es and his wife?" asked Flocon.

"Who really are any of us?" laughingly rejoined Louis Blanc.

"Who really is any one in Paris," continued Marrast, "the blood-royal
always and alone excepted?"

"Of M. Dantes this only is known," said Louis Blanc, "that for five or
six years past he has been a Deputy from Marseilles, Lyons and other
southern cities, all of which have been eager to honor themselves by
returning him as their representative, as one of the boldest and most
eloquent Republicans in all France; as for Madame Dantes, we know her to
have once been the Countess de Morcerf, but now the wife of our friend,
and one of the noblest and most lovely matrons in Paris. What need have
we to know more? But our friend comes."

While this conversation was proceeding, Dantes and Mercedes had joined
each other, and their hands were quietly clasped.

"Is all well, Edmond?" was the anxious inquiry of the fond wife, in low,
soft, musical tones, as she fixed upon his pale face her dark eyes,
beaming with the tenderest solicitude.

"All is well, love," replied the husband. "You will pardon my protracted
absence, when I tell you it has been unavoidable--will you not,
Mercedes?"

"Will I not? What a question! But I have been so anxious for your
safety, knowing the perilous business in which you are engaged; and the
night is so tempestuous."

"You forget that I have a constitution of iron, dear," replied Dantes;
"you forget that I was a sailor once, and the storms were my
playthings!"

"But you will go home with me now, Edmond, will you not?" she anxiously
asked, placing her little white hand on his arm and gazing beseechingly
into his eyes.

"Have I ever passed one night from your arms, my Mercedes, since we
were wed?" was the whispered response. "Ah! love, any pillow but thy
soft bosom would be to me a thorny one! You have spoiled me forever!" he
added, smiling.

"And shall we go now, Edmond?" eagerly asked the delighted woman. "Oh!
I'm so weary of this fete!"

"I must exchange a few words with our friend Louis Blanc, whom I see
yonder, with others of our party, and then, dear, we will to our pillow.
We are both weary. Au revoir!"

"Edmond--Edmond!" cried the lady, as her husband was going, "do you see
Joliette and Louise in the redowa yonder?"

Dantes looked and, with a well pleased smile, nodded assent; a more
brilliant and well-matched pair could hardly have been found, Joliette
in the splendid uniform of an offi