oved for at least a week, a
piece of intelligence at which the young man inwardly rejoiced,
notwithstanding all the torture he suffered, for his sojourn involved
nursing at the hands of the beautiful Annunziata, who had already shown
him that she possessed tenderness and a kind heart, as well as good
looks.

Esperance held a conference with his friend after the physician's
departure to decide upon what should be done. He proposed to go at once
to Rome and acquaint the Viscount's family with what had happened and
Giovanni's condition, but the young man firmly opposed this plan,
declaring that he would be well in a few days at most and protesting
that informing his relatives of his situation would involve explanations
he had no desire to give. Giovanni also begged Esperance to remain with
him and give no sign as to their place of retreat; so earnestly did he
solicit these favors that the son of Monte-Cristo, much against his will
and with many forebodings, finally consented to grant them.

Pasquale Solara returned home late on the day following the arrival of
the strangers at his hut. He was an old, but sturdy shepherd, whose
rough, sunburned visage spoke of exposure to the weather and hard toil.
He frequently was absent for days and nights in succession, absences
that he never explained and about which his son and daughter did not
dare to question him, for Pasquale was a harsh man, who grew angry at
the slightest pretext and was inclined to be severe with all who sought
to pry into his affairs. He expressed great fear of the bandits who
infested the vicinity of Rome and especially of Luigi Vampa's band, but
those who knew him best shook their heads doubtingly, and, though they
did not say so, it was plainly to be seen that they deemed this fear
merely assumed for purposes of his own. At any rate, it was a
significant fact that Pasquale was never disturbed in his wanderings,
while the brigands always left his dwelling and its inmates unmolested.

The old shepherd frowned darkly when informed by his children that they
had given shelter to a couple of travelers, one of whom had been wounded
in a fight with a brigand, but he said nothing and appeared disposed to
accept the situation without even a grumble. He did not, however, enter
the chamber in which Giovanni lay and avoided coming in contact with
Esperance, who caught but a passing glimpse of him ere he departed
again on another expedition, which he did after a stay of