Volume II Part 70 (1/2)

But the world did not tear, not an atoht settled about Spero One night as the vicoht, he saw the drapery lide slowly back

In ayawned before him, and as he knew not what fear was, he walked into the corridor which opened before hi, he walked down the marble staircase; the door closed behind hiround

After Spero had gone doenty steps he found hiround

He went further and further, and finally stood at the foot of a staircase which led toward the left Without taking time to consider he ascended it and soon stood before a door--he put his hand on the knob and it opened

A room furnished in dark red silk lay before the vicomte

On a black marble table Spero espied an open letter

The Count of Monte-Cristo had always seen to it that his house was connected in a s It was only in this way that he was enabled to play the part of a _deus ex machina_--as Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte-Cristo and Lord Wile Like athe note read the following:

”If the son of the Count of Monte-Cristo is not a coward, and wishes to find her whoo at once to Courberode and hunt up a man named Malvernet, who lives at the so-called Path of Thorns Here he will find out what he wants to know, and perhaps a little nature to the letter, and Spero cared very little for that Suddenly his glance happened to fall on a large ave a cry of alars about his eyes the twenty-one-year-old son of the great count?

”One would think that the few days I have been away froed meup; ”the enereat count shall not say that his son is not a worthy scion! I will crush them if they touch a hair of Jane's head My father did not na as I breathe I can hope I will not despair, I will conquer!”

He pulled out his two pistols and examined them, and with a soft, tender ”Father, help me,” he left the secret chamber

CHAPTER XLIII

THE PATH OF THORNS

Twenty years ago the village of Courberode looked different from what it does to-day It consisted of a few miserable fishermen's cabins One hundred feet from the beach a path filled with thorns led far into the country The thorns in the course of tiave rise to the name, ”The Path of Thorns”

Just behind it stood an old tumble-down house The basement of this house consisted of a smoky roo oil la up and down the low apartment

”I wonder whether he will coht noise was heard outside A knock cahly

”Does a man named Malvernet live here?” caht in”

Spero entered, his clothes dripping wet, and blue-black hair hanging over his forehead

”My name is Malvernet,” said the other sharply; ”what do you wish?”