The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I | Page 9

you can wake the dead, then you can help me. But this miraculous
power I do not believe even you have. Nevertheless, I have never
refused you a favor, and accede to your request, on condition that you
promise not to make any new attempts to prevent me from carrying out
my design."
"Accepted," said the count, as he stretched out his hand affectionately
toward the young man, who grasped it without hesitation.
"To-day a month," he continued, "I shall await you on the island of
Monte-Cristo."
With these words Monte-Cristo left his friend.
Maximilian remained true to his word. Five days before the expiration
of the fateful month he went from Paris to Marseilles and embarked
from there on one of the yachts belonging to the count for the little
island of Monte-Cristo, which he reached on the appointed day. Ali, the
black servant of the count, met him on the wharf and conducted him to
the count's apartments.
"Here I am, count, to receive the powder from your hands which will
realize my hope to meet Valentine in another world."

"Nothing can induce you to give up your design then?" asked
Monte-Cristo.
"Nothing, not even you," answered Morrel, firmly.
"Well, then, let it be so," said Monte-Cristo sternly, as he took a
greenish, strongly smelling pastil from a box cut from an opal.
"It is hashish. Death is painless and recalls to the person taking it the
most beautiful memories of his life."
Maximilian embraced his friend and swallowed the pastil.
The effect was wonderful. A delightful languor took possession of
Maximilian. All the scenes of his childhood came back to him, only the
form of his darling was missing. Suddenly the back part of the room
appeared to open and a female form strode toward him with arms
outstretched; it was the purified form of his beloved.
"Oh, how sweet is such a death," whispered Maximilian.
The figure strode nearer to him, embraced him and kissed his burning
forehead.
"My poor lover," murmured a well-known voice.
"Valentine," exclaimed Maximilian, "Valentine, is it possible! I am not
dreaming, you are alive! I clasp you in my arms, only to die myself!"
"I am alive, my dear friend, and bring you new life; it is no dream, we
are at the realization of our hopes, we are united on earth forever."
Gradually Maximilian became conscious. He lay in the arms of his
beloved Valentine and his faithful friend Monte-Cristo stood near him.
"Valentine and Maximilian," said the count solemnly, "my dear friends,
from now on nothing shall separate you; I give you life back again, I
now join your hands in the bonds which nothing can separate but the
grave! May God bless you both as I do."

Overpowered with emotion the newly united couple sank at the feet of
this curious man to thank him from the depths of their hearts.
Monte-Cristo lifted Valentine tenderly from the ground and turning to
her said:
"I shall leave you alone now, and go back to my apartments, where my
wife, the Countess of Monte-Cristo, awaits me."
As soon as the count had gone the two lovers embraced each other
again. Then the young man led the young girl to a divan, and asked her
to tell him the wonderful story of her rescue and her return from the
grave.
"I was," related Valentine, "as you know, very ill; but yet I hoped to
become convalescent again! One night, as I lay on my bed of sickness,
a door which I had never before perceived was opened. A man entered
and approached my bed; I was just about to scream when I perceived
that the spectre was none other than the Count of Monte-Cristo, who
made signs to me to keep silent. He sat beside me and told me I was
being gradually poisoned by my step-mother, and that she had already
poisoned my grandparents Barrois in the same manner. He had himself
given me an antidote. But the means he had were not sufficient to
shield me from all danger, and he begged me to drink a potion, which
would put me in a trance for the space of three days. I took the potion
which the count gave me; I lost my senses. How long I lay thus I do not
know, but when I woke I found myself in a coffin in a church, and the
count standing beside me. A new and powerful potion restored me to
my former vitality. The count brought me to his house, where I found
everything necessary to a journey. After I had rested for a few days, I
rode to Marseilles with the count, and from there to this lonely island,
where I have found you, my dear Maximilian."
A new embrace ended