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"I confess it," replied Albert "Could you have been so cruel as not to bring her?"

"Calm yourself She has met Mademoiselle de Villefort, and has taken her ar us, both in white dresses, one with a bouquet of camellias, the other with one of myosotis But tell me"-"Well, what do you wish to know?"

"Will not the Count of Monte Cristo be here to-night?"

"Seventeen!" replied Albert

"What do you e," replied the viscount, s, "and that you are the seventeenth person that has asked ratulate him upon it"

"And have you replied to every one as you have to me?"

"Ah, to be sure, I have not answered you; be satisfied, we shall have this 'lion;' we are aed ones"

"Were you at the opera yesterday?"

"No"

"He was there"

"Ah, indeed? And did the eccentric person co so? Elssler was dancing in the 'Diable Boiteux;' the Greek princess was in ecstasies After the cachucha he placed aon the ste danseuse, who, in the third act, to do honor to the gift, reappeared with it on her finger And the Greek princess,--will she be here?"

"No, you will be deprived of that pleasure; her position in the count's establishment is not sufficiently understood"

"Wait; leave o and speak to Mada to attract your attention"

Albert bowed to Madalars, and advanced towards Madaer anything," said Albert, interrupting her, "that I knohat you were about to say"

"Well, what is it?"