say that I shall abandon you very
reluctantly, but abandon you I must unless you cease to trammel my
efforts in your behalf!"

The young Italian seized his benefactor's hand convulsively.

"Your Excellency," he exclaimed, supplicatingly, "do not abandon me, do
not leave me to my fate at this critical juncture! I will yield you
blind and implicit submission and obedience! For the future I will do
nothing, take not even the slightest, most unimportant step without your
direct authorization or express command!"

"It is well, Giovanni," said the Count, evidently much relieved to find
his ardent protege so tractable. "I will continue the work I have begun
and also endeavor to bring it to a speedy and successful conclusion.
The arrest of Vampa and the wounding of old Solara have complicated
matters to a certain extent, but a brief time, I trust, will suffice to
straighten out the complications and tangles, and then the result will
be happiness for all of us, the richest possible reward!"

"God grant it!" cried Massetti, fervently.

"Now," said the Count, "you must not quit the Hotel de France even for a
moment without my permission! Do you promise me that?"

"I not only promise it, I swear it!" exclaimed the Viscount, lifting his
eyes and his right hand towards Heaven.

"It is well," repeated Monte-Cristo, joyously, and turning he left
Massetti's chamber.

It had been planned that the Count should take Zuleika out riding the
following morning, but a desire to know what had become of Luigi Vampa
and what the authorities proposed to do in his case prevented
Monte-Cristo from fulfilling his promise to his daughter. He, however,
determined not to deprive Zuleika of the pleasure she anticipated from
her drive and, therefore, when the barouche and its spirited horses were
brought to the hotel door installed Peppino in the driver's seat with
the faithful Ali to act as an additional guard and protector.

Zuleika, after bidding her father a tender farewell, was assisted by him
into the elegant vehicle and Ali drove off, managing the prancing and
mettlesome steeds, with all the dash and skill of a veteran Paris
coachman.

They passed along the Corso, which as usual was crowded with splendid
equipages and gay promenaders, finally making their way to the vast and
beautiful Piazza del Popolo, which presented even a more animated and
enlivening scene than the Corso. The elegant equipages were there
supplemented by superbly moun