"They are my bankers in the capital of the Christian world," returned
the count, quietly. "Can my influence with them be of any service to you?"
"Oh, M. le Comte, you could assist me, perhaps, in researches which have been, up to the present, fruitless. This house, in past years, did ours a great service, and has, I know not for what reason, always denied having rendered us this service."
"I shall be at your orders," said Monte-Cristo, inclining himself.
"But," continued Morcerf, "à propos of Danglars,—we have strangely wandered from the subject. We were speaking of a suitable habitation for the Count of Monte-Cristo. Come, gentlemen, let us all propose some place; where shall we lodge this new guest in our great capital?"
"Faubourg Saint-Germain," said Chateau-Renaud. "The count will find there a charming hotel, with a court and garden."
"Bah! Chateau-Renaud," returned Debray, "you only know your dull and gloomy Faubourg Saint-Germain; do not pay any attention to him, M. le Comte—live in the Chaussee d'Antin, that's the real center of Paris."
"Boulevard de 1'Opera," said Beauchamp; "on the first floor a house with a balcony. M. le Comte will have his cushions of silver cloth brought there, and as he smokes his chibouk and swallows his hashish, see all Paris pass before him."
"You have no idea, then, Morrel?" asked Chateau-Renaud; "you do not propose anything."
"Oh, yes," returned the young man, smiling; "on the contrary, I have one; but I expected the count would be tempted by one of the brilliant proposals made him; yet, as he has not replied to any of them, I will venture to offer him a suite of apartments in a charming hotel, in the Pompadour style, that my sister has inhabited for a year, in the Rue Meslay."
"You have a sister?" asked the count.
"Yes, monsieur, a most excellent sister."
"Married?"
"Nearly nine years."
"Happy?" asked the count again.
"As happy as it is permitted to a human creature to be," replied Maximilian. "She married the man she loved, who remained faithful to us in our fallen fortunes—Emmanuel Herbaut."
Monte-Cristo smiled imperceptibly.
"I live there during my leave of absence," continued Maximilian: "and I shall be, together with my brother-in-law Emmanuel, at the disposition of M. le Comte, whenever he thinks fit to honor us."
