ng signs to the
effect that he had found it tied with a cord to one of the palm trees on
the lawn.

Monte-Cristo opened the letter and glanced at the signature; as he did
so a look of surprise and annoyance settled upon his face.

The note was written in the French language, and read as follows:

COUNT OF MONTE-CRISTO: I am in hiding on the Island of Salmis and
must see you without delay. Meet me at midnight in the almond grove
near the eastern shore. Be sure to come alone.
BENEDETTO.

"Humph!" said the Count to himself as he finished reading this singular
epistle. "I thought I was rid of that scoundrel forever, but it seems
that the galleys at Toulon cannot hold him. Well, I suppose I must meet
him; otherwise he may take a notion to come here, which would be both
inconvenient and disagreeable. I imagine he wants a little money to
enable him to escape to the east; if that is all, I will gladly give it
to be rid of his presence, on the island. I prefer not to have as a
neighbor a thief and an assassin, even if he did shine so brilliantly
once in aristocratic Parisian society as the Prince Cavalcanti!"

"What is the matter, my lord?" asked Haydee, noticing the expression on
Monte-Cristo's countenance. "From whom is the letter?"

"Oh! it is nothing," answered the Count, with a smile. "A poor fellow
wishes my assistance, and is too modest to ask it in person; that's
all!"

Haydee was not satisfied with this indefinite reply; she knew that the
contents of the letter so strangely conveyed to her husband had vexed
and troubled him; but she also knew that Monte-Cristo could be as silent
as the tomb about anything he wished to keep secret, and, therefore,
judged it useless to attempt further questions. Besides, a singular
presentiment of evil had taken possession of her at the sight of the
ominous note, and she felt certain that some disaster was threatened;
hence, she determined to be watchful and keep strict guard over her
children until the mystery, whatever it was, should be cleared up.

As the clock in his library struck the quarter before midnight,
Monte-Cristo arose from the chair in which he had been sitting; donning
his fez and a light cloak, he prepared to go to the almond grove on the
eastern portion of the island, the spot Benedetto had appointed for
their meeting; prior to setting out he slipped into his pocket a
well-filled purse,