by Alexandre Dumas (Pere)
Available in 669 free installments
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"Impossible!"
"Listen my dear count; M. de Morcerf has been my friend, or rather my acquaintance, during the last thirty years. You know I have made the most of my arms, though I never forgot my origin."
"A proof of great humility or great pride," said Monte Cristo.
"Well, when I was a clerk, Morcerf was a mere fisherman."
"And then he was called"—
"Fernand."
"Only Fernand?"
"Fernand Mondego."
"You are sure?"
"Pardieu, I have bought enough fish of him to know his name."
"Then, why did you think of giving your daughter to him?"
"Because Fernand and Danglars, being both parvenus, both having become noble, both rich, are about equal in worth, excepting that there have been certain things mentioned of him that were never said of me."
"What?"
"Oh, nothing!"
"Ah, yes; what you tell me recalls to mind something about the name of Fernand Mondego. I have heard that name in Greece."
"In conjunction with the affairs of Ali Pasha?"
"Exactly so."
"This is the mystery," said Danglars. "I acknowledge I would have given anything to find it out."
"It would be very easy if you much wished it?"
"How so?"
"Probably you have some correspondent in Greece?"
"I should think so."
"At Yanina?"
"Everywhere."
"Well, write to your correspondent in Yanina, and ask him what part was played by a Frenchman named Fernand Mondego in the catastrophe of Ali Tepelini."
"You are right," exclaimed Danglars, rising quickly, "I will write to–day."
"Do so."
"I will."
"And if you should hear of anything very scandalous"—
"I will communicate it to you."
"You will oblige me." Danglars rushed out of the room, and made but one leap into his coupe.
