Volume I Part 22 (1/2)
The storht upon the softly rippling sea as a yacht ploiftly through the blue waters A ainst the railing and thoughtfully peered into the streahtly as a small white hand was softly laid upon his arrasped the hand, pressed it to his lips, and gazed tenderly with his sparkling eyes, which shone like dark stars, upon a handso woman wore the costume of the inhabitants of Epirus; the fine white silk dress, which inclosed the slim, beautifully shaped form, looked like freshly fallen snow, and the euished fro,” said the man softly, as he pressed a kiss upon the raven-black hair
”Oh, how I love you, my friend, my husband,” she whispered in the sahten you, Haydee?” asked the htened when you are near ht to know er than the will of man”
”But God supervises the actions of nature, as he does the hearts ofa look full of childish confidence at the starry sky
”Are you aware, Haydee, that we shall reach our destination in an hour?”
”Yes, and e land at Monte-Cristo you will tell me the story of your life, and I shall then find out the nature of the sorrow you have undergone”
”Haydee, the sorrow belongs to the past; the future at your side has in store for me only joy and happiness From your pure lips the sentence, whether I am to be damned or saved, must come”
At this moment an old sailor approached the to Monte-Cristo?”
”Yes, Jacopo; you and your men stay on board, while Bertuccio and Ali accompany us We shall only stay a few hours Send Ali to me, and see to it that the yacht reaches its destination soon”
Jacopo bowed, and shortly afterward Ali appeared
”Ali,” said the count, turning to the Nubian, ”have you carried out my orders?”
Ali folded his arms across his breast and nodded his head
”And you know that your life is at stake?”
Ali again nodded
”Good; you can go”
”You frightento the count ”Ali is so devoted to you, and if we should lose him--”
”Have no fear, child; ill not lose hi the Ice Bird--for such was the name of the yacht--flew over the hot waves, which were bathed in the first rays of thesun, and soon the rude rocks of the island of Monte-Cristo were in view of the travellers Haydee stood leaning against her husband's shoulder, and watched the play of the glistening waves, while before Monte-Cristo's eyes the past rose like a vision
Ten years before, in February, 1829, Jacopo had taken hi years in the Chateau d'If, into his service
Caderousse, Ferdinand, Danglars, and Villefort had been his enemies, and now justice had overtaken all of them The treasure of the Abbe Faria had placed Edmond Dantes in a position to play an important part in the world as the Count of Monte-Cristo, and, now that he saw his plans realized, and the traitors punished, Monte-Cristo felt his soul stirred by doubts Faria had intended to establish the unity of Italy with the legendary wealth of the Spadas Later on he had given his treasure to Edel with the fiery sword, Monte-Cristo had punished the guilty, and now--
”Count,” said Bertuccio, ”we shall land directly Have you any new order for me?”
”No, Bertuccio; you know my orders for Ali; they suffice”