Jon Hagadorn

The sentinel opened the door.

It was a new face.

He thought it would be better to transact business with his old acquaintance, so he sent for Pepino.

"'Here I am, Your Excellency,' said Pepino, with an eagerness which Angus thought favorable to him.

"'What do you want?'

"'Something to drink.'

"'Your Excellency knows that wine is beyond all price near Rome.'

"'Then give me water,' cried Danglars, endeavoring to parry the blow.

"'Oh, water is even more scarce than wine, Your Excellency.

There's been such a drought.'

"'Come,' thought Danglars, "'it's the same old story.'

and while he smiled as he attempted to regard the affair as a joke, he felt his temples get moist with perspiration.

"'Come, my friend,' said Danglars, seeing that he made no impression on Papino.

"'You will not refuse me a glass of wine.'

"'I have already told you that we do not sell at retail.'

"'Well, then, let me have a bottle of the least expensive.

"'They are all the same price.'

"'And what is that?'

twenty-five thousand francs a bottle.

"'Tell me,' cried Danglars, in a tone whose bitterness Harpagan alone has been capable of revealing, "'tell me that you wish to despoil me of all.