from speaking out."

"An oath of silence?"

"Yes, and Giovanni is also likewise bound."

"Indeed! What is your lover's reputation in Rome?"

"Of the very best; he is there regarded as the soul of honor."

"Save by his enemies. So far so good. Do you know the standing of his
family?"

"It is one of the oldest, most respected, most aristocratic and
wealthiest in the Eternal City."

"Another strong point in the young man's favor. Zuleika, I am satisfied
that the mystery surrounding your lover can be cleared away; but I am
also satisfied that he needs assistance, the assistance of persons
deeply interested in you, who have your welfare at heart and cherish
your happiness as their own."

"But such persons cannot be found, madame. Of course my father and
brother are deeply interested in me, have my welfare at heart and desire
to see me happy. They, however, are not disposed to aid Giovanni, my
brother for reasons of his own and my father because he thinks that the
Viscount should work his own rehabilitation. No, madame, such persons as
you mention cannot be found."

"They can be found, Zuleika, and you will not have far to look for them
either!"

Mme. Morrel gazed at Monte-Cristo's daughter with enthusiasm in her fine
eyes. The girl was at a loss to understand her.

"Surely you do not mean Albert de Morcerf and Eugenie?" she said.

"No," replied Valentine. "They love you, undoubtedly, but the needful
assistance is not to be obtained from them."

"Certainly you cannot allude to Mlle. d' Armilly or Ali, my father's
devoted Nubian servant?"

"No, I do not allude to them!"

"Whom then do you mean?"

"Cannot you guess, Zuleika?"

A sudden thought came to Zuleika, filling her with intense amazement.

"You cannot mean yourself and your husband, Mme. Morrel?" she gasped.

"And why not, my child?" answered Valentine, sweetly. "All the
assistance we can render you will be but a weak, inadequate return for
what your father has done for us. He saved me from death, withdrew the
suicidal pistol from Maximilian's hand, comforted us in our time of
darkest despair, and finally brought us together after a separation that
even M. Morrel deemed eternal, simultaneously placing in our hands
wealth sufficient to make us altogether independent of the accidents and
disasters of this world. Besides, before that he was the benefactor of
M. Morrel's father, saving him also from suicide, suicide that he had
determined upon as the