Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IIL THE BREAKFAST. The count was, it may bo remembered, a most temperate guest. Albert remarked this, expressing his fears lest at the outset the Parisian mode of life should displease the traveller in the most essential point. " My dear count," said he, " I fear that the fare of the Hue du Holder is not so much to your taste as that of the Place d'Espagne. 1 ought to have consulted you on the point, and have had some dishes prepared expressly to suit your taste." " Did you know me better," returned the count, smiling, " you would not give one thought of such a thing for a traveller like myself, who has successively lived on macaroni at Naples, polenta at Milan, olla podrida at Valencia, pilau at Constantinople, karrick in India, and swallows' nests in China. I eat everywhere, and of everything, ? only I eat but little; and this day, on which you reproach me for abstinence, is my day of appetite, for I have not eaten since yesterday morning." " What! " cried all the guests, " you have not eaten for four and twenty hours 1" " No," replied the count; " I was forced to go out of my road to obtain some information near Nimes, so that I was somewhat late, and I did not choose to stop.' " And you ate in your carriage ? " asked Morcerf. " No; I slept, as I generally do when I am wearywithout having the courage to amuse myself, or when I am hungry withoit feeling inclined to eat." " But you can sleep when you please, Monsieur 1" said Morrel. " Very nearly." " You have a receipt for that 1" "An infallible one." " That would be invaluable to us in Africa, who have not always food to eat, and rarely anything to drink." " Yes," said Monte Cristo; " but unfortunately my receipt, excellent for a man like myself, who leads an exceptional life, wo...