?"

"It is an unheard-of fatality I draw upon him for 600,000 francs, my bills are returned unpaid, and, ned by him to the value of 400,000 francs, payable at his correspondent's in Paris at the end of this month To-day is the 30th I present them; but my correspondent has disappeared This, with my Spanish affairs, made a pretty end to the month"

"Then you really lost by that affair in Spain?"

"Yes; only 700,000 francs out ofmore!"

"Why, how could you er?"

"Oh, it is all my wife's fault She dreamed Don Carlos had returned to Spain; she believes in drea it is sure to happen, she assuresher bank and her stockbroker; she speculated and lost It is true she speculates with her own money, not mine; nevertheless, you can understand that when 700,000 francs leave the wife's pocket, the husband always finds it out But do youhas made a tremendous noise"

"Yes, I heard it spoken of, but I did not know the details, and then no one can be norant than I am of the affairs in the Bourse"

"Then you do not speculate?"

"I?--How could I speculate when I already have so ed, besidesthese Spanish affairs, I think that the baroness did not dream the whole of the Don Carlosabout it, did they not?"

"Then you believe the papers?"

"I?--not the least in the world; only I fancied that the honest Messager was an exception to the rule, and that it only announced telegraphic despatches"

"Well, that's what puzzles lars; "the news of the return of Don Carlos was brought by telegraph"

"So that," said Monte Cristo, "you have lost nearly 1,700,000 francs this month"

"Not nearly, indeed; that is exactly my loss"

"Diable," said Monte Cristo compassionately, "it is a hard blow for a third-rate fortune"