iovanni also was weeping now.

Slowly and as if reluctantly releasing his recovered and rehabilitated
son, the Count turned to M. Morrel.

"Captain," he said, "I owe you an ample apology for my haughty and
imperious treatment when you stated to me the object of your mission to
Rome. I tender it at this moment and venture to hope that you will
accept it even though it comes at the eleventh hour!"

"Count," replied Maximilian, "I should be worse than a boor did I not
accept it. Here is my hand in token of my renewed friendship and
esteem."

Old Massetti took the Captain's proffered hand and pressed it warmly.

"You fully sustain the reputation of the great nation to which you
belong," said he, with the utmost cordiality, "--you are as noble as you
are generous!"

"Count," answered M. Morrel, bowing profoundly, "you flatter me! Say
rather that I am a French soldier and as such never shrink from my duty
no matter in what shape it may come!"

"As you please, Captain," returned the aged nobleman, with an agreeable
smile. "To my apology I must, however, add my gratitude for all you have
done to aid Giovanni and in the expression of that gratitude I must
include Mme. Morrel, of whose heroic exploit in the Colosseum and
subsequent devotion to my son in his hour of mental darkness I have
heard."

Maximilian again bowed profoundly.

Advancing to the Count of Monte-Cristo the elder Massetti said:

"Now, your Excellency, it is your turn. Your name and deeds have long
been familiar to me, but to whom are they not familiar! Still, though
you have frequently honored Rome with your illustrious presence, never
have I had the pleasure of meeting you until this happy day when I, too,
am included in the long list of those who have received overwhelming
benefits at your hands. Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte-Cristo, I owe to
you my son's restoration to sanity brought about by little less than a
miracle, a blessing almost as great as his rehabilitation, for which
also I am on the endless roll of your debtors."

Monte-Cristo bowed, but made no reply.

"My debt, vast as it is," continued old Massetti, "is I learn to be yet
further augmented by an alliance between our two houses, and I need not
tell you that this increase of my obligations will be a burden of joy
that I shall accept with thanks to Heaven for the signal favor shown
me!"

Monte-Cristo repeated his bow and said:

"You ratify the compact between our two children then