The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 61 (2/2)

”Well, sir, you have a treers felt as if they were made of steel”

Esperance looked at his hands in some surprise

”Yes,” he said, in a drea! I should say you were”

”I did not hurt you, I trust?” and Esperance still gazed at his hands in a troubled sort of way

”Where will you breakfast, sir?” asked Coucon

”In the gallery, I think”

”And alone?”

”I don't know; I do not re any one”

Coucon departed, proud of the shake of the hand he had received, although he still rubbed his fingers to restore the circulation

CHAPTER XLV

”WHAT WILL HE DO?”

Esperance was alone; his broas thoughtful He sank into a chair and buried his face in his hands Suddenly he started up, and drawing aside the heavy portiere over a door, entered a slass s adht Esperance threw open the sash and the daylight strea Esperance turned to the wall, on which hung a fine picture of Monte-Cristo Next this portrait hung one of hisman spoke aloud ”Father!” he said, ”e me and counsel uilty or a his head back proudly, he said, ”No, I am not mad, and yet I cannot understand e to speak to you frankly? You would have understood ed me I am afraid of life, I am afraid of reatness, the shadohich falls on me”

In the letter written by Monte-Cristo to his son, he had spoken the truth He had not thought sufficiently of developing the especial characteristics of his son, and had made of him a philosopher

Esperance had been compelled to reason calmly on all subjects, and the inconsequence of youth had been frowned upon by his father

Ed, vivacious and full of illusions and hopes

Monte-Cristo forgot this, and forgot that Esperance was but twenty He had been kind and loving to Esperance; he had, as he believed, aruished his boyishness and engrafted the seeds of distrust

Esperance never accused his father, but the result of this education was that he was afraid of himself and others Monte-Cristo saw his son silent and sad at times, but he did not realize that it was because he had quenched the youth in him and made him prematurely old He moreover suddenly became convinced that it was best for Esperance to leave him, and therefore departed silently and edies of life, but not against its daily annoyances

Esperance had enorth, and yet he eak to resist sorrow He could have held his hand on a brazier of burning coals, but he would have started at a pin-prick And now that Monte-Cristo had gone, Esperance felt like a child deprived of itsa visitor

He passed his hand over his brow Then addressing the dear portraits once ive ive rant that I azed up at the blue sky with an expression that was almost mystical Then he closed the room, and returned to his chamber