Off the Cliff

I shall mention that I was steaming ahead through Count of Monte Cristo thinking smugly Look this book is a *hundred pages* shorter than Fool's Errand for-gods-sake boy was that one bloated, when common sense suggested Isn't that a little odd? The one certain thing about Dumas is that he was not unprolix. Sure enough, 'translated and abridged.' I thought the early action got itself over with commendable dispatch. Possibly I shall feel guilty about this some other time but right now I'm merely grateful.