The Count of Monte Cristo stepped into the drawing room, where his butler Baptistin had shown in their guest. A young man lounged on the sofa. Tall, with light hair and a red beard, dressed impeccably. He was tapping his expensive cane against his boot, the picture of casual arrogance. When he noticed the Count enter, he quickly stood.
"The Count of Monte Cristo, I presume?" the young man asked.
"Indeed. And you must be Count Andrea Cavalcanti?"
"Count Andrea Cavalcanti," the young man repeated with a slight bow, as if testing how the title sounded on his lips.
"You have a letter of introduction for me, correct?" the Count asked.
"I didn't want to mention it at first, the signature seemed rather odd."
"Signed by 'Sinbad the Sailor,' wasn't it?"
"Exactly! Now, I've never known any Sinbad except the one from the fairy tales-"
