The Count of Monte Cristo (Volume 2)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. ROMAN BANDITS. The next morning Franz woke first, and instantly rang the bell. The sound had not yet died away when Maitre Pastrini himself entered. Well, Excellency, said the landlord, triumphantly, and without waiting for Franz to question him, I feared yesterday, when I would not promise you anything, that you were too late; there is not a single carriage to be had ? that is, for the last three days. Yes, returned Franz; that is, for those on which it is absolutely necessary. What is the matter 1 said Albert, entering; no carriage to be had t Precisely, my dear fellow, said Franz; you have hit it the first time. Well! your Eternal City is a devilish nice city. That is to say, Excellency, replied Pastrini, who was desirous to keep up the dignity of the capital of the Christian world in the eyes of his guest, there are no carriages to be had from Sunday to Tuesday evening, but from now till Sunday you can have fifty if you please. Ah ! that is something, said Albert; to-day is Thursday, and who knows what may arrive between this and Sunday? Ten or twelve thousand travellers will arrive, replied Franz, which will make it still more difficult. My friend, said Morcerf, let us enjoy the present without gloomy forebodings. At least, asked Franz, we can have a window ? Where ? Looking on the Rue du Cours, to be sure. Ah, a window! exclaimed Maitre Pastrini, ? utterly impossible; there was only one left on the fifth floor of the Doria Palace, and that has been let to a Russian prince for twenty sequins a day. The two young men looked at each other with au air of stupefaction. Well, said Franz to Albert, do you know what is the best thing we can do 1 It ...