"Ah! I understand," said Beauchamp, "on our friend Albert's account."
"On my account?" said the young man; "oh, no, indeed! the count will do me the justice to assert that I have, on the contrary, always entreated him to break off my engagement, and happily it is ended. The count pretends I have not him to thank; well, like the ancients, I will raise an altar Deo ignoto."
"Listen," said Monte-Cristo; "I have had little to do with it, for I am at variance both with the father-in-law and the young man; there is only Mademoiselle Eugénie, who appears but little charmed with the thoughts of matrimony, and who, seeing how little I was disposed to persuade her to renounce her dear liberty, retains any affection for me. Oh, yes, in spite of all I could say. I do not know the young man; he is said to be of good family and rich, but in my eyes such stories are mere gossip. I have repeated this to M. Danglars till I am tired, but he is fascinated with his friend from Lucca. I have even informed him of a circumstance I consider very serious; the young man was changed at nurse, either stolen by gypsies, or lost by his tutor, I scarcely know which. But I do know his father lost sight of him for more than ten years; what he did during these ten years, God only knows. Well, all that was useless. They have commissioned me to write to the major to demand his papers; and here they are. I send them on, but will have nothing more to do with the matter."
"And what does Mademoiselle d'Armilly say to you for robbing her of her pupil?"
"Forsooth! I know not; but I understand she is going to Italy. Madame Danglars asked me for letters of recommendation for the impresari; I gave her a few lines for the director of the Del Valle Theater, who is under some obligation to me. But what is the matter, Albert? you look dull; are you, after all, unconsciously in love with Mademoiselle Eugénie?"
"I am not aware of it," said Albert, smiling sorrowfully. Beauchamp turned to look at some paintings.
"But," continued Monte-Cristo, "you are not in your usual spirits?"
"I have a dreadful headache," said Albert.
"Well! my dear viscount," said Monte-Cristo, "I have an infallible remedy to propose to you."
"What is that?" asked the young man.
"A change."
"Indeed!" said Albert.
"Yes; and as I am just now excessively annoyed, I shall go from home. Shall we go together?"
