hen, happening to glance through the grating into the garden,
I saw two women; they had noticed me and seemed greatly frightened.
Instantly I thrust my hand through the bars and asked for charity. One
of the women summoned up sufficient courage to arise and approach me;
she was about to give me some money, when suddenly she recognized me in
spite of all the changes in my appearance. I also recognized her and
hastened away as rapidly as I could."

"Well, what of all this?" said Waldmann, calmly. "It amounts to nothing
whatever."

"It amounts to so much that I cannot go with you to Monte-Cristo's house
and run the risk of meeting that woman!"

Waldmann gave vent to a loud laugh; the others smiled.

"I never before heard of a Frenchman who was afraid to meet a woman!"
said Siebecker, much amused.

"I tell you I cannot go; you must let me off," said Bouche-de-Miel,
obstinately.

"What!" cried Peppino. "Do you allow a woman to stand between you and
your vengeance against the Count of Monte-Cristo? Remember Luigi Vampa's
bill of fare!"

Bouche-de-Miel glared at the Italian savagely.

"There is no need for me to remember it," returned he, bitterly. "I have
never forgotten it. Neither have I forgotten your share in that infamous
business!" he added, between his teeth.

"It was my duty to do as I was bidden!" retorted Peppino.

"I will have my revenge on you yet!" muttered Bouche-de-Miel,
menacingly.

"We shall see!" answered the Italian, defiantly.

Waldmann interposed and said, sternly:

"No quarreling! We are brothers and are united for mutual gain.
Bouche-de-Miel, you must go with us to-night. I order you to go and will
take no excuse! Besides, if, as Peppino says, you have vengeance to
gratify against the Count of Monte-Cristo, the opportunity is too
precious for you to neglect it! At any rate, go you shall! Where is the
wax impression of the key?"

Bouche-de-Miel handed the German a small package which, he took from
his pocket. Waldmann gave it to Siebecker, directing him to fashion a
key in accordance with it. In the meantime the beggar had been thinking.
His face showed that a fierce struggle was taking place in his mind, a
struggle between fear and a burning desire for revenge. The latter
ultimately triumphed, and the beggar, rising from the chest, went to the
table, bringing his fist down upon it with a resounding blow.

"I will accompany you, mates!" he said, with wildly flashing eyes and in
an exc