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Updated: June 27, 2025
"Let the first witness be called," said the Cardinal, addressing the clerk of the Court. That official arose and called out, in a loud voice: "Annunziata Solara!" The former flower-girl came forward, slowly and timidly, and went upon the elevated witness stand, where the accustomed oath was administered to her by the clerk.
Instantly Espérance recollected the peasant he had met that afternoon beside the brook, the man who, but a short while before, had opposed his passage and disarmed him in the forest. His vague familiarity with his voice, face and dress was now accounted for. The man was Luigi Vampa. There could be no doubt of it. But why had he abducted Annunziata Solara, as Giovanni's words would seem to infer?
"Faithful to his promise to Vampa, old Solara, while pretending to be absent from home, lurked in the vicinity and kept track of all that was going on. He was hidden beneath the open window when Massetti or Tonio, as he called himself, for both the Viscount and Espérance were passing under assumed names, proposed flight to his daughter.
"I shall be here again this afternoon or to-morrow at the furthest; but remember that before you leave this cell you must give me the full details of the conspiracy against young Massetti!" "I shall remember it, Signor Count; have no fear of that! When I have spoken old Solara must look out for himself!" "What do you mean by that?" asked Monte-Cristo, sharply.
But a quick idea came to his relief if he were to fight a duel with old Solara and kill him thus the Roman law would not pursue him, he would not be stamped with a murderer's crime! He would do it, he would fight him!
It had been agreed upon between him and Espérance that, during their sojourn at the Solara cabin, they should be known respectively as Antonio Valpi and Guiseppe Sagasta, and already Annunziata had bestowed upon her patient the friendly and familiar diminutive of Tonio, a name to which he answered with wildly beating heart and eyes that spoke volumes.
The signal was almost immediately answered by three similar raps from within; then the window was thrown open and a woman's head appeared. The moonlight fell full upon her face, and both Espérance and Giovanni suddenly started as they recognized Annunziata Solara, the bewitching flower-girl of the Piazza del Popolo. "It is she it is Annunziata!" whispered the young Viscount in his comrade's ear.
He half arose, placed his knees on old Pasquale's breast and, drawing a pistol, cocked it. "What are you going to do?" gasped the under man, his terror giving him the power to speak. "I am going to kill you, Pasquale Solara!" hissed the Viscount, between his set teeth. "Murderer!" shrieked the shepherd, desperately, making a frantic struggle to rise, but not succeeding.
That Pasquale would vanquish him, kill him, he could not doubt, for he knew no more about fighting with a knife than an infant in its cradle. However, his courage did not desert him, and he resolved to sell his life as dearly as possible. Seeing Giovanni take the knife and prepare for the combat, Solara bent partially forward and rushed upon him. The long, keen blades met with a flash of fire.
Either leave this hospitable cabin with me as soon as the state of your wound will permit you to do so, meanwhile respecting Annunziata Solara as you would your own sister, or meet me pistol in hand on the field of honor! Take your choice, I say! What is your decision?" "I will not give up Annunziata!" "Then you must fight!" "I shall not hesitate!" "So be it! My life against yours!
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