Jon Hagadorn

Valentine, relating how Monte Cristo had appeared in her room, explained everything, revealed the crime, and finally, how he had saved her life by enabling her to simulate death.

They had found the door of the grotto opened and gone forth.

On the azure dome of heaven still glittered a few remaining stars.

Morel soon perceived a man standing among the rocks, apparently waiting a sign from them to advance, and pointed him out to Valentine.

"'Ah, it is Jacopo,' she said, the captain of the yacht, and she beckoned him towards them.

"'Do you wish to speak to us?'

asked Morel.

"'I have a letter to give you from the Count.'

"'From the Count?'

murmured the two young people.

"'Yes, read it.'

Morel opened the letter and read, "'My dear Maximilian, there is a felucca for you at anchor.

Jacopo will carry you to Leghorn, where Monsieur Nortier waits his granddaughter, whom he wishes to bless before you lead her to the altar.

"'All that is in this grotto, my friend, my house in the Champs-Élysées, and my chateau at Tribord.'

are the marriage gifts bestowed by Edmund Dantes upon the son of his old master, Morel.

Mademoiselle de Villefort will share them with you, for I entreat her to give to the poor the immense fortune reverting to her from her father, now a madman, and her brother who died last September with his mother.

Tell the angel who will watch over your future destiny, Morel, to pray sometimes for a man.'

who, like Satan, thought himself for an instant equal to God, but who now acknowledges with Christian humility that God alone possesses supreme power and infinite wisdom.

Perhaps those prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart.

As for you, Morel, this is the secret of my conduct towards you.