"Well," said Franz, "this time, M. Albert? I am bound to give you
credit for having hit upon a most capital idea."
"And quite a national one, too," replied Albert with gratified pride. "Pure Merovingian! Ha! ha! Messieurs les Remains; you thought to make us trot at the heels of your processions, like so many lazzaroni, because no carriages or horses are to be had. But you don't know us; when we can't have one thing, we invent another."
"And have you communicated your triumphant idea to any person?"
"Only to our host. Upon my return home I sent to desire he would come to me, and I then explained to him what I wished to procure. He assured me that nothing would be easier than to furnish all I desired. I bade him have the horns of the oxen gilded; he told me there would not be time, as it would require three days to effect that, so we must do without this little superfluity."
"And where is he now?"
"Who?"
"Our host."
"Gone out in search of our equipage: by to-morrow it might be too late."
"Then he will be able to give us an answer to-night."
"Oh, I expect him every minute."
At this instant the door opened, and the head of Pastrini appeared. "Permesso?" inquired he.
"Certainly certainly," cried Franz.
"Now, then," asked Albert, eagerly, "have you found the desired cart and oxen?"
"Better than that!" replied Pastrini, with the air of a man perfectly well satisfied with himself.
"Take care, my worthy host," said Albert; "better is a sure enemy to well."
"Let your excellencies only leave the matter to me," returned he, in a tone indicative of unbounded self-confidence.
"But what have you done?" asked Franz. "Speak out, there's a worthy fellow."
"Your excellencies are aware," responded the landlord, swelling with importance, "that the Count of Monte-Cristo is living on the same floor with yourselves!"
"I should think we did know it," exclaimed Albert, "since it is owing to that circumstance that we are packed into these small rooms, like two poor students in the back streets of Paris."
"Well, then, the Count of Monte-Cristo, hearing of the dilemma in which you are placed, has sent to offer you seats in his carriage and two
