the Athenian mob, M. the Count!" said he, impressively.

As they passed the director's office, that official came out.

"Well?" said he to Monte-Cristo. "The Jew has failed, of course!"

"He has succeeded!" replied the Count, with a smile of triumph.

"You do not mean to tell me that the patient is restored to reason!"
exclaimed the director.

"That is exactly what I do mean to tell you!" retorted Monte-Cristo,
sharply.

"Humph! there is some cunning trick about this!" cried the official,
returning to his office and abruptly closing the door behind him.

The Italian physician resumed charge of the Viscount Massetti, Zuleika
and Valentine nursing him by turns. In two weeks the young man quitted
the asylum as fully restored in body as he was in mind.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

When the Viscount Massetti quitted the insane asylum, Monte-Cristo
provided quarters for him at the Hotel de France where he could be near
both himself and his daughter. During the period of the young Italian's
convalescence the Count had refrained from communicating to him the
details of the foul conspiracy disclosed by Peppino, but no sooner was
Zuleika's betrothed installed in the hotel than he gave him all the
startling particulars. Massetti was not astonished, for he had long
suspected a portion at least of the truth, but his indignation against
old Pasquale Solara knew no bounds, and inwardly he swore to take speedy
and complete vengeance upon him though the Count warned him to be
exceedingly prudent and not to imperil the success of his operations in
his behalf by any rash proceeding. Monte-Cristo did not inform the young
Italian of his plans, distrusting his natural hot-headedness and
impetuosity, but urged him to be content to leave the prosecution of the
scheme of rehabilitation entirely in his hands. The Count had also
instructed the Viscount that in consequence of Peppino's revelations he
had no further objections to his union with Zuleika and that the
marriage should take place immediately upon the full and open
establishment of his innocence in the eyes of the world. At this the
ardent young man was delighted to his heart's core; the certainty of his
approaching happiness and the tenderness the girl exhibited for him
compensated in a large degree for all his trials and tortures, but at
the same time he was impatient of the necessary delay in restoring him
to the possession of an unstained name and reputa