evidently charmed with the idea
of his speedy departure.

"Therefore," said Monte Cristo feigning to mistake his
meaning--"therefore I will not, for another instant, retard the pleasure
of your meeting. Are you prepared to embrace your worthy father?"

"I hope you do not doubt it."

"Go, then, into the drawing-room, my young friend, where you will find
your father awaiting you." Andrea made a low bow to the count,
and entered the adjoining room. Monte Cristo watched him till he
disappeared, and then touched a spring in a panel made to look like a
picture, which, in sliding partly from the frame, discovered to view
a small opening, so cleverly contrived that it revealed all that was
passing in the drawing-room now occupied by Cavalcanti and Andrea. The
young man closed the door behind him, and advanced towards the major,
who had risen when he heard steps approaching him. "Ah, my dear father!"
said Andrea in a loud voice, in order that the count might hear him in
the next room, "is it really you?"

"How do you do, my dear son?" said the major gravely.

"After so many years of painful separation," said Andrea, in the same
tone of voice, and glancing towards the door, "what a happiness it is to
meet again!"

"Indeed it is, after so long a separation."

"Will you not embrace me, sir?" said Andrea.

"If you wish it, my son," said the major; and the two men embraced each
other after the fashion of actors on the stage; that is to say, each
rested his head on the other's shoulder.

"Then we are once more reunited?" said Andrea.

"Once more," replied the major.

"Never more to be separated?"

"Why, as to that--I think, my dear son, you must be by this time so
accustomed to France as to look upon it almost as a second country."

"The fact is," said the young man, "that I should be exceedingly grieved
to leave it."

"As for me, you must know I cannot possibly live out of Lucca; therefore
I shall return to Italy as soon as I can."

"But before you leave France, my dear father, I hope you will put me
in possession of the documents which will be necessary to prove my
descent."

"Certainly; I am come expressly on that account; it has cost me much
trouble to find you, but I had resolved on giving them into your hands,
and if I had to recommence my search, it would occupy all the few
remaining years of my life."

"Where are these papers, then?"

"Here they are."

Andrea seized the certificate of his father's mar