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"What, even for , half in earnest "For all, even forthe rest," replied Villefort

"Ah," exclai the ideas which the exclalance which reads the secrets of the heart "Yes, I knohat you mean," he said; "you refer to the terrible rumors spread abroad in the world, that the deaths which have keptfor the last three months, and from which Valentine has only escaped by a miracle, have not happened by natural lars quickly "Yes, you were thinking of it, and with justice You could not help thinking of it, and saying to yourself, 'you, who pursue crime so vindictively, answer nohy are there unpunished cri?'" The baroness beca this, were you not?"

"Well, I own it"

"I will answer you"

Villefort drew his ar both hands upon his desk he said in a voice more hollow than usual: "There are crimes which reht strike the innocent instead of the guilty; but when the culprits are discovered" (Villefort here extended his hand toward a large crucifix placed opposite to his desk)--"when they are discovered, I swear to you, by all I hold most sacred, that whoever they may be they shall die Now, after the oath I have just taken, and which I will keep, madame, dare you ask for uilty as they say?"

"Listen; this is his description: 'Benedetto, condealleys for forgery' He promised well, as you see--first a runaway, then an assassin"

"And who is this wretch?"

"Who can tell?--a vagabond, a Corsican"

"Has no one owned him?"

"No one; his parents are unknown"

"But as the ht him from Lucca?"

"Another rascal like himself, perhaps his accomplice" The baroness clasped her hands "Villefort," she exclai manner

"For heaven's sake, madaether free from harshness--"for heaven's sake, do not ask pardon of uilty wretch! What arief? Has the law ears to be melted by your sweet voice? Has the law a memory for all those soft recollections you endeavor to recall? No, madame; the law has commanded, and when it co, and not a code--a man, and not a volume Look at me, madame--look around me Have mankind treated me as a brother? Have they loved me? Have they spared me? Has any one shown the mercy towards me that you now ask at my hands? No, madame, they struck me, always struck me!