The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 66 (1/2)
CHAPTER XLVIII
A THUNDER CLAP
Goutran was startled by the tone in which Esperance spoke He hastened with Carmen to the music-room, and then returned to the Vicoent,” the artist said, penitently, ”and I have a thousand apologies to make And nohat may I do for you?”
The Vicomte was very pale He hesitated
”My friend,” he said at last, ”you have entire confidence in me, have you not?”
”Most certainly You have won both my esteem and affection”
”And you think me incapable of falsehood?”
”What a question!”
”Then listen toto that girl's divine voice You passed me and spoke to me, but I hardly knehat you said, when suddenly fro came these words, distinctly pronounced:
”Take care, son of Monte-Cristo, take care! You are walking into a snare laid for you Take care!”
”A snare! Who was it that spoke?”
”I know not I instantly drew aside the curtain, but there was no one there”
”No one!” Goutran smiled ”But this is sorcery,It was, of course, some illusion”
”Illusion!” repeated Esperance, impatiently, ”I tell you that I heard the words distinctly”
”Then it was soht, played this wretched joke”
”That may be, but there was a tone of sincerity in the voice that struck me”
”But there is no sense in the words A snare! Who could spread one for you in this house but myself? Noill you, in your turn, tell me if you have absolute faith in me? I have been anxious to coax you frolad when I saw you coht Now, my dear fellow, dise into the furnace!”
Goutran laughed as he led the way toward the roo
”Can the snare,” continued Goutran, ”be found in the delicious tones of that voice, which has ht”
Esperance found hi the many compliments of her admirers She saw Esperance, and as her eyes fell upon him, Goutran felt his companion start
”Suppose,” he said, ”that I present you to our star? Surely she will exorcise your dis Jane, ”one of yourpresented to you”
The two--Jane and Esperance--were now face to face Esperance, pale and silent, looked at Jane, while she stood waiting possibly for so these two persons almost alone, and at this moment a candle fell from one of the chandeliers upon the train of Jane's black tulle, and shrieks from all the women rent the air Flames threatened to envelop Jane With a rapidity that was quicker than thought, Esperance tore down one of the heavy Eastern portieres, and wrapped it around the girl He did this so skilfully that in a minute the fla, as if she hardly knew the danger she had been in She was nificent, enveloped in thisaccomplished his work Esperance drew back, like a worshi+pper recoiling in terror after touching the Goddess