rt, Albert, are you satisfied with my explanation and do you still
think me worthy of you?"

"My own Eugenie, my happiness is far too great for words!" murmured the
delighted young man, gathering his beautiful companion in a warm embrace
and repeatedly kissing her ripe lips and blushing cheeks.

It was soon known throughout Paris that Captain Joliette and Albert de
Morcerf were identical, and that Mlle. d'Armilly was in reality no other
than Mlle. Eugenie Danglars, daughter of Baron Danglars, the once famous
and opulent Parisian banker; the report also was current that Albert and
Eugenie were engaged and would shortly be united in the bonds of
matrimony. Another bit of gossip was to the effect that the former
cantatrice's brother Leon was not a man but a woman; in short, the real
Louise d'Armilly, who had loaned her name to Eugenie Danglars and
assumed male attire solely for professional purposes. This story was
speedily confirmed, for Leon soon vanished and in his place appeared a
most attractive and fascinating lady, who very quietly assumed, or
rather resumed, the name of Louise d'Armilly. Still another rumor was
that the wealth so strangely inherited by the former prima donna was not
a legacy at all, but a gift from the mysterious Count of Monte-Cristo,
who had thus striven to make amends to the daughter for the misfortunes
he had, while pursuing his scheme of wholesale vengeance, so
remorselessly heaped upon the head of the father.

CHAPTER XXIX.

ZULEIKA GOES TO M. DANTES.

M. Dantes was sitting alone in his library, busily engaged in reading a
favorite work on the subject of political economy, and from time to time
making copious notes. It was after midnight, and the vast mansion on the
Rue du Helder was as silent as the tomb; the lamp on the Deputy's table
burned brightly, but a large metallic shade concentrated the light and
reflected it upon the table, so that the other portions of the apartment
were shrouded in almost complete darkness.

As M. Dantes read a shadow suddenly fell on the page of his book, and
quickly looking up he saw his daughter Zuleika standing beside him;
tears were in her eyes and a look of melancholy rested upon her
countenance.

"Why child," said her father, in a startled tone, "what is the matter
with you? You are weeping and seem very sad. Has anything happened to
young Massetti?"

"Not that I am aware of, papa," answered Zuleika, in a low voice. "But,
nevertheless, it