a trusty
peasant, then in the Cardinal's service, who professed to know the exact
location of the bandits' retreat and the safest route to it.

These preliminaries satisfactorily settled, Monte-Cristo, his heart
overflowing with joy, immediately returned to the Hotel de France to
notify M. Morrel and to make his preparations for the coming campaign.
Upon being informed of Zuleika's seizure by the outlaws and of the part
her father wished him to take in her deliverance, Maximilian instantly
consented, only too happy to have such a signal opportunity of serving
his benefactor. Zuleika's misfortune, however, distressed him greatly.

"Does Valentine know of your daughter's capture?" he asked of the Count.

"No," answered Monte-Cristo, "and I must ask you not to tell her until
after the result of the expedition is known. I wish to keep the whole
matter a close secret lest young Massetti should hear of it and mar our
plans by his usual hot-headedness. With this view I have already
instructed Ali, the only person save yourself in the Hotel de France who
is aware of the terrible blow that has fallen upon me, to refrain from
communicating the intelligence to any one. It is better thus, for the
brigands undoubtedly have spies in Rome at this time and the utmost
caution is advisable."

M. Morrel readily assented to the wisdom of the Count's policy of
complete silence, and the twain separated to quietly prepare for the
night's perilous and exciting adventure.

At half-past nine o'clock Monte-Cristo and Maximilian entered the
court-yard of the grim Castle of St. Angelo, where the detachment of the
Swiss Guard was already drawn up under arms awaiting orders. The Count
wore a half military dress and had a sword at his side, while his friend
was clad in the full uniform of a Captain in the Army of France and
similarly provided with the regulation weapon. Both he and Monte-Cristo
had a couple of pistols in their belts, freshly and carefully loaded.

The Captain of the Swiss Guard received them and presented the peasant
whom Cardinal Monti had sent to act as guide. Then he turned over the
command of his men to Captain Morrel, who briefly addressed them in
French, a language with which they were well acquainted, informing them
that he and his Excellency, the Count of Monte-Cristo, relied on every
man to do his duty in suppressing the banditti and rescuing from their
rude clutches a beautiful young French girl, no other than the Coun