Now, excuse the indiscretion, marquis, but have you any landed property ?" "All my fortune is in the funds; seven or eight hundred thousand francs." "Then sell out--sell out, marquis, or you will lose it all." "But how can I sell out here ?" "You have a broker, have you not ?" "Yes." "Then give me a letter to him, and tell him to sell out without an instant's delay, perhaps even now I shall arrive too late." "The deuce you say!" replied the marquis, "let us lose no time, then!" And, sitting down, he wrote a letter to his broker, ordering him to sell out at the market price.
"Now, then," said Villefort, placing the letter in his pocketbook, "I must have another!" "To whom ?" "To the king." "To the king ?" "Yes." "I dare not write to his majesty." "I do not ask you to write to his majesty, but ask M.de Salvieux to do so.

I want a letter that will enable me to reach the king's presence without all the formalities of demanding an audience; that would occasion a loss of precious time." "But address yourself to the keeper of the seals; he has the right of entry at the Tuileries, and can procure you audience at any hour of the day or night." "Doubtless; but there is no occasion to divide the honors of my discovery with him.

The keeper would leave me in the background, and take all the glory to himself.

I tell you, marquis, my fortune is made if I only reach the Tuileries the first, for the king will not forget the service I do him." "In that case go and get ready.

I will call Salvieux and make him write the letter." "Be as quick as possible, I must be on the road in a quarter of an hour." "Tell your coachman to stop at the door." "You will present my excuses to the marquise and Mademoiselle Renee, whom I leave on such a day with great regret." "You will find them both here, and can make your farewells in person." "A thousand thanks--and now for the letter." The marquis rang, a servant entered.
"Say to the Comte de Salvieux that I would like to see him." "Now, then, go," said the marquis.
"I shall be gone only a few moments." Villefort hastily quitted the apartment, but reflecting that the sight of the deputy procureur running through the streets would be enough to throw the whole city into confusion, he resumed his ordinary pace.