g in the corner of the garden where I had concealed
my treasure. The iron box was there--no one had touched it--under a
beautiful fig-tree my father had planted the day I was born, which
overshadowed the spot. Well, Albert, this money, which was formerly
designed to promote the comfort and tranquillity of the woman I adored,
may now, through strange and painful circumstances, be devoted to the
same purpose. Oh, feel for me, who could offer millions to that poor
woman, but who return her only the piece of black bread forgotten
under my poor roof since the day I was torn from her I loved. You are
a generous man, Albert, but perhaps you may be blinded by pride or
resentment; if you refuse me, if you ask another for what I have a right
to offer you, I will say it is ungenerous of you to refuse the life
of your mother at the hands of a man whose father was allowed by your
father to die in all the horrors of poverty and despair.

Albert stood pale and motionless to hear what his mother would decide
after she had finished reading this letter. Mercedes turned her eyes
with an ineffable look towards heaven. "I accept it," said she; "he has
a right to pay the dowry, which I shall take with me to some convent!"
Putting the letter in her bosom, she took her son's arm, and with a
firmer step than she even herself expected she went down-stairs.

Chapter 92. The Suicide.

Meanwhile Monte Cristo had also returned to town with Emmanuel and
Maximilian. Their return was cheerful. Emmanuel did not conceal his
joy at the peaceful termination of the affair, and was loud in his
expressions of delight. Morrel, in a corner of the carriage, allowed his
brother-in-law's gayety to expend itself in words, while he felt equal
inward joy, which, however, betrayed itself only in his countenance.
At the Barriere du Trone they met Bertuccio, who was waiting there,
motionless as a sentinel at his post. Monte Cristo put his head out
of the window, exchanged a few words with him in a low tone, and the
steward disappeared. "Count," said Emmanuel, when they were at the end
of the Place Royale, "put me down at my door, that my wife may not have
a single moment of needless anxiety on my account or yours."

"If it were not ridiculous to make a display of our triumph, I would
invite the count to our house; besides that, he doubtless has some
trembling heart to comfort. So we will take leave of our friend, and let
him hasten home."

"Stop a moment," said