een, Zuleika replied, in a tone full of agitation:

"I promise, solemnly promise, father, to fulfil your injunctions in this
matter to the very letter! I have a woman's curiosity and a woman's
inclination to gossip," she added, with a faint smile, "but for your
dear sake I will repress them both, at least, so far as concerns this
truly marvellous subterranean palace and our visit to it to-day!"

"And you will keep your word, my noble child!" said Monte-Cristo, gazing
tenderly and admiringly at her. "Now I will remove this Tunis dress in
which I have been, without doubt, exceedingly ridiculous in your eyes,
for you are altogether unacquainted with the associations that surround
it and endear it to me, dignify it, so to speak, beyond any other
costume I have ever worn!"

Zuleika lifted her hands in protest, exclaiming:

"You could not, dear father, appear ridiculous in my eyes, no matter in
what garb you were clothed!"

Monte-Cristo smiled approvingly, but a trifle incredulously and quitted
the circular apartment. When he returned he was clad in the costume he
had worn on coming from the yacht.

"Take a last look around you, Zuleika," he said, in a tone he vainly
endeavored to render firm. "We are now about to quit this place
forever!"

He took her hand and led her from the room. Slowly and as if regretfully
they passed through the salle-a-manger and the apartment they had first
entered, gaining the stairway and preparing to ascend it. At the foot of
the steps Monte-Cristo paused and turned to Ali. He was ghastly pale and
trembled slightly. With a powerful effort he, however, controlled his
agitation.

"Ali," said he, in a voice that sounded strangely in Zuleika's ear, "is
everything in readiness?"

The faithful Nubian, scarcely less affected than his master, bowed
affirmatively.

"Then farewell, ye grottoes of Monte-Cristo!" cried the Count,
excitedly. "Farewell forever!"

He hastily mounted the stairway, almost dragging Zuleika with him. Ali
remained below.

When they reached the open air they paused until the mute joined them;
then the little party regained the beach, where Monte-Cristo waved his
handkerchief thrice. In obedience to this signal the boat immediately
left the yacht and was pulled swiftly to the shore.

A few moments later the Count, Zuleika and Ali were safely deposited on
the Haydee's deck and the gallant little vessel turned her prow towards
the Italian coast.

Monte-Cristo and his d