ating the bandit chief and throwing the whole weight of the crime
upon the shoulders of the Viscount Massetti.

This was the reverse of what the audience had expected and the murmur of
surprise was universal.

The prisoner glanced at Monte-Cristo and Massetti with a radiant look of
triumph.

The Viscount's lawyers then took the witness in hand, but shrewd and
able as they were they utterly failed to make her swerve even a hair's
breadth from her evidence. She returned to her place beside Mme. de
Rancogne, confident that she had done her duty and uttered not a single
syllable that was untrue.

Peppino followed her. He repeated almost word for word the details he
had given the Count of Monte-Cristo in Paris. His recital was so vivid,
so circumstantial, that it made a wonderful impression both upon the
Court and the audience. When he spoke of old Pasquale Solara's infamous
sale of his beautiful daughter to Luigi Vampa the male auditors could
scarcely restrain their indignation and the women fairly screamed with
horror, the utmost efforts of the Court officers being required to force
them into anything like quietude. Another sensation was caused by
Peppino's exposure of the nefarious conspiracy by which the innocent
young Viscount was brought and kept under the suspicion of murder and
abduction. When he concluded his narrative and quitted the witness stand
he and Vampa exchanged glances of bitter and vindictive hate, and it
required all the strength of the policemen in charge of the prisoner to
keep him from leaping from the dock and attempting to take summary
vengeance upon the fearless and outspoken witness.

The Viscount Massetti now took the stand. He gave the full history of
his acquaintance with Annunziata Solara from the meeting in the Piazza
del Popolo to the encounter with Vampa in the forest and the
administration of the oath of silence, speaking with such evident
sincerity and feeling that his testimony acquired additional weight
thereby. The brigand chief watched him closely, listening to his
testimony with a contemptuous smile. When the young Italian returned to
Monte-Cristo and resumed his seat his pale visage was a mass of
perspiration and great agitation had possession of him.

"Call Pasquale Solara," said the Cardinal to the clerk, after referring
to a paper upon the desk in front of him.

"Pasquale Solara!" cried the clerk, immediately.

There was a stir in the audience and four soldiers of the Sw