only means of avoiding terrible disgrace. You
see, Zuleika, that we have abundant motives for aiding you."

"Oh! madame--Valentine--you utterly overwhelm me! How can I show my
gratitude to you?"

"By accepting my offer!"

These words were accompanied by a look of ineffable tenderness and
sincerity. They instantly brought hope to Zuleika's heart. She burst
into a flood of tears, but they were tears of joy. Still, she hesitated.
What would her father say if she accepted Mme. Morrel's generous
proposition?

"Do you accept, Zuleika?" pursued Mme. Morrel.

"I thank you from the depths of my soul, madame; but I cannot accept the
sacrifice you and your kind, manly husband would make for me! My father
would censure me, would never forgive me for adopting such a selfish
course!"

"Trust your father to me, my child."

"Oh! madame! Accept your offer without consulting him?"

"There is no need to consult him, there is no need for him to know
anything whatever about the matter, for the present at least. It will be
time enough to tell him what we have done when success has crowned our
efforts. Should we unhappily fail, a thought that I cannot for an
instant entertain, there will be no occasion to tell him anything at
all."

At that moment a man's voice was heard calling at a distance:

"Valentine, Valentine, where are you?"

"It is Maximilian," said Mme. Morrel to Zuleika. "He comes very
opportunely!" Then raising her voice she answered him: "Here,
Maximilian, here, in the summer pavilion at the extremity of the
garden!"

The husband hastened to the spot, and Valentine, making him seat
himself beside her and Monte-Cristo's daughter, told him all she had
just learned. She also communicated to him the offer she had made to
Zuleika, adding:

"You will consent to it, I know, Maximilian!"

"Gladly," answered the young soldier. "Had you not made the proposal, I
should have made it myself!"

"Then we have but to induce Zuleika to authorize us to act. The poor
child, however, hesitates, fearing the Count's displeasure."

"She need not authorize us," said Maximilian quickly. "We will assume
the entire responsibility on the step! But it will be necessary for her
to confide in us more fully, to give us the data upon which to build our
plans. I will get letters of introduction to the Viscount Massetti and,
once acquainted with him, the rest will be easy."

Later that night Zuleika told Mme. Morrel everything without reser