"Sister Annunziata, I wish to ask you certain important questions as
your Superior has told you. I am pursuing an investigation that promises
to be fruitful in the very best results of the highest possible good.
Sister Annunziata, I wish your aid in clearing the record of an innocent
man, one who has suffered as greatly as you have and for whom you can,
therefore, feel pity and sympathy. I allude to the Viscount Giovanni
Massetti."

The girl gave a sudden start and turned ghastly pale.

"The Viscount Giovanni Massetti?" repeated she, interrogatively, half
doubting whether she could have heard the name aright.

"Yes," said Monte-Cristo, "the Viscount Giovanni Massetti, who has been
falsely accused of having abducted you!"

"Falsely accused!" cried Annunziata. "Why, Signor Count of Monte-Cristo,
the wretched young man is guilty of everything with which he has been
charged, whether the charges were made by persons inimical to him or
not!"

The visitors were still closely watching the peasant girl. They had
expected she would say exactly what she had said and, therefore, were
not in the slightest degree astonished or disconcerted. Her earnestness
and the circumstance that she certainly ought to know the identity of
her abductor were well-calculated to inspire confidence in her
statements and to induce a belief in the guilt of the young Viscount
Massetti.

Monte-Cristo answered Annunziata firmly but considerately.

"Sister," he said, "notwithstanding your belief that Massetti was your
abductor, I know the contrary to be true and have in my possession
indubitable proof of what I assert!"

Annunziata shook her head.

"The proof must, indeed, be conclusive that would shake my belief!" she
said, with a slight trace of bitterness in her tone.

"It is conclusive!"

"But if young Massetti is innocent of my abduction and of my poor
brother's murder, who then, in Heaven's name, is the guilty party?"

"Luigi Vampa!"

"Luigi Vampa?"

"Yes. He forced his way into your cabin on that eventful night, abducted
you and afterwards shot your brother Lorenzo in the forest."

"You say you have indubitable proof of this. How was it obtained?"

"From a man named Peppino, who overheard all the details of the
nefarious bargain and conspiracy entered into by the brigand chief and
old Pasquale Solara."

"Pasquale Solara? My father! Oh! Signor Count, what do you mean?"

"Be calm, my child, and listen to me. Your father despica