Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 106: Dividing the Proceeds. (continued)

                                                      Frs.
 Coupe, thirty-five francs ............................ 35
 From Chalons to Lyons you will go on by the steamboat
 -- six francs ......................................... 6
 From Lyons to Avignon (still by steamboat),
 sixteen francs ....................................... 16
 From Avignon to Marseilles, seven franc................ 7
 Expenses on the road, about fifty francs ............. 50
 Total................................................ 114 frs.

"Let us put down 120," added Albert, smiling. "You see I am generous, am I not, mother?"

"But you, my poor child?"

"I? do you not see that I reserve eighty francs for myself? A young man does not require luxuries; besides, I know what travelling is."

"With a post-chaise and valet de chambre?"

"Any way, mother."

"Well, be it so. But these 200 francs?"

"Here they are, and 200 more besides. See, I have sold my watch for 100 francs, and the guard and seals for 300. How fortunate that the ornaments were worth more than the watch. Still the same story of superfluities! Now I think we are rich, since instead of the 114 francs we require for the journey we find ourselves in possession of 250."

"But we owe something in this house?"

"Thirty francs; but I pay that out of my 150 francs, -- that is understood, -- and as I require only eighty francs for my journey, you see I am overwhelmed with luxury. But that is not all. What do you say to this, mother?"

And Albert took out of a little pocket-book with golden clasps, a remnant of his old fancies, or perhaps a tender souvenir from one of the mysterious and veiled ladies who used to knock at his little door, -- Albert took out of this pocket-book a note of 1,000 francs.

"What is this?" asked Mercedes.

"A thousand francs."