should be sufficient for you. My lover and my enemy cannot
be friends. Choose between us!"

"Would you have me quarrel with him?"

"Quarrel with him? Yes; and not only that! I would have you fight him,
kill him!"

The young man stood aghast. He was totally unprepared for this
explosion, this savage, vindictive demand.

"Fight him, kill him, Louise! You cannot, you do not mean what you say!"

"Am I in the habit of using idle words?"

"Louise, Louise, I entreat you, do not impose such horrible conditions
upon me!"

"Are you afraid of Monte-Cristo?"

"I am afraid of no man living, Louise; but I cannot challenge
Monte-Cristo to a duel even for you!"

"Then you refuse to protect, to champion me?"

"Oh! Louise, how can you speak thus! I would gladly shed every drop of
blood in my veins for you, gladly lay down my life for you, but do not
ask me to lift a hand against the Count of Monte-Cristo!"

The beautiful woman looked at the energetic speaker haughtily and
discontentedly. She was not a little disappointed. She had thought her
influence over her suitor unbounded, but now it appeared that it had
its limits. She, however, did not despair. Well knowing the wonderful
fascination she possessed for men, she determined to bring all its
batteries to bear upon Captain Joliette. She was bent on wreaking a
terrible vengeance upon the Count of Monte-Cristo for some mysterious
injury he had inflicted on her in the past, an injury in regard to which
she refused to be communicative even to her accepted lover, and was
resolved that Joliette should give the highest proof of his devotion to
her by becoming the instrument of that vengeance.

With the shrewdness of an experienced woman of the world, she readily
saw that a special effort would be required on her part to bend the
gallant soldier to her will and compel him to execute her inexorable
purpose. She would make that special effort and, in making it, would
render herself so captivating, so enticing, so desirable that Joliette
could not fail to be intoxicated with her charms and fascinations. Then
under the mad sway of his blind passion, excited to the utmost, he would
be ready to do anything for her, anything, even to the commission of a
crime, even to shedding the blood of his dearest friend!

At this juncture Mlle. d' Armilly, turning from the Captain as if in
high displeasure, for it was an important part of her plan to assume a
certain degree of coldness towards him