count cautiously opened his door and glanced out into the corridor.
His eyes rested upon Monte-Cristo, Peppino and Beppo. The former saw him
and at once came to him.

"What has happened?" demanded Massetti, eagerly.

"Luigi Vampa was here and has been taken away a prisoner by the police,"
answered the Count.

"Luigi Vampa!" cried the young Italian, in amazement.

"Yes, Luigi Tampa," returned Monte-Cristo, his brow clouding.

"What brought him to the Hotel de France?"

"He came to complain of you!"

"Of me?"

"I have said so."

"And you caused him to be arrested?"

"I did not. His arrest was due entirely to his own rashness. The police
tracked him hither and apprehended him as he quitted my apartment."

While speaking Monte-Cristo made his way into Giovanni's chamber.
Closing the door behind him, he stood gazing at the Viscount with a
gloomy air.

"Giovanni Massetti," said he, in a slow, measured tone, "you have
disregarded my injunctions and by your impetuosity put all my plans in
jeopardy! You did wrong, very wrong, in attacking old Pasquale Solara
this morning!"

"I am keenly sensible of it now, after calm reflection," answered the
Viscount, penitently. "But still you must make some allowance for me. I
came suddenly upon the shepherd and my indignation and desire for
vengeance so mastered me at the sight of him that I could not control
myself. Nevertheless I gave him a chance for his life. We fought a
desperate duel and he was wounded, but whether mortally or not it is
impossible for me to say, as Vampa's men made their appearance
immediately after his fall, and I was forced into precipitate flight."

"Should Solara die," said Monte-Cristo, moodily, "you will have
deprived us of a most important witness, for I calculated upon
compelling him to speak, to disclose every detail of the infamous
conspiracy against you. But like you I do not know his present
condition, as Vampa did not vouchsafe me any information upon that head.
I can only hope that he is not seriously wounded and will recover."

"I am singularly unfortunate," said the Viscount, humbly. "Everything I
do seems to be wrong."

"Because you are governed by impulse alone and do not wait for your
calmer judgment to come to your aid," replied Monte-Cristo. Then he
added, firmly: "Giovanni Massetti, either you must submit wholly to me
for the future, be guided entirely by my wishes, or I will be compelled
to leave you to your fate! I need not