“I have promised to pay a louis d’or for valuable assistance.”
“Well, there are your louis d’or,” said the Count. “I did not promise to pay for assistance. Come, help me down to the carriage. I must get home, for my foot aches worse than ever.”
As they neared the cabaret, the Count said: “Villefort, have Barbera send me out some brandy.”
Villefort gave the order and placed the louis d’or in Barbera’s hand, saying at the same time, as he handed back the letter:
“I could not use it. The bird had flown. Tear it up, and may you always earn a louis d’or as easily.”
The Count swallowed half a tumblerful of brandy at a gulp. As they rode on he said to himself: “What a fine piece of news it will be for Pascal Batistelli when I tell him that his guest, the English lieutenant, is the son of the man who murdered his father. But he shall never know it until his sister is my wife. She hates me, but I will make her suffer for it. If she loved me, she might marry whom she chose.”
Countess Mont d’Oro and Bertha had been greatly pleased when the young Count became convalescent and was able to leave his room.
“I hope,” said the Countess, “that Napier will soon long for the artificial delights of Paris and leave us alone to enjoy the natural beauties of Corsica. I had intended to take you with me to visit many of my old friends, but for this unfortunate and unforeseen accident However, we shall begin our round of gaiety shortly, for I have to-day received invitations for you and me to attend the party to be given in honour of Mademoiselle Vivienne Batistelli, who will soon reach her eighteenth birthday.”
CHAPTER XX.
“WHO IS MASTER HERE?”
At the Count’s request, Villefort accompanied him home and assisted him to his room. The Count’s next desire was that he would summon the physician who was attendant upon him, and Villefort complied, inwardly grumbling because the carriage was not placed at his service. The doctor was out and not expected to return for a couple of hours. Ordinarily, under such circumstances, he would have gone back to the Count and have informed him of the prospective delay.