Monte-Cristo's Daughter
"My daughter!" cried the Count. "Then, thank God, she is alive!"
They reached another cell, the door of which, like that of Peppino's,
was fastened by a bar. Within the cell the low moaning continued.
Monte-Cristo seized the bar, whirled it aside and flung open the door;
then he sprang into the cell, calling wildly on his daughter.
Zuleika was lying in a corner upon a heap of straw and moaning
piteously. At the sound of her father's voice, however, she was on her
feet in an instant and cast herself rapturously into his arms.
"Are you safe, my darling child?" said the Count, covering her face with
kisses. "Did the bandits respect you?"
"I am safe, dear father," answered Zuleika, "safe and uninjured. The
bandits frightened me and the solitude and terrors of this dark, dismal
dungeon have been fearful to endure. But all my troubles are over now
that you are here!"
The Count then directed the guide to conduct them to the bandits'
stables and there his horses and barouche were found. The equipage was
taken to the open air, and after placing his daughter in the vehicle the
Count left her in charge of Peppino and several soldiers of the Swiss
Guard, returning to the cavern to bring the work of the expedition to a
close.
When Monte-Cristo reached the point where the Swiss Guard and their
prisoners were assembled, he found Captain Morrel superintending the
placing of an aged bandit upon an improvised stretcher.
"During your absence, Count," said he, his face radiant with joy, "we
made the most important capture of the night! This old man is Pasquale
Solara!"
"Where did you find him?" asked the Count.
"In a large cell used by the outlaws as an infirmary. He says he is
mortally wounded and slowly dying, that his wound was inflicted by a
Roman nobleman who met him upon the highway--a very likely story,
truly!"
"It is a fact," answered Monte-Cristo. "The Roman nobleman who wounded
him was Giovanni Massetti! But, thank God, he is still alive and will
probably last until Vampa's trial at which I may be able to force him to
speak out. Have him carefully attended to, Maximilian!"
The captives were formed in line and, none being too much disabled to
walk, save old Solara who was borne along on his stretcher, they were
marched to Rome surrounded by the triumphant Swiss Guard. Monte-Cristo,
Maximilian and Zuleika followed in the Count's barouche, Peppino
officiating as coachman.
CHAPTER XXIX.
VAMPA'S TRIAL.
The successful result of the raid upon the bandits made Monte-Cristo and
Captain Morrel the heroes of the hour in Rome. Everywhere they went
crowds assembled to gaze upon them and they were greeted with hearty
cheers and loud acclamations of joy. Truth to tell the Roman people both
high and low had very much to thank them for. The outlaws' band was
completely broken up and every member of it was safely bestowed in the
dungeons of the Castle of St. Angelo, where, as already stated, the
redoubtable leader the notorious brigand chief, Luigi Vampa himself,
also languished, awaiting whatever disposition the authorities might
choose to make of him with anything but stoicism, for he did not doubt
that it would go hard with him. Vampa's arrest was considered as
directly due to Monte-Cristo, for had he not come to visit the Count it
was improbable that he would ever have been captured. By the advice of
Monte-Cristo also the bandits' subterranean retreat had been filled with
powder and blown to atoms. No wonder, therefore, the Romans were
grateful to the illustrious Frenchman and his able assistant Captain
Morrel.
Old Pasquale Solara had been placed in a hospital where he was closely
watched and had the attendance of a competent physician, for the Count
had assured Cardinal Monti that he could perhaps be made an important
witness against Vampa at his forthcoming trial. After examining the
shepherd's wound the physician had given his opinion that it was fatal,
but that by resorting to proper and judicious measures the old man's
life could be prolonged sufficiently to enable him to testify.
Valentine was much affected when she heard from Zuleika's lips the story
of her seizure by the brigands and her imprisonment in the dark, damp
cell of their cavern fastness, but her emotion was tempered with joy
that her beloved friend had escaped with no other injury than the shock
resulting from her fright and natural apprehensions.
When Giovanni learned of his betrothed's dangerous adventure and the
perils that had encompassed her his indignation knew no bounds, and in
addition he felt considerably hurt that Monte-Cristo had not allowed him
to participate in her rescue. The Count and his daughter, however,
succeeded in calming him and in convincing him that all had been done
for the best. He was further propitiated by Monte-Cristo's assurance
that he could now act openly and without fear of prejudicing his case,
as the criminals were secured and the end was surely approaching.
Cardinal Monti decided that Vampa's trial should take place within a
week and that the first charge investigated should be that relating to
the abduction of Annunziata Solara and the conspiracy against the
Viscount Massetti. This decision was brought about by the influence of
the Count of Monte-Cristo, who represented to the Papal Secretary of
State the importance of utilizing the testimony of old Pasquale Solara
while he was yet in a condition to give it.
The Count resolved to make a final effort to convince Annunziata Solara
of Giovanni's innocence, though he had determined to employ her evidence
in any event, trusting to the lawyers and the Court to extract such
admissions from her as would tend to show that she was mistaken in
regard to the identity of her abductor. He knew the former flower-girl
was conscientious and firmly believed in her theory, but still he was
not without hope that she might be led to see matters as they really
were. Besides, if her father should see fit to confess she could not
fail to be convinced of Vampa's guilt and in that case the expression of
her conviction would be of the utmost value.
In pursuit of his plan Monte-Cristo at once communicated with Mme. de
Rancogne at the Refuge in Civita Vecchia, begging her to bring
Annunziata to Rome without an instant's delay. She promptly responded by
appearing at the Hotel de France with her protegee and the Count
arranged an interview between the latter and young Massetti in his
salon. When Annunziata accompanied by the Superior of the Order of
Sisters of Refuge entered the apartment and found Giovanni waiting for
her there she flushed deeply and began to tremble.
"Courage, my poor child," said Mme. de Rancogne, soothingly, "courage!"
"Sister Annunziata," said the Count, who was also in the salon, "have
no fear. All we wish in this peculiarly unfortunate matter is to get at
the truth. Hear what the Viscount has to say in his own behalf--that is
only justice!"
The flush on the girl's handsome countenance was succeeded by an ashen
paleness, but she eventually managed to obtain control of herself.
Casting down her eyes, she said:
"I will hear what the Viscount Massetti has to say, but he will not, he
cannot, deny his shameful and dishonorable conduct towards me!"
Giovanni, hardly less affected than the girl who supposed herself his
victim, advanced to her and took her hand. She did not refuse to let him
hold it in his, but studiously refrained from looking him in the face.
"Annunziata," said Massetti, humbly, "I do not deny that my conduct
towards you in the past was altogether reprehensible and unpardonable. I
do not deny that circumstances so shaped themselves that I was made to
seem a wretched, despicable criminal in your eyes; but, Annunziata, I
stopped short of actual guilt, and as Heaven is my witness I had no hand
either in your abduction or the horrible events that accompanied and
followed it! This I swear, and this is God's truth!"
Annunziata lifted her eyes and gave him a searching glance.
"I understand your anxiety to clear yourself," she said, slowly. "With a
stain on your name you cannot marry the Count of Monte-Cristo's
beautiful daughter!"
It was a keen, cutting thrust and made Giovanni wince, but he recovered
himself instantly.
"I am anxious to clear my name that I may wed Zuleika," he replied,
steadily and firmly, "but I am also anxious because I am innocent of all
criminal action--innocent of your abduction, of your dishonor and of
your brother's blood! Annunziata, do you still decline to believe my
solemn assertions?"
"I would gladly believe them if I could," responded the girl; "but,
alas! I cannot! I saw your face when your mask fell from it that
dreadful night in the forest! I heard the tones of your voice afterwards
in the hut guarded by the bandits! What more convincing evidence could I
require?"
"You were mistaken, Annunziata, you were fearfully mistaken!" cried the
young Italian, overwhelming despair seizing upon him and crushing the
hope in his heart. He could not convince the former flower-girl, he
could not even shake her convictions! He had failed with her as
Monte-Cristo had previously failed at the Refuge in Civita Vecchia! Up
to this time he had continued to hold Annunziata's hand, but now he
dropped it as if it had been some venomous serpent.
Annunziata was deeply affected, but her emotion arose from an altogether
different cause. She felt her shame and disgrace and was, besides,
horrified at the idea that she had once hung upon the honeyed words of
such a scoundrel as in her view the Viscount Massetti had proved to be.
Monte-Cristo was now thoroughly satisfied that Giovanni could effect
nothing with Annunziata and that a further prolongation of the interview
would only be fraught with additional suffering for both the girl and
young Massetti; he, therefore, requested Mme. de Rancogne to take her
protegee to her apartment, and when they had quitted the salon said to
the Viscount:
"We must trust this girl to the lawyers and judges, Giovanni. They
perhaps may be sufficiently shrewd to shake her testimony even should
old Solara elect to maintain silence on the subject that vitally
concerns us."
At the appointed time the trial of Luigi Vampa began in the Judgment
Hall of the Vatican, which was crowded to its utmost capacity, both men
and women being present and striving to push forward so as to obtain a
glimpse of the notorious brigand chief and of the first witness
Annunziata Solara.
Cardinal Monti in person presided, assisted by two subordinate
Cardinals. In the portion of the hall railed off for the use of the bar
sat Monte-Cristo and the Viscount Massetti with their lawyers, the best
and most acute advocates in Rome, while just without the rail were M.
Morrel and Esperance, the latter having come from Paris expressly to
attend the trial, though at his request his testimony was not to be
demanded of him. Just within the rail and close beside Maximilian and
the son of Monte-Cristo Valentine and Zuleika were seated, both closely
veiled. Near them sat Mme. de Rancogne and the unfortunate Annunziata
Solara, clad in the dark gray habits of the Order of the Sisters of
Refuge, their white faces plainly visible beneath the nuns' bonnets of
spotless linen they wore. Peppino sat beside the Count.
There was a low murmur of conversation in the Judgment Hall, as the
audience discussed the probable issue of the trial and expressed diverse
opinions, though all were agreed that whatever might be the decision of
the Court in regard to the abduction and conspiracy Luigi Vampa would
not escape punishment for the crimes he had committed in his capacity of
chief of the bandits.
Presently Cardinal Monti arose, magnificent in his princely apparel and