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"In any case, sir, you will allow," replied Madalars, "that, even if the fault were alone ht received a severe punish her hand, "it was too severe for your strength, for you were twice overwhelmed, and yet"-"Well?"

"Well, I e, for you have not yet heard all"

"Ah," exclailars, alarmed, "what is there more to hear?"

"You only look back to the past, and it is, indeed, bad enough Well, picture to yourself a future uinary" The baroness kne calhtened her so much that she opened her mouth to scream, but the sound died in her throat "How has this terrible past been recalled?" cried Villefort; "how is it that it has escaped from the depths of the tomb and the recesses of our hearts, where it was buried, to visit us now, like a phanto our broith shame?"

"Alas," said Hermine, "doubtless it is chance"

"Chance?" replied Villefort; "No, no,as chance"

"Oh, yes; has not a fatal chance revealed all this? Was it not by chance the Count of Monte Cristo bought that house? Was it not by chance he caused the earth to be dug up? Is it not by chance that the unfortunate child was disinterred under the trees?--that poor innocent offspring of mine, which I never even kissed, but for who to the count when he mentioned the dear spoil found beneath the flowers"

"Well, no, madame,--this is the terrible news I have to tell you," said Villefort in a hollow voice--"no, nothing was found beneath the flowers; there was no child disinterred--no You roan, you lars, shuddering

"Iunderneath these trees, found neither skeleton nor chest, because neither of thelars, her staring, wide-open eyes expressing her alarh striving to i of the words which escaped her

"No," said Villefort, burying his face in his hands, "no, a hundred times no!"

"Then you did not bury the poor child there, sir? Why did you deceive me? Where did you place it? tell me--where?"

"There! But listen to me--listen--and you will pity rief I a the least portion upon you"