ot solve. What is the Count of Monte-Cristo to you that you swoon at
the mere sight of him? You certainly could not have been in any way
associated with his past life, have suffered from the signal vengeance
he took upon his enemies years ago!"

Mlle. d' Armilly paused suddenly in her excited walk, and, seizing the
Captain by the arm with so strong a clutch that a thrill of pain shot
through him, cried, menacingly:

"If you dare to mention Monte-Cristo's fiendish vengeance to me again, I
will banish you forever from my presence!"

At that moment one of the officials of the theatre appeared at the
dressing-room door.

"A note for mademoiselle," said he, bowing profoundly.

The prima donna took the missive from the man and glanced at the
address upon the envelope. As she did so, she knitted her brows and
cried out:

"His handwriting! Another insult! I will not read it!"

The official withdrew in confusion.

"Whose handwriting?" asked Joliette, his curiosity and jealousy
simultaneously excited. Mlle. d' Armilly had frequently referred to her
numerous admirers and the letters she received from them, and the
Captain naturally jumped to the conclusion that this note had been sent
by some ardent Roman suitor. He considered the artiste's exclamation and
assumption of displeasure as mere artful tricks designed to deceive him.

"Whose handwriting?" repeated Mlle. d' Armilly; scornfully. "Must I
explain everything to you?"

The young man had borne all his companion in her anger had heaped upon
him with comparative equanimity, but he could not bear the idea of a
rival, the very thought was torture.

"Louise," he pleaded, "let me see that letter, let me read it."

"What! Must you needs examine my private correspondence! Captain
Joliette, you are going too far! You have done enough to-night, without
adding insult to injury!"

"I did not seek to injure you, Louise, God knows! Neither do I wish to
insult you; but that letter I must and will read!"

"You talk as if I were already your wife and slave. Adopt another and
less authoritative tone, monsieur. Captain Joliette, you are not yet my
husband!"

"Would that I were and were sure of your love, Louise! The continual
uncertainty in which you keep me is insupportable! You refuse to let me
read that letter?"

The young man, in his turn, began to pace the dressing-room excitedly,
his jealous suspicions growing stronger and stronger.

Mlle. d' Armilly gazed at him triu