CHAPTER XVIII.

MORE OF PEPPINO'S STORY.

Monte-Cristo was horrified by what he had heard. His whole soul revolted

at the idea of a father who could deliberately and in cold blood sell

his daughter, at the idea of a wretch who with equal deliberation could

cast the blame of a villainy committed by himself upon an innocent man.

It had seemed very strange to the Count, at the time Luigi Vampa had

written to him, that the brigand chief should be so thoroughly posted in

regard to the innocence of Esperance and the guilt of the Viscount

Massetti, but in the light of the astounding revelations just made by

Peppino it became abundantly clear that Vampa in the young Italian's

case had been actuated by the strongest possible motive, namely, the

desire to shield himself, and that in order to do so effectually he had

not shrunk from the vilest and most complete falsehood. Of course, Vampa

had not wished to inculpate Esperance because of the old-time compact,

the relations that had subsisted between him and Monte-Cristo in the

past; that was equally plain; besides one victim was sufficient, and in

selecting Massetti as that victim the brigand chief had evidently acted

at the instigation of old Pasquale Solara.

Peppino proceeded with his disclosures.

"Signor Count," said he, "I had long suspected that something was on

the carpet between Vampa and old Solara. The moody and morose shepherd

did not at first come to the bandits' haunt, but in response to a signal

he used, a peculiar vibrating whistle, the chief would go out alone and

meet him. This signal and Vampa's actions aroused my curiosity; more

than once I followed the chief and, securely hidden behind a tree or a

rock, witnessed the secret meetings, overhearing portions of the

conversation. Annunziata Solara was frequently mentioned, and the father

seemed to be endeavouring to drive a hard bargain with Vampa. At last

one night they came to an understanding. I heard the chief agree to pay

old Pasquale an enormous sum of money upon the delivery of Annunziata

into his hands, and then I realized that the nefarious sale had been

concluded. It was decided that the ill-fated girl should be passed over

to Vampa at the first opportunity, and that opportunity came when the

Viscount Massetti and your son Esperance were domiciled at the isolated

cabin in the forest.

"I was on the alert and when, after assuring himself of the arrival of

the two young men at his hut, old Pasquale sought the bandits'

rendezvous and sounded his vibrating signal, I heard it. Stealthily

following Vampa, I concealed myself as I had done on previous occasions.

I was now thoroughly familiar with the details of the base transaction

in progress between the precious pair and could readily comprehend even

their most obscure and guarded allusions. Old Solara informed the chief

that the young men had arrived, proposing that Vampa should abduct

Annunziata at the earliest possible moment, so arranging matters that

suspicion would fall upon the Viscount Massetti. This the chief agreed

to do. The shepherd was to keep him posted, and the abduction was to

take place when circumstances were best calculated to promote the

success of all the phases of the villainous plot. With this

understanding the conspirators separated.

"Fate sided with old Pasquale and Vampa. His wound kept the Viscount at

the cabin and the fair Annunziata nursed him. He had become smitten with

her beauty the day he met her in the Piazza del Popolo. Intimate

association with her intensified her influence over him, and when he had

been in the cabin nearly a week and convalescence had begun he made

violent love to her, even going so far as to ask her to fly with him.

Esperance divined his friend's intentions and, knowing that Massetti

could not marry the girl, interposed to save her. The result was a

quarrel and your son challenged the Viscount to fight him. The challenge

was instantly accepted and it was arranged that the duel should occur on

the following morning.

"Faithful to his promise to Vampa, old Solara, while pretending to be

absent from home, lurked in the vicinity and kept track of all that was

going on. He was hidden beneath the open window when Massetti or Tonio,

as he called himself, for both the Viscount and Esperance were passing

under assumed names, proposed flight to his daughter. Instantly he

hastened to the brigand chief, who had been prowling in the

neighborhood of the hut all day, and gleefully communicated to him what

he had heard. It was immediately decided that the time for the abduction

had come and preparations were made to carry off Annunziata that very

night. Vampa wrote a criminating letter to the girl purporting to come

from Massetti, and old Solara, stealing unobserved into the hut, placed

it beneath his daughter's work-box on her table where she afterwards

found it. It was not for a moment supposed that the girl would consent

to fly with the Viscount, for though gay and light-hearted she was pure

and innocent; the note was simply intended to fill Annunziata's mind,

after the abduction, with the idea that Massetti was her abductor."

"What shrewd, far-seeing villainy!" muttered Monte-Cristo, between his

teeth.

"That night there was no moon," continued Peppino, "and, after all the

inmates of the cabin had retired to rest, old Pasquale waited outside

with a torch while Vampa made his way to Annunziata's chamber, tore her

from her couch and carried her to the forest, preventing her from giving

the alarm by placing his hand over her mouth. He was masked and the

shepherd kept at such a distance that it was utterly impossible for his

daughter to recognize him. As Vampa ran through the forest with his

burden, he struck his arm against a tree and the pain caused him to take

his hand for a second from Annunziata's mouth. The poor girl profited by

this opportunity to scream and her cry brought first her brother, then

the Viscount and then Esperance to her aid.

"The brother on reaching Vampa attacked him fiercely. Dropping the

girl, who stood rooted to the spot, the chief drew a pistol and fired at

his assailant. The latter was hit and staggered back, the blood gushing

from his wound. Somehow during the struggle Vampa became unmasked and,

in the prevailing obscurity, Annunziata naturally imagined that the face

suddenly uncovered and as quickly masked again was that of her suitor,

the so-called Tonio. Having disposed of the brother, who afterwards ran

back towards the cabin, met Esperance, rushed into his arms and then

fell to the ground where he died, the brigand chief seized Annunziata,

who meanwhile had swooned, and resumed his flight through the forest.

Hearing the sound of further pursuit, Vampa paused in dismay and

listened. Three persons seemed to be rapidly approaching. The chief

thereupon concealed the unconscious girl behind a huge fragment of rock

and threw himself flat upon the ground, hoping thus to escape

observation. As he did so he saw the glare of old Solara's torch. It

flashed full in the face of a peasant, a perfect stranger, who had heard

Annunziata's cry and come to the rescue. The shepherd had a knife in one

hand; he instantly cast away his torch and closed in desperate conflict

with the new comer. At that moment the Viscount came upon the scene,

moving as if to take the part of the stranger. Vampa leaped up, grasped

him by the throat and, under the threat of instant death if he refused,

forced him to take an oath of silence in regard to the events of the

night. Massetti was so bewildered that he scarcely knew what he was

doing. No sooner had he taken the oath than Vampa treacherously dealt

him a crushing blow that sent him reeling to the ground, where he lay

motionless and unconscious. Then the chief again threw himself upon the

soil, springing up once more to face Esperance. The latter aimed a

pistol at him, but he whirled it from his hand. Then the young man

struck fiercely at him, but Vampa dodged the blow and his adversary fell

forward from his own impetus on a thick growth of moss beside Massetti's

prostrate form. Taking prompt advantage of his opportunity, the chief

secured possession of the yet unconscious Annunziata and this time

succeeded in bearing her in triumph to a hut he had provided for her

reception."

Peppino then proceeded to relate what the reader has already learned

from Annunziata's pitiful recital to Mme. de Rancogne in the Refuge at

Civita Vecchia. When he had concluded, he glanced at his auditor and

said:

"Are you satisfied, Signor Count?"

"I am," answered Monte-Cristo, in a hoarse voice that sounded strangely

unlike his own. "You have fully earned the freedom of yourself and your

comrade Beppo. The tale of black iniquity you have so vividly told me

might seem improbable in other ears but to me it bears the impress of

truth. One point, however, is obscure. I cannot imagine in what manner

you learned the particulars of certain events in your narrative, events

which you could not have witnessed with your own eyes. Enlighten me on

this point."

"Willingly," answered Peppino, without the slightest hesitation. "I

learned the details you speak of partly from Vampa himself and partly

from old Solara. The twain compared notes after the latter had openly

joined the bandits, and I took good care to overhear their

conversation."

Monte-Cristo had arisen and now paced the cell for several moments

plunged in deep thought. His brow was cloudy and dark, but his eyes

sparkled fiercely and his hands were clenched so tightly that his nails

left red marks in his flesh. The Italian still sitting on the edge of

his bed watched him narrowly, not knowing what to make of his

preoccupation and agitated by a vague fear lest he might refuse to

fulfil his promise. At length Monte-Cristo appeared to have solved the

knotty problem that had perplexed him and to have arrived at a decision.

He came in front of the Italian, halted and, gazing steadfastly at him,

said:

"My good fellow, I have, as you know, obtained freedom for yourself and

Beppo by pledging my word to the Procureur de la Republique that both of

you shall at once quit the country. On your side you have done as you

agreed and I am now about to execute my part of the bargain."

Peppino's countenance assumed an expression of the utmost delight. All

his apprehensions instantly vanished.

"Now," continued Monte-Cristo, impressively, "I have a proposition to

make to you. You can be exceedingly useful to me if you will and at the

same time acquire a large sum of money honestly and honorably."

The Italian's eyes glittered with pleasure.

"Name your proposition, Signor Count," he said, enthusiastically. "I

accept it in advance. But is Beppo included in it?"

"He is," answered the Count. "The revelations you have made to me have

decided me to go to Rome at once. I shall take my daughter with me, as

well as my Nubian servant Ali. I desire you and Beppo to enter my

service and accompany me. Humanity demands that I use all my influence

to right the unfortunate Viscount Massetti, and I wish you to aid me in

the work."

"I will do as you desire, Signor Count," said the Italian, "and I will

promise that Beppo shall also comply with your wishes."

"Very well," rejoined Monte-Cristo. "It is understood and agreed upon.

One condition, however, I must exact. You and Beppo must hold no

communication with Luigi Vampa or any of his band, at least not until I

so direct."

"The condition shall be scrupulously observed, Signor Count. While in

your service your commands shall be our only law."

"It is sufficient. Now I am going to set you and Beppo at liberty. You

will at once accompany me to my residence and there the preparations for

our departure will immediately be made. We shall start for Rome

to-morrow."

"As your Excellency pleases," said the Italian.

Monte-Cristo summoned the gardien on duty at the poste, directing him

to produce Beppo, and soon the Count and the Italians were seated in the

former's barouche and being rapidly driven by Ali towards the mansion on

the Rue du Helder.

No sooner had they arrived at their destination than the Count, giving

the new additions to his retinue into the charge of the faithful Nubian,

repaired to his study, summoning Zuleika to him. The girl hastened to

obey the summons, and the sight of her father's pale, stern countenance

instantly told her that something very unusual and important had taken

place.

"My child," said the Count, taking her tenderly in his arms and gazing

fondly into her upturned, anxious face, "I have to-day received some

very startling intelligence."

Zuleika's heart beat wildly at this announcement; she felt convinced

that the very startling intelligence concerned her unfortunate,

long-silent lover.

"Father," said she, in a tremulous voice, "have you received word from

the Viscount Massetti?"

"No, my child," answered Monte-Cristo; "but tidings of the gravest

nature relating to him have been imparted to me."

"Tidings of the gravest nature, father! Is it possible that he is dead?"

As she uttered the last words, the poor girl burst into a flood of

tears.

"No, my child," replied the Count. "Young Massetti is not dead."

"Has he succeeded in clearing himself of that terrible charge?" the

girl asked, trembling with anxiety.

"Alas! no! But he is innocent, Zuleika, as innocent of the dreadful

crime imputed to him as the babe unborn! Of that you can rest assured,

for the proof of his innocence is in my hands!"

Zuleika gave a wild cry of joy and flung her arms about her father's

neck.

"Calm yourself, my child," resumed Monte-Cristo; "all will yet be well.

I start for Rome to-morrow with Ali and two of Giovanni's friends. Be

ready to accompany me!"

Zuleika's ecstasy was almost beyond bounds; but alas! she did not know

that Giovanni's mind had been overthrown by the shame and disgrace that

had been heaped upon him!