"'And you are quite right,' said the notary, who feared to lose his fee. 'It is a charming place, well supplied with spring-water and fine trees; a comfortable habitation, although abandoned for a long time; without reckoning the furniture, which, although old, is yet valuable, now that old things are so much sought after. I suppose M. le Comte has the tastes of the day?'" Whatever may have been Dumas' prodigality with regard to money matters in his personal affairs, he was evidently a good traveller, in the sense that he knew how to plan a journey with the greatest economy. One sees evidences of this in the "Count of Monte Cristo," where he describes the journey of Madame de Morcerf from Paris to Marseilles. "'I have made inquiries,' said Albert, 'respecting the diligences and steamboats, and my calculations are made. You will take your place in the coupé to Châlons. You see, mother, I treat you handsomely for thirty-five francs.' "Albert then took a pen, and wrote: _Frs._ Coupé to Châlons, thirty-five francs 35 From Châlons to Lyons you will go on by the steamboat--six francs 6 From Lyons to Avignon (still by steamboat), sixteen francs 16 From Avignon to Marseilles, seven francs 7 Expenses on the road, about fifty francs 50 ---- Total 114 "'Let us put down 120,' added Albert, smiling. 'You see I am generous; am I not, mother?' "'But you, my poor child?' "'I! do you not see I reserve eighty francs for myself? A young man does not require luxuries; besides, I know what travelling is.' "'With a post-chaise and _valet de chambre_?'" The route is practicable even to-day, though probably not at the prices given, and one does not go by steamboat from Châlons to Lyons, though he may from Lyons to Avignon. CHAPTER XVIII. LES PAYS ÉTRANGERS Dumas frequently wandered afield for his _mise-en-scène_, and with varying success; from the "Corsican Brothers," which was remarkably true to its _locale_, and "La Tulipe Noire," which was equally so, if we allow for a certain perspective of time, to "Le Capitaine Pamphile," which in parts, at least, is gross exaggeration or burlesque. Once only, to any great extent, did he go to Germany for his inspirations, and then only to German legend,--where so many others had been before,--and have since. In "Otho the Archer" is found a repetition of the Knight and Swan legend so familiar to all. It has been before--and since--a prolific source of supply to authors of all ranks and nationalities: Goethe, Schiller, Hoffman, Brentano, Fouqué, Scott, and others.