Madame Danglars usually never let comments like that slide, but to everyone's surprise, she pretended not to hear and said nothing.
Monte Cristo noticed her unusual restraint with a small smile. He gestured toward two enormous porcelain jars, covered with marine plants of a size and delicacy that only nature could achieve.
The baroness's eyes widened. "Why, you could plant one of those massive chestnut trees inside these! How were such enormous jars even manufactured?"
"Ah, madame," Monte Cristo replied, "you mustn't ask us fine porcelain enthusiasts such questions. This is the work of another age, created by the geniuses of earth and water."
"What do you mean? When was this?"
