THE COUNT OF MONTE-CRISTO.
23
merchant presented himself to insure two ships; it was a clear profit of fifteen thousand francs. Monsieur, said Emmanuel, 'have the goodness to address yourself to M. Delaunay. We have quitted business.'
"How long?' inquired the astonished merchant.
"'A quarter of an hour,' was the reply.
"And this is the reason, monsieur," continued Maximilian, "of my sister and brother-in-law having only twenty-five thousand francs a year."