The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 1 (2/2)

The boy was still sleeping soundly, and the apartether undisturbed

Monte-Cristo uttered a sigh of relief; he bent over the beautiful child and gently kissed him on the forehead

The party returned to the adjoining room and resumed their seats

Scarcely had they done so when a dark forreen bournous, appeared stealthily at the openof Esperance's cha into the roo of a Frenchman!” hissed the intruder in a low tone between his teeth ”When you flung la, you fancied you had killed me; but Maldar bears a chare!”

The intruder was indeed Maldar, the Sultan, who by soeance

As he spoke he shook his fist in the direction of the Count, as sitting at the table with the rest of Fanfar's guests, though his so his outward calmness, he yet suspected the presence of a deadly foe

Maldar had removed his sandals, and his footsteps were noiseless He went to the bed and stood for an instant gloating over the sluain Allah is great! I will strike this giaour of a Frenchman in his tenderest spot--his heart! The son shall pay the father's debt!”

Half-crouching and gathering his green bournous closely about hin of the crescent in the air There was a slight flash, a pale phosphorescent glow, and in the midst of it the emblem of Islam appeared for an instant like a semi-circle of fire and then vanished

Immediately a Khouan showed himself at the ; he leaped into the apartment, followed by three others of his fanatical and pitiless tribe

The new-comers instantly knelt at Maldar's feet and kissed the hem of his bournous

”Son of the Prophet,” said one of the!”

”Rise,” said Maldar, ”and seize yonder lad, first gagging him with this sacred scarf made from Mohammed's own sainted vestment Be quick and bear him to the desert!”

The Khouan who had acted as spokesman took the scarf from Maldar's hand and skilfully executed his command Esperance was in such a deep slumber that he did not make a movement, even when the Arab lifted him from the bed and held him in his ar, as the Khouan sprang from theand disappeared in the darkness without: ”Now, Count of Monte-Cristo, you are once eance!”

He darted through the ,Khouans to do likewise In an instant the rooht

Ten, fifteen minutes passed, and still not a sound to break the torpor of the Algerian night, save the hum of conversation around the table of Fanfar, the colonist Monte-Cristo's sombre air had not passed away He was a prey to a species of uneasiness he had never experienced before

Fanfar, noticing that the Count was disturbed, that so upon him, hesitated to commence his narration

Finally he said to hi your son? If so, you can dismiss your anxiety The lad is in perfect safety beneath my roof; his slumber will refresh him, and he will awake entirely restored As for the Khouans, they never deign to visit my humble habitation, and they will hardly break their rule to come here now Still, to satisfy you and put all your apprehensions at rest, I will go and take a look at the lad”

He arose and went to Esperance's room In an instant he returned His face had the pallor of wax

Monte-Cristo leaped nervously to his feet and stood staring at hiuish

”Well?” said he, in an unsteady voice

Fanfar was breathless with excitement and terror When he could find words, he said:

”The lad is gone!”