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"Have you knohat it is to have your father starve to death in your absence?" cried Monte Cristo, thrusting his hands into his hair; "have you seen the wo her hand to your rival, while you were perishing at the bottoeon?"

"No," interrupted Mercedes, "but I have seen hi uish, with an accent of such intense despair, that Monte Cristo could not restrain a sob The lion was daunted; the avenger was conquered "What do you ask of me?" said he,--"your son's life? Well, he shall live!" Mercedes uttered a cry which made the tears start from Monte Cristo's eyes; but these tears disappeared alel to collect them--far more precious were they in his eyes than the richest pearls of Guzerat and Ophir

"Oh," said she, seizing the count's hand and raising it to her lips; "oh, thank you, thank you, Edmond! Now you are exactly what I dreamt you were,--the man I always loved Oh, now I may say so!"

"So much the better," replied Monte Cristo; "as that poor Ed to be loved by you Death is about to return to the tomb, the phantom to retire in darkness"

"What do you say, Edmond?"

"I say, since you command me, Mercedes, I ? Whence have you these ideas of death?"

"You do not suppose that, publicly outraged in the face of a whole theatre, in the presence of your friends and those of your son--challenged by a boy ill glory in iveness as if it were a victory--you do not suppose that I can for one moment wish to live What I nity, and that strength which rendered th was my life With one word you have crushed it, and I die"

"But the duel will not take place, Edive?"

"It will take place," said Monte Cristo, in a most soleround,towards Monte Cristo, but, suddenly stopping, "Edmond," said she, "there is a God above us, since you live and since I have seen you again; I trust to hi his assistance I trust to your word; you have said that my son should live, have you not?"