om
and Giovanni entered proudly with the lovely Zuleika hanging upon his
arm, her beauty heightened by her blushes and diffidence. She wore a
magnificent robe of white satin that a Queen might have envied and the
radiance of diamonds of inestimable value flashed from a tasteful
necklace that adorned her pearly throat; upon her night black hair
rested a wreath of orange blossoms and her flowing bridal veil was
fastened back by a sparkling emerald pin.. A murmur of admiration and
approval arose from the guests as they beheld Monte-Cristo's daughter
and noted her unequaled charms.

The procession to St. Peter's was witnessed by compact masses of
spectators, who loudly cheered the bride and groom and hailed with
tumultuous applause all the well-known personages as they in turn
appeared.

Within the vast cathedral the concourse was immense, but was kept at a
suitable distance by uniformed ushers.

The Pope himself united the young couple in the holy bonds of wedlock,
having consented to do so in consequence of his high esteem for the
Massetti house, the oldest and most aristocratic in his dominions, and
out of consideration for the Count of Monte-Cristo, whose wonderful
history had penetrated even the august portals of the Vatican. At the
close of the impressive ceremony His Holiness blessed the newly-made
husband and wife, and immediately afterwards the grand organ burst out
with a triumphal peal, an unseen choir chanting a jubilant marriage
hymn, whereupon the bride and groom surrounded by their bridesmaids and
groomsmen, Esperance holding the first place among the latter, received
the congratulations of their relatives and friends.

That night there was unbounded festivity at the Palazzo Massetti, the
glad celebration terminating with a grand ball and an elaborate supper.
The next morning Giovanni and Zuleika started upon an extended bridal
tour which was to embrace the most interesting portions of Europe.

Eventually they settled in Paris, as they had originally decided, where
Giovanni bought a magnificent residence, furnishing it with all the
luxury of the orient.

Their married life was as happy as it was favored, and Zuleika never had
occasion to regret that she had clung to Giovanni when all the rest of
the world seemed to have deserted him.

Esperance and the young husband at once became as fast friends as ever,
and the dark cloud that had separated them in the past was completely
forgotten.

The Count of