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Updated: June 27, 2025
The Count smiled in his peculiar way. "What do you want with me, Luigi Vampa?" he repeated. "Your errand must be of vast importance since you have taken so much trouble to execute it!" "It is of vast importance, Signor Count. This morning one of the most efficient members of my band, old Pasquale Solara, was attacked and severely wounded by your protégé the Viscount Giovanni Massetti!"
Swear that you will be silent about everything that has occurred since we met Annunziata Solara in the Piazza del Popolo, including the terrible events of to-night, and I will start with you for Rome this very instant!" "And you will renounce your pursuit of the flower-girl?" "I will renounce it!" "Do you swear to do so?" "I swear it!"
"I am coming to it, Signor Count," said the former bandit, assuming a sitting posture upon the edge of the bed. "You know, of course, that the cause of all the Viscount Massetti's trouble was a certain handsome young peasant girl named Annunziata Solara?" "I have heard it was some woman, but that does not matter; proceed."
This decision was brought about by the influence of the Count of Monte-Cristo, who represented to the Papal Secretary of State the importance of utilizing the testimony of old Pasquale Solara while he was yet in a condition to give it.
Even Annunziata Solara herself shall be thoroughly convinced!" "Signor Count," said Vampa, pleadingly, "we have long been good friends, have long understood each other perfectly. Do not let the idle tales designing persons have poured into your ears destroy that friendship and that understanding!" "I have heard no idle tales from designing persons," retorted the Count.
"I mean that you have been making love to this poor girl, that you have been seeking to requite her care of you in a manner but little to your credit!" "I owe you my life, Espérance," replied Massetti, "but even my gratitude will not shield you from my fury, if you step between me and Annunziata Solara!"
Pasquale Solara, base wretch who sold your own daughter to a fate worse than death, ignoble scoundrel who did not respect the dictates of hospitality, I am Giovanni Massetti!" As he spoke he leaped in front of the morose shepherd, barring his passage with his body. "Well, what if you are Giovanni Massetti!" replied old Pasquale, coldly and defiantly. "I care not for you!
When Monte-Cristo reached the point where the Swiss Guard and their prisoners were assembled, he found Captain Morrel superintending the placing of an aged bandit upon an improvised stretcher. "During your absence, Count," said he, his face radiant with joy, "we made the most important capture of the night! This old man is Pasquale Solara!" "Where did you find him?" asked the Count.
Upon reflection Espérance decided that the stranger could be in nowise the associate or accomplice of the Viscount, for the latter had communicated with no one, had not even gone a dozen steps from the Solara cabin during his entire period of convalescence. The idea of collusion was untenable. Espérance resolved to watch and wait.
At that instant the torch gave a brilliant gleam and went out, but in that gleam Espérance recognized the man who opposed his progress as the strange peasant he had seen reading "Cæsar's Commentaries" the previous afternoon by the brook in the vicinity of the Solara cabin. Was he, too, mixed up in the abduction, and how?
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