The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I (of 2)

d the attention of the lions of society. Where he came from-who he was-what was his past life-none

s was sufficient to make him the central point around which revolved the social gossip of the day. But, besides this, the handsome stranger makes his appearance at the theatres in the company of a lady in Grecian dress, whose transcendent beauty and countless diamonds awake alike admiration and cupidity. Like moths around the flame, society flu

lcanti, who at first appeared there with his father, Major Cavalcanti. Although he was a stranger, he was received in socie

ns of the father, in conjunction with the peculiar beauty of the daughter, began to interest the count, it was not long before they thought of marriage. Danglars, who had been a heavy loser in certain speculations

to witness the signing of the marriage contract of the only daughter of the house with the Italian, Count Andrea Cavalcanti, of the pri

black hair, formed the only ornament of the young lady, whose jewels, it was well known, represented a fortune. The young count was surrounded by representa

o mention his losses. Madame Danglars, the handsome mother of the pretty Eugenie, was surrounded by a circle of young and old cavaliers, who paid court to her with

to be purposely delayed, as if they were waiting for the

ts. The star of the evening was overwhelmed with questions, which he paid no attention

ery which had been committed in his house, in which one of the thieves had been murdered, most probably by his own comrade. No one noticed th

even among the cream of the financial and aristocratic world, and the signing of the paper was next in order. This circumstance recalled to

to apologize. "The man who was murdered in my house was recognized as a former galley-slav

, while the young bridegroom slowl

the address?" ask

h over it. It was none other than that of the hero

the latter. He had, however, already left the room. The servants wer

search, and behind them appeared a dete

etective, in the well-known monotonous way which never fails

Danglars, who could not

urdered the galley-slave Caderousse, with w

e policemen searched the house, but could not find the culprit, the guests ran here and there like a flock of shee