Moreover, other ideas, much more enthralling, occupied his mind.Since, the evening before, he had really been the hero of one of the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights," and he was irresistibly attracted towards the grotto.Then, in spite of the failure of his first search, he began a second, after having told Gaetano to roast one of the two kids.The second visit was a long one, and when he returned the kid was roasted and the repast ready.Franz was sitting on the spot where he was on the previous evening when his mysterious host had invited him to supper; and he saw the little yacht, now like a sea-gull on the wave, continuing her flight towards Corsica."Why," he remarked to Gaetano, "you told me that Signor Sinbad was going to Malaga, while it seems he is in the direction of Porto-Vecchio.""Don't you remember," said the patron, "I told you that among the crew there were two Corsican brigands?""True; and he is going to land them," added Franz.
"Precisely so," replied Gaetano."Ah, he is one who fears neither God nor Satan, they say, and would at any time run fifty leagues out of his course to do a poor devil a service.""But such services as these might involve him with the authorities of the country in which he practices this kind of philanthropy," said Franz.
"And what cares he for that," replied Gaetano with a laugh, "or any authorities? He smiles at them.Let them try to pursue him! Why, in the first place, his yacht is not a ship, but a bird, and he would beat any frigate three knots in every nine; and if he were to throw himself on the coast, why, is he not certain of finding friends everywhere?"It was perfectly clear that the Signor Sinbad, Franz's host, had the honor of being on excellent terms with the smugglers and bandits along the whole coast of the Mediterranean, and so enjoyed exceptional privileges.As to Franz, he had no longer any inducement to remain at Monte Cristo.He had lost all hope of detecting the secret of the grotto; he consequently despatched his breakfast, and, his boat being ready, he hastened on board, and they were soon under way.
At the moment the boat began her course they lost sight of the yacht, as it disappeared in the gulf of Porto-Vecchio.
With it was effaced the last trace of the preceding night;and then supper, Sinbad, hashish, statues, -- all became a dream for Franz.The boat sailed on all day and all night, and next morning, when the sun rose, they had lost sight of Monte Cristo.When Franz had once again set foot on shore, he forgot, for the moment at least, the events which had just passed, while he finished his affairs of pleasure at Florence, and then thought of nothing but how he should rejoin his companion, who was awaiting him at Rome.
