n of a
house at Auteuil. The night before the criminal had had a long interview
with Monte Cristo's steward, who had disclosed to the prisoner the
secret of his birth, and in court he declared his father was Villefort,
the public prosecutor! This statement made a great commotion in the
court, and all eyes were on Villefort, while Benedetto continued to
answer the questions of the president, and proved that he was the child
whom Villefort would have buried alive years before. The public
prosecutor himself confirmed the prisoner's story by admitting his
guilt, and staggering from the court.

When Villefort arrived at his own house he found everything in
confusion. Making his way to his wife's apartments, he had the horror of
meeting her while she still lived, just at the very instant when the
poison she had taken did its work, and of finding a moment or two after
that she had poisoned his little son Edward.

This was more than the brain of man could endure, and Villefort turned
from the tragic scene a raving madman, rushing wildly to the garden, and
beginning to dig with a spade.

The vengeance of Edmond Dantes, so long delayed, so carefully and
laboriously planned, was now complete, and it only remained for him to
perform the last of his marvels, at the same time giving proof of his
boundless generosity. Valentine de Villefort had been buried, and
Maximilian was in despair; but Monte Cristo urged the young man to have
patience and hope.

It seemed a strange thing to ask a lover whose sweetheart had been
placed within the tomb to have hope and to come to Monte Cristo in one
month. But this was the bargain they made.

When the month had passed, Maximilian came to the isle of Monte Cristo.

"I have your word," he said to the count, "that you would help me die or
give me Valentine!"

"Ah! A miracle alone can save you--the resurrection of Valentine! Thus
do I fulfil my promise!"

Monte Cristo turned to a jewelled cabinet, and took from it a tube of
greenish paste. Maximilian swallowed some of the mysterious substance,
which was but hashish. He sat down and waited.

"Monte Cristo," he said, "I feel that I am dying--good-bye!"

Meanwhile, Monte Cristo had opened a door from which a great light
streamed. Maximilian opened his eyes, looked towards the light; and
then--he saw Valentine!

Then Monte Cristo spoke. "He calls you, Valentine, even as he thinks he
dies by his own will. But even as I saved you from the tomb