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"Precisely," said the count; "six years since I bought a horse in Hungary remarkable for its swiftness The thirty-two that we shall use to-night are its progeny; they are all entirely black, with the exception of a star upon the forehead"

"That is perfectly admirable; but what do you do, count, with all these horses?"

"You see, I travel with theer require them, Bertuccio will sell them, and he expects to realize thirty or forty thousand francs by the sale"

"But no h to purchase them"

"Then he will sell them to some Eastern vizier, ill e the bastinado to his subjects"

"Count, est one idea to you?"

"Certainly"

"It is that, next to you, Bertuccio entleman in Europe"

"You are mistaken, viscount; I believe he has not a franc in his possession"

"Then he must be a wonder My dear count, if you tell s, I warn you I shall not believe the that is marvellous, M Albert Tell me, why does a steward rob his master?"

"Because, I suppose, it is his nature to do so, for the love of robbing"

"You are mistaken; it is because he has a wife and family, and ambitious desires for himself and the his situation, and wishes to provide for the future Now, M Bertuccio is alone in the world; he usesfor the use he makes of it; he is sure never to leave et a better"

"Probabilities are deceptive"

"But I deal in certainties; he is the best servant over whom one has the power of life and death"

"Do you possess that right over Bertuccio?"

"Yes"

There are words which close a conversation with an iron door; such was the count's "yes" The whole journey was performed with equal rapidity; the thirty-two horses, dispersed over seven stages, brought theht they arrived at the gate of a beautiful park The porter was in attendance; he had been apprised by the grooe of the count's approach At half past two in theMorcerf was conducted to his apartments, where a bath and supper were prepared The servant who had travelled at the back of the carriage waited on him; Baptistin, who rode in front, attended the count Albert bathed, took his supper, and went to bed All night he was lulled by the , he went to his hich opened on a terrace, having the sea in front, and at the back a pretty park bounded by a small forest In a creek lay a little sloop, with a narrow keel and highthe Monte Cristo arules on the shield Around the schooner lay a nu to the fisher orders from their queen There, as in every spot where Monte Cristo stopped, if but for two days, luxury abounded and life went on with the utmost ease