. If, on the contrary, his aid
should be needed, he could come forward and give it. In that event,
gratitude on the Viscount's part would prevent him from demanding an
explanation of his presence.

Meanwhile the young men had continued their stroll and had passed from
the Piazza del Popolo to the Corso. Giovanni was taciturn and moody. He
looked straight ahead, failing to notice the gayly attired beauties
thronging that great thoroughfare, who at ordinary times would have
engrossed his attention. Not so with Esperance; he admired the vivacious
ladies on the sidewalk or in their handsome carriages drawn by spirited
horses. Now and then he recognized an acquaintance among them and bowed,
but Giovanni recognized no one. He seemed plunged in a reverie that
nothing could break. Scarcely did he reply to Esperance's occasional
remarks, and when he did so it was with the air of a man whose thoughts
are far away.

At the broad portico of the magnificent Palazzo Massetti, Esperance, the
son of Monte-Cristo bade his friend farewell. As he turned to depart, he
said:

"Is your determination still unaltered, do you yet intend to seek
Annunziata Solara in the country beyond the Trastavere?"

Giovanni glanced at him keenly, as he replied, somewhat impatiently:

"My determination is unaltered. I shall seek her!"

"To-night?"

"To-night!"

Esperance said nothing further, but departed, full of sad forebodings.
He felt a premonition of evil, and was certain that his infatuated
friend would meet with some dire mishap during the romantic and
hazardous expedition of that night. It was now quite late, and the young
man hurriedly bent his steps towards the Palazzo Costi, maturing his
plan as he walked along. He would inform the Count of Monte-Cristo that
he had been invited to accompany some friends on a pleasure excursion,
requesting his permission to absent himself from Rome for a few days.
This permission obtained, he would assume the garb of an Italian
peasant, make his way to the Ponte St. Angelo and there, in the shadow
of the bridge, await the coming of the Viscount Massetti. When the
latter had passed his place of concealment, he would follow him at a
distance, keeping him in view and watching him closely.

Monte-Cristo made no objection to his son's proposed absence, and the
young man, after a hasty supper, hurried to his sleeping chamber, where
he soon assumed a peasant's dress he had worn at a recent masquerade.
Stepping