"But my mother, the former Countess de Morcerf, who is now the wife of Edmond Dantes, will vouch for my identity." The young woman passed her hand across her forehead as if dazed. "If you are Albert de Morcerf, you must despise me after what has taken place this evening," she said, bitterly. "Despise you? No, I pity and forgive you." "Albert," said she, softly, "come here and sit beside me on this sofa; I have something to say to you." The soldier obeyed; when he was seated, he said: "Eugenie, why did you tell me I could be your friend?" "Simply because I have long suspected your secret and wished to ascertain the real nature of your feelings toward me. You not only resisted a terrible temptation, the most terrible temptation to which a young, ardent and passion-smitten man can be exposed, but by your honor conclusively established the purity and sincerity of your love. Oh! Albert, Albert, are you satisfied with my explanation and do you still think me worthy of you?" "My own Eugenie, my happiness is far too great for words!" murmured the delighted young man, gathering his beautiful companion in a warm embrace and repeatedly kissing her ripe lips and blushing cheeks. It was soon known throughout Paris that Captain Joliette and Albert de Morcerf were identical, and that Mlle. d'Armilly was in reality no other than Mlle. Eugenie Danglars, daughter of Baron Danglars, the once famous and opulent Parisian banker; the report also was current that Albert and Eugenie were engaged and would shortly be united in the bonds of matrimony. Another bit of gossip was to the effect that the former cantatrice's brother Leon was not a man but a woman; in short, the real Louise d'Armilly, who had loaned her name to Eugenie Danglars and assumed male attire solely for professional purposes. This story was speedily confirmed, for Leon soon vanished and in his place appeared a most attractive and fascinating lady, who very quietly assumed, or rather resumed, the name of Louise d'Armilly. Still another rumor was that the wealth so strangely inherited by the former prima donna was not a legacy at all, but a gift from the mysterious Count of Monte-Cristo, who had thus striven to make amends to the daughter for the misfortunes he had, while pursuing his scheme of wholesale vengeance, so remorselessly heaped upon the head of the father. CHAPTER XXIX. ZULEIKA GOES TO M. DANTES. M. Dantes was sitting alone in his library, busily engaged in reading a favorite work on the subject of political economy, and from time to time making copious notes. It was after midnight, and the vast mansion on the Rue du Helder was as silent as the tomb; the lamp on the Deputy's table burned brightly, but a large metallic shade concentrated the light and reflected it upon the table, so that the other portions of the apartment were shrouded in almost complete darkness.