A servant wearing an elegant, rich livery appeared at the threshold. Placing two cards in the landlord's hands, who immediately presented them to the young men, he said, "Please deliver these from the Count of Monte Cristo to Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Monsieur Franz d'Epinay. The Count of Monte Cristo asks these gentlemen's permission to call on them as their neighbor, and he would be honored to know what time they would like to receive him."
"Well, Franz," Albert whispered, "there's nothing to criticize here."
"Tell the count," Franz replied, "that we'll have the pleasure of calling on him."
The servant bowed and left.
"That's what I call a classy approach," Albert said. "You were absolutely right, Signor Pastrini. The Count of Monte Cristo is unquestionably a man of refinement and worldly knowledge."
"Then you accept his offer?" the innkeeper asked.
