dee, you are young and beautiful; forget even my name, and
be happy."

"It is well," said Haidee; "your order shall be executed, my lord;
I will forget even your name, and be happy." And she stepped back to
retire.

"Oh, heavens," exclaimed Valentine, who was supporting the head of
Morrel on her shoulder, "do you not see how pale she is? Do you not see
how she suffers?"

Haidee answered with a heartrending expression, "Why should he
understand this, my sister? He is my master, and I am his slave; he has
the right to notice nothing."

The count shuddered at the tones of a voice which penetrated the inmost
recesses of his heart; his eyes met those of the young girl and he could
not bear their brilliancy. "Oh, heavens," exclaimed Monte Cristo, "can
my suspicions be correct? Haidee, would it please you not to leave me?"

"I am young," gently replied Haidee; "I love the life you have made so
sweet to me, and I should be sorry to die."

"You mean, then, that if I leave you, Haidee"--

"I should die; yes, my lord."

"Do you then love me?"

"Oh, Valentine, he asks if I love him. Valentine, tell him if you love
Maximilian." The count felt his heart dilate and throb; he opened his
arms, and Haidee, uttering a cry, sprang into them. "Oh, yes," she
cried, "I do love you! I love you as one loves a father, brother,
husband! I love you as my life, for you are the best, the noblest of
created beings!"

"Let it be, then, as you wish, sweet angel; God has sustained me in my
struggle with my enemies, and has given me this reward; he will not let
me end my triumph in suffering; I wished to punish myself, but he has
pardoned me. Love me then, Haidee! Who knows? perhaps your love will
make me forget all that I do not wish to remember."

"What do you mean, my lord?"

"I mean that one word from you has enlightened me more than twenty years
of slow experience; I have but you in the world, Haidee; through you
I again take hold on life, through you I shall suffer, through you
rejoice."

"Do you hear him, Valentine?" exclaimed Haidee; "he says that through me
he will suffer--through me, who would yield my life for his." The count
withdrew for a moment. "Have I discovered the truth?" he said; "but
whether it be for recompense or punishment, I accept my fate. Come,
Haidee, come!" and throwing his arm around the young girl's waist, he
pressed the hand of Valentine, and disappeared.

An hour had nearly passed, during which Valentine