d be dealt out to them at once and
in the most summary fashion. Indeed, nooses were already dangling from a
couple of trees by the roadside, waiting to do their fell work. The
sight of these dread preparations roused Giovanni. With flashing eyes,
he faced the leader of the band.

"Beware!" he cried. "If you murder us, you will have all Rome to deal
with! We have told you we are gentlemen and not peasants. I am the
Viscount Giovanni Massetti and my companion is the son of the famous
Count of Monte-Cristo!"

As the young Italian uttered these words, a new comer suddenly appeared
upon the scene for whom all the rest made way. He was an intellectual
looking man, unostentatiously attired in a peasant's garb.

"Who spoke the name of the Count of Monte-Cristo?" demanded he.

The leader silently pointed to Massetti, who instantly replied:

"I spoke the name of the Count of Monte-Cristo, and he will surely take
bitter vengeance upon you all for the murder of his son!"

"His son?"

"Yes, his son, who stands here at my side, ignobly bound and menaced
with a shameful death!"

The stranger turned to Esperance and examined him closely.

"Are you the son of Monte-Cristo?" he asked, visibly agitated.

"I am," answered Esperance, coldly.

"Give me some token."

"'Wait and hope!'"

"His maxim!"

"Ah! you recognize it. Do you also recognize this?"

As he spoke the young man held up his left hand, and a magnificent
diamond ring he wore flashed in the moonlight. The new comer took his
hand and glanced at the jewel, one that the Count of Monte-Cristo had
worn for years and which he had but a few days before presented to his
son.

"I am convinced," said the stranger. Then, turning to the leader, he
said, in a tone of command: "Release these men!"

"But they have slain Ludovico!"

"Release them!" thundered the stranger. "Ludovico should have known
better then to have interfered with _my_ friends!"

He was instantly obeyed, and the two young men, greatly astonished,
stood relieved of their bonds.

"You are at liberty," continued the stranger, "and can resume your
route. Say to the Count of Monte-Cristo that Luigi Vampa remembers his
compact and is faithful to it!"

As he spoke the notorious bandit chief gathered his men together, and
the whole band vanished among the trees like so many spirits of the
night.

CHAPTER VII.

IN THE PEASANT'S HUT.

For a moment the two young men stood silent and astounded. S