"Have no fear, Maximilian!" replied Monte-Cristo, smiling. "A famous astrologer once assured me that I bore a charmed life, and if I escape you will also!"
The ground floors of the houses were for the most part occupied as shops of various kinds and the upper portions used as dwellings. Jewish merchants stood at the doors of the shops and Jewish women, some of them very beautiful, were occasionally seen at the upper windows. The streets were thronged with pedestrians of both sexes and here and there groups of chubby, black-haired children were at play.
Maximilian was amazed to notice that most of the men they met took off their hats to Monte-Cristo and that some of them saluted him by name.
"You appear to be pretty well known to the Israelites," said he, at length.
"Yes," answered the Count, "many of them know me. I have had frequent occasion to consult with them on matters of importance. They are a shrewd and trusty people."
By this time Monte-Cristo and M. Morrel had reached a lane narrower and darker than any they had yet traversed. Into this the Count turned and after he had taken his companion a short distance stopped in front of a dingy but well-preserved building. It differed from its neighbors in having no shop on the ground floor and in being tightly closed from bottom to top. It looked as if it were uninhabited.
"We have reached our destination," said Monte-Cristo. "This is the residence of Dr. Absalom."
Maximilian stared at him in astonishment.
"The house is deserted," said he. "Are you not mistaken?"
"No. This is the place."
"I fear then that the physician has left it and perhaps also the Ghetto."
Monte-Cristo smiled.
"You do not know him," he said. "His habits and manner of living are very peculiar. Prepare to be greatly surprised!"
Thus speaking he went to the door of the tightly-closed dwelling and struck five loud raps upon it, three very quickly and two very slowly delivered. The sounds seemed to reverberate through the house as if it were not only uninhabited but also unfurnished. Several minutes elapsed but no response was heard to Monte-Cristo's signal, no one came in obedience to his summons. The Count held his watch in his hand and his eyes were riveted upon the dial.
M. Morrel grew slightly impatient; he said to his companion, triumphantly: "I told you that the house was deserted and I was right!"
The Count smiled again, but made no reply, still keeping his eyes fixed on the dial of his watch.
"Ten minutes!" said he, and he repeated his signal, but this time struck only three rapid blows. As before no answer was returned.