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Updated: June 21, 2025
The girl finally stopped before a tall house, from which came shouts of laughter and singing. The door was not close shut and the girl pushed it open. A stout woman stood just within. "Upon my word!" she cried. "Did Zelda need two hours to " "My mother is dying," said the child, as she held the door wide open. Sanselme appeared, carrying the inanimate form. "Drunk again!" cried the stout woman.
Yes, it is he!" And then, shuddering from head to foot, she repeated, "Benedetto! Who speaks of Benedetto?" "What does all this mean?" asked Fanfar. "I will tell you," said Sanselme, averting his eyes. "Yes, it is true, I am an escaped convict. This woman is right, but I never did her any harm. Look at me, woman! Tell me, was it I who struck you?"
In her struggle the girl dropped a box she carried. Tulles and laces were scattered over the ground. She saw Sanselme, and then for the first time she screamed for help. Then with one blow Sanselme felled the man who held the girl. He fell stunned to the ground. The child was free, and the two remaining scoundrels turned their attention to the defender.
Monte-Cristo, yes it was to the hôtel of Monte-Cristo that he must go. There, at all events, he should find Fanfar, and together they would look for Jane. At first Sanselme could hardly walk, but his tread became gradually firmer. Just as he reached the Hôtel de Monte-Cristo, he saw the carriage drive out of the court-yard. A strange phenomenon now took place.
He fully intended to live and die thus in obscurity, and really enjoyed the torpor of this existence. In the evening he took long walks, and from motives of prudence went out but little by daylight. Alone in the darkness, he often felt intense remorse, and remorse is not a pleasing companion. One winter's night the snow had been falling all day Sanselme stayed out later than usual.
Sanselme, however, had a brain fever, and the woman, Fanfar discovered, was insane. With her it was a passing delirium. Fanfar was greatly puzzled to know what to do with her. Who was she? Whence came she? There was nothing about her person which would elucidate the mystery.
"I am cold!" she cried. "Why do you put ice on my feet?" and she started up so suddenly that her daughter could not hold her. "Help me, sir," the girl cried to Sanselme. He ran to her assistance. He was astonished to see that the woman was not more than thirty-five, but her eyes were haggard, and she bore the marks of precocious old age.
"Very good, sir, since I see you are willing to pay him, and that it won't be left for me to do." Sanselme was left alone with these two women. He was greatly annoyed that accident had brought him to such a house, and was half tempted to fly. He had done his duty and had defended the two women from their assailants. What more had he to do here?
Sanselme understood, for he said: "She is your mother, I believe?" She rose quickly and went to the bed, and leaning over the woman, kissed her brow. This was her answer to Sanselme's question. She then loosened the sick woman's garments. Feeling her child's hands, and able to breathe better, the woman said: "Do not touch me; I am in agony!" That was the beginning of delirium.
I will summon the Count of Monte-Cristo, as it was agreed I should do in case of danger. He will be here in three days, and we must be able to say to him that we have saved his son." "Yes, we must say that," cried the Zouave, "or Coucon will be dead." "To work then," said Fanfar, rising. "Sanselme, come into my cabinet, there are several questions I wish to ask. But first, who is this woman?"
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