Monte-Cristo's Daughter
Esperance uncertainty prevailed for some moments. They had been unable
to catch what old Solara had said, to glean more than a general idea
that his testimony had been against Vampa. As soon, however, as his
emotion permitted him to do so Giovanni went to them and communicated
the glad tidings. Zuleika was almost overcome by the immensity of her
joy and with difficultly restrained herself from embracing her lover
directly in the face of the august Court and the assembled spectators.
Valentine was ready to weep with delight and her husband felt as much
triumph as if he had won a decisive victory over the combined enemies of
France. As for Esperance, he was both enraptured and ashamed--enraptured
that the dark stain was removed from Giovanni's name and ashamed that he
had been so blind and unjust as to wrongfully suspect him.
When the gist of Pasquale Solara's evidence was whispered around among
the audience the Court officers were powerless to suppress the
expressions of horror and enthusiasm. Had the shepherd not been closely
guarded by the soldiers he certainly would have been torn to pieces and
trodden under foot, so great was the tide of popular indignation against
him. At last, however, the tumult subsided and Cardinal Monti,
addressing the brigand chief, said:
"Luigi Vampa, prisoner at the bar, you have heard the testimony. What
have you to say in your defense?"
Vampa forced to his feet by the policemen replied, doggedly and
sullenly:
"Nothing!"
Cardinal Monti then turned to his associates on the judicial bench and a
brief conference ensued, after which he arose and facing Vampa said,
solemnly:
"Luigi Vampa, prisoner at the bar, the judgment of the Papal Court is
that you are guilty, first of the murder of Lorenzo Solara, though as he
attacked you the crime has been placed in the second degree, second of
the abduction of Annunziata Solara, and third of conspiracy to indelibly
blacken the character of a worthy Roman nobleman, the Viscount Giovanni
Massetti. Luigi Vampa, prisoner at the bar, the sentence of the Papal
Court is that you be taken hence back to your dungeon in the Castle of
St. Angelo, there to undergo solitary imprisonment for life. As this
sentence renders it unnecessary to proceed to an examination of the
other and less important charge against you, that of robbery on the
public highways and of maltreating your captives, your trial is now at
an end. Luigi Vampa, prisoner at the bar, may God have mercy upon you
and bring you to repentance and ultimate salvation!"
Cardinal Monti resumed his seat amid loud murmurs of applause and
satisfaction. When these died away the clerk declared the Court
adjourned, the convict was removed and the audience slowly dispersed.
Mme. de Rancogne and Annunziata Solara immediately returned to the
Refuge in Civita Vecchia, where the poor girl lay prostrated for many
weeks. After his confession of his infamous deeds she had no further
desire to see her despicable and degraded father.
Monte-Cristo and his party rode joyously back to the Hotel de France in
the Count's barouche.
That evening no happier persons existed upon earth than Giovanni and
Zuleika.
CHAPTER XXX.
JOY UNBOUNDED.
The news of the result of Luigi Vampa's trial spread with the utmost
rapidity throughout Rome and occasioned the wildest rejoicing, still
further augmenting the popularity of Monte-Cristo and Captain Morrel,
who were credited by the Roman populace with having brought about the
dreaded brigand chief's conviction and inspired his sentence.
Everywhere, while the vast importance of old Pasquale Solara's testimony
was recognized and admitted, the wretched shepherd himself was execrated
as an unnatural, heartless father, as a diabolical scoundrel without a
single redeeming trait. The fact of his having turned State's evidence
saved him from the heavy hand of the law, but his mortal wound would
soon rid the world of him and this circumstance occasioned hearty
congratulation in all quarters.
The morning succeeding Vampa's trial a messenger arrived at the Hotel de
France from the Count Massetti, bearing a brief note in which the aged
nobleman begged his son to come to him at once. Giovanni exhibited this
note triumphantly to Zuleika and the friends who had labored so
untiringly and successfully in his cause, and, together with the Count
of Monte-Cristo and M. Morrel, immediately repaired to the Palazzo
Massetti in Monte-Cristo's barouche. The old Count received his son with
open arms and cordially greeted Monte-Cristo and Maximilian.
"Giovanni," said he, frankly, "I admit that I was wrong, that I was led
astray by what seemed to me to be convincing proof. My pride and honor
revolted at the stain apparently cast upon them and I acted as almost
any Roman father would have done. I acknowledge that I was hasty, that I
proceeded to extremities without due reflection or examination. These
admissions in the presence of your noble, self-sacrificing friends cost
me dear, but, you observe that I do not shrink from them,
notwithstanding the deep humiliation. I humbly ask your forgiveness and
restore all I have taken from you. Again you are my beloved son and
heir."
The old nobleman paused, greatly affected; his eyes were full of tears,
tears of mingled contrition and delight. The Viscount's emotion was such
that for an instant he was unable to reply. He, however, recovered
control of himself with a mighty effort, and said, in a voice tremulous
with his colossal joy:
"Father, I have nothing to forgive. Appearances warranted all you did,
and I can only thank Heaven that the truth has been developed before it
was too late!"
With these words he threw himself upon the old Patrician's neck. The
Count embraced him, drawing him to his heart and their tears mingled
together, for Giovanni also was weeping now.
Slowly and as if reluctantly releasing his recovered and rehabilitated
son, the Count turned to M. Morrel.
"Captain," he said, "I owe you an ample apology for my haughty and
imperious treatment when you stated to me the object of your mission to
Rome. I tender it at this moment and venture to hope that you will
accept it even though it comes at the eleventh hour!"
"Count," replied Maximilian, "I should be worse than a boor did I not
accept it. Here is my hand in token of my renewed friendship and
esteem."
Old Massetti took the Captain's proffered hand and pressed it warmly.
"You fully sustain the reputation of the great nation to which you
belong," said he, with the utmost cordiality, "--you are as noble as you
are generous!"
"Count," answered M. Morrel, bowing profoundly, "you flatter me! Say
rather that I am a French soldier and as such never shrink from my duty
no matter in what shape it may come!"
"As you please, Captain," returned the aged nobleman, with an agreeable
smile. "To my apology I must, however, add my gratitude for all you have
done to aid Giovanni and in the expression of that gratitude I must
include Mme. Morrel, of whose heroic exploit in the Colosseum and
subsequent devotion to my son in his hour of mental darkness I have
heard."
Maximilian again bowed profoundly.
Advancing to the Count of Monte-Cristo the elder Massetti said:
"Now, your Excellency, it is your turn. Your name and deeds have long
been familiar to me, but to whom are they not familiar! Still, though
you have frequently honored Rome with your illustrious presence, never
have I had the pleasure of meeting you until this happy day when I, too,
am included in the long list of those who have received overwhelming
benefits at your hands. Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte-Cristo, I owe to
you my son's restoration to sanity brought about by little less than a
miracle, a blessing almost as great as his rehabilitation, for which
also I am on the endless roll of your debtors."
Monte-Cristo bowed, but made no reply.
"My debt, vast as it is," continued old Massetti, "is I learn to be yet
further augmented by an alliance between our two houses, and I need not
tell you that this increase of my obligations will be a burden of joy
that I shall accept with thanks to Heaven for the signal favor shown
me!"
Monte-Cristo repeated his bow and said:
"You ratify the compact between our two children then, Count Massetti?"
"With more delight than I can express!" replied the latter,
enthusiastically. "May I ask another favor of your Excellency?" he
added, suddenly.
"Certainly," said Monte-Cristo, somewhat astonished and casting a look
of inquiry at his venerable host.
"In that case," resumed the aged nobleman, "I would like to welcome your
daughter immediately to the Palazzo Massetti!"
"She shall be sent for without an instant's delay," answered
Monte-Cristo. "Giovanni, return in the barouche to the Hotel de France
and bring Zuleika to your father!"
The young man joyously obeyed and in a very short space of time
Monte-Cristo's daughter came timidly and blushingly into the presence of
the Count Massetti, leaning upon the arm of her betrothed, whose
countenance fairly shone with happiness. The youthful pair were
accompanied by Mme. Morrel.
When the presentations had been made, the venerable Patrician stood for
a moment contemplating his future daughter-in-law.
"So this is Zuleika!" he said at length. "She is a beautiful and
charming girl, and I do not doubt that the attractions of her mind are
fully equal to those of her person! My child," he continued, addressing
Monte-Cristo's daughter, "I welcome you to my home and to my heart! Make
Giovanni as happy as I know he will make you! Now, my children, accept a
father's blessing!"
The young couple knelt at the old man's feet and he extended his hands
above their heads. When they arose he took Zuleika in his arms and
tenderly kissed her.
In the general joy Valentine was not forgotten, the aged Count renewing
to her the expression of his gratitude he had previously made to her
husband in her behalf.
It was ultimately arranged that the marriage contract should be signed
within a week, and this formality was complied with in the presence of
many of the young Viscount's relatives, of Monte-Cristo, Mercedes, M.
and Mme. Albert de Morcerf, Esperance and M. and Mme. Morrel, Mercedes
and the Morcerfs having come post-haste to Rome to take part in the
auspicious event. Monte-Cristo gave his daughter the dowry of a Princess
and his liberality was fully matched by that of the Count Massetti who
settled upon Giovanni a fortune equal to that of some oriental
potentate.
The marriage took place in Rome and was a grand affair, the wedding
festivities lasting all day and far into the night. The happy occasion
had the character of a public rejoicing, for the populace grateful to
the Count of Monte-Cristo and Maximilian Morrel for the suppression of
Luigi Vampa and his dangerous outlaws, who for years had been the terror
of rich and poor alike, paraded the streets in vast bodies in honor of
Zuleika's nuptials with the man whom the notorious brigand chief had so
nearly succeeded in overwhelming with irretrievable ruin and disgrace.
From a very early hour in the morning the Palazzo Massetti was
surrounded by cheering and enthusiastic throngs, and by eight o'clock
the vast gardens of the Massettis' were thrown open freely to all who
chose to enter. The preparations there were on a gigantic and princely
scale. Huge tables had been placed in various broad alleys and literally
groaned beneath the weight of the abundant and inviting refreshments,
while vast casks of excellent wines were on tap. An army of servants
waited upon the people, liberally supplying them with the appetizing
edibles and the exhilarating product of the vintage. The Papal and
French flags were everywhere displayed in company, and the beauty of the