M. Dantes cast upon his son a glance that seemed to pierce him through and through; the young man quailed beneath it and again partially closed his eyes, while a faint blue shade was mixed with the waxen pallor of his visage. The Deputy, though he had made a profound and exhaustive study of men and their varied motives, though he was a skilled anatomist of the human heart and a ready reader of the human countenance, acknowledged to himself that this time he was completely baffled. Was it fear or guilt that Esperance exhibited? He could not tell; but it was abundantly evident that the young man was not acting a part, that he keenly felt the suspicions to which he was exposing himself by his inexplicable conduct. At length M. Dantes said, in a mild but determined tone: "Esperance, my son, you can, at least, enlighten me upon a few points, and I request, nay, I command you to do so. Are you bound by oath to preserve silence concerning this matter?" "I am bound by a most solemn oath!" answered the young man with a shudder. "And is Giovanni Massetti likewise so bound?" "He is!" "I will not ask you who administered that oath to you or under what circumstances it was taken, although as your father I have a right to do so and to compel you to answer; neither will I interrogate you further in regard to the main question at issue, the complication in which you and the Viscount seem to be so hopelessly involved; but I insist that you inform me whether any guilt or stain of dishonor rests upon you!" "Father," said Esperance, rising and lifting his right hand toward heaven, "I solemnly swear to you that whatever wrong may have been done, whatever crime may have been committed, I am entirely guiltless and that there is not the slightest stain of dishonor upon me!" "I believe you, my son," said M. Dantes, in a tone of conviction, "and this unequivocal assurance from your own lips removes the weight of a mountain from me. Now, tell me, is the Viscount Massetti as blameless in this affair as you are?" "The so-called Viscount Massetti is a black-hearted villain!" cried Esperance, excitedly. "He is guilty of a foul and revolting crime, a crime that should condemn him to a life of penal servitude!" "But may you not be mistaken, may you not be the victim of some delusion?" asked M. Dantes, anxiously. "I am neither mistaken, father, nor the victim of a delusion," replied Esperance, positively. "The charges that I make against that miserable apology for a man I can fully substantiate should the proper opportunity ever be offered me!" "Zuleika informed me that, while you were speaking with her upon this mysterious subject, the name of Luigi Vampa escaped your lips. Does that notorious brigand posses a knowledge of this unfortunate matter?" Esperance became violently agitated and instantly answered: "That is a question my oath forbids me to reply to!" "So be it," said M. Dantes; "but I have written him and he will reply for you!"