mphantly. She was proud of the vast
influence she exercised over this brave and manly warrior. He would
stand unmoved before the cannon's mouth, but she could make him quail
and tremble!

"You refuse to let me read that letter?" he repeated.

"What if I do not refuse?" said she, in a softer tone.

"You will make me a very happy man!"

"Then read it, for I will not! Thus I show my contempt for its miserable
and cowardly author!"

She crumpled the note in her hand and cast it on the floor. Then she
placed her foot upon it.

Joliette stooped and took it from beneath her boot. He straightened out
the envelope, opened it, removed the missive and read as follows:

"The Count of Monte-Cristo presents his respects to Mlle. d' Armilly,
and begs leave to express his deep regret that his presence in Captain
Joliette's box was the cause of such a grave catastrophe. He is utterly
at a loss to realize why Mlle. d' Armilly should entertain so profound
an aversion for him, and why the sight of him should so seriously affect
her. If Mlle. d' Armilly would condescend to explain, he would regard it
as a special favor. He trusts that Captain Joliette will in nowise be
blamed for what has occurred, as that gentleman, when he invited the
Count to share his box, was as thoroughly convinced as the Count himself
that Mlle. d' Armilly did not know and would not recognize him."

As Joliette read the last lines that so completely cleared him, he could
not suppress an exclamation of joy.

"Louise," he cried, "the Count of Monte-Cristo has written to exculpate
me!"

"Indeed!" replied the prima donna, contemptuously.

"Yes; he also apologizes to you and asks you to explain why the sight of
him so seriously affects you."

"He asks an explanation, does he?" cried Mlle. d' Armilly, her anger
resuming sway. "He shall never have one!"

"But you will pardon me, as you see I am altogether blameless?"

"I will hold your pardon under advisement, Captain. My action towards
you will be greatly influenced by your future conduct in regard to the
wretch who calls himself Monte-Cristo!"

"You surely do not wish me to cast him off, to shun him?"

"Do you prefer him to me?"

"I love you, Louise, love you better than anything or anybody else in
the whole world! But I greatly esteem the Count of Monte-Cristo. There
are ties between us that you do not understand."

"I do not care to understand them. I have told you that this man is my
enemy. That