The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 69 (1/2)
Benedetto shrugged his shoulders, and continued:
”You know I heard two persons come up the stairs I hid behind the door with my knife, and when the door opened, I struck at the first person I saw--”
”And it was yourYes, it was my mother; but how did you know it?”
”I had seen her in the gorge, and she had told me her story and implored me to save her son”
”And did she tell you her name?” asked Benedetto, with some uneasiness
”She told me all, but I swore never to reveal it to any one”
”And she believed in the oath of a convict?”
”I have kept it, at all events”
”You are a hero! But you can, at least, tell y ”You are planning sohed
”You must think me very simple I merely wished to test your lars”
Sanselme uttered an exclamation He had hoped that his refusal would frustrate soo,” he said, sadly ”You can have nothing more to say to me”
”You are mistaken! One would think that you did not care to seeconnected with the past is hideously painful to et, too, that you once tried to kill me”
”Let us say no more about that Tell me frankly what you want me to do, and if possible I will do it”
”You are beco more reasonable, Sansellibly and with a certain tenderness in your voice? Perhaps I can guess She is pretty, that is a fact!”
Sanselme started and took hold of Benedetto's arm
”Not another word like that, Benedetto! Not if you wish to live!”
”Indeed! What would you do?”
”My fate is in your hands,” answered Sanselme ”You can at any moment denounce me as an escaped convict Do what you please, but you shall not say one word of her who is in this house”
”Upon my word, Sanselh hand Suppose I do not obey you?”
”Then I will denounce you, with the certainty that h when I say that in spite ofmy whole life to a creature who has no one but myself in the world If she kneho I was she would despisesmile Suddenly he said: