What does he appear to be?

　　"I believe, mother, it is merely a title. The countpurchased an island in the Tuscan archipelago, and, as hetold you to-day, has founded a commandery. You know the samething was done for Saint Stephen of Florence, Saint George,Constantinian of Parma, and even for the Order of Malta.Except this, he has no pretension to nobility, and callshimself a chance count, although the general opinion at Romeis that the count is a man of very high distinction."

　　"His manners are admirable," said the countess, "at least,as far as I could judge in the few minutes he remainedhere."

　　"They are perfect mother, so perfect, that they surpass byfar all I have known in the leading aristocracy of the threeproudest nobilities of Europe -- the English, the Spanish,and the German." The countess paused a moment; then, after aslight hesitation, she resumed, -- "You have seen, my dearAlbert -- I ask the question as a mother -- you have seen M.de Monte Cristo in his house, you are quicksighted, havemuch knowledge of the world, more tact than is usual at yourage, do you think the count is really what he appears tobe?"

　　"What does he appear to be?"

　　"Why, you have just said, -- a man of high distinction."

　　"I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such."

　　"But what is your own opinion, Albert?"

　　"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinionrespecting him, but I think him a Maltese."

　　"I do not ask you of his origin but what he is."

　　"Ah, what he is; that is quite another thing. I have seen somany remarkable things in him, that if you would have mereally say what I think, I shall reply that I really do lookupon him as one of Byron's heroes, whom misery has markedwith a fatal brand; some Manfred, some Lara, some Werner,one of those wrecks, as it were, of some ancient family,who, disinherited of their patrimony, have achieved one bythe force of their adventurous genius, which has placed themabove the laws of society."

　　"You say" --

　　"I say that Monte Cristo is an island in the midst of theMediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resortof smugglers of all nations, and pirates of every flag. Whoknows whether or not these industrious worthies do not payto their feudal lord some dues for his protection?"