VAMPA AND MONTE-CRISTO.
After his fearful and exhausting duel with old Pasquale Solara in which
he had been so nearly vanquished and so signally favored by Fate, the
Viscount Massetti dragged himself rather than ran through the chestnut
grove by the roadside, pausing now and then to glance back through the
trees and note what was taking place among Vampa's bandits. His wounded
antagonist was evidently unconscious, for the brigands were bending over
him, some of them seeming to be engaged in endeavors to restore him to
his senses. Another circumstance tending to confirm this supposition was
the absence of pursuit, for had the shepherd been able to give even the
most fragmentary information relative to the encounter, Vampa's men
would have immediately devoted their attention to a search for his
successful assailant, and in Giovanni's present condition of exhaustion
his capture could not have been doubtful.
The young Italian did not waste a moment, but made his way towards Rome
as rapidly as he was able, though his progress was necessarily toilsome
and painful in the extreme. Having at length reached the bank of a small
brook at a safe distance from the scene of the conflict, he washed the
dust and sweat from his face, and held his benumbed hand in the cool,
limpid water until the blood resumed its normal circulation. Then he
arranged his torn and disordered garments so as not to attract too much
attention from the curious pedestrians he would be sure to meet on the
outskirts of the city, resuming his journey strengthened and refreshed.
Contrary to his expectations he eventually gained the Hotel de France
without exciting any special observation or comment. Once in his own
apartment he carefully locked the door and, casting himself upon his
bed, breathed freely for the first time since old Solara had fallen by
his hand.
His thoughts, however, were not altogether of a reassuring nature. He
had taken an Italian's vengeance upon the despicable old Pasquale
Solara, who certainly merited all he had received, but how would
Monte-Cristo look at the affair when he learned of it as he most
assuredly would when he began his campaign against Vampa, if not before?
Undoubtedly with strong disapprobation and displeasure. The Count had
cautioned him to keep out of sight, to restrain his impetuosity, and he
had done neither. On the contrary he had shown himself to the shepherd,
declared his identity and assumed the responsibility of dealing with
him, though, to be sure, he had given him a chance to defend himself. If
Solara was dead, if he had expired without making any revelation, his
secret was secure and even Monte-Cristo could not unearth it, but would
not the death of old Pasquale deprive the Count of a most important
witness, a most important factor in his rehabilitation? Perhaps so,
perhaps not, for it was by no means certain that Monte-Cristo could
force Solara to confess and make at least partial and tardy amends for
his atrocious misdeeds. It was highly probable that Annunziata's
wretched father, even if brought to bay, would persist in preserving a
stony and unbroken silence, would make no admissions whatever. Taking
this view of the matter the Viscount felt relieved and, composing
himself on his couch, yielded to the influence of extreme fatigue and
fell asleep. His slumber was profound and dreamless. Exactly how long he
slept he knew not, but meanwhile an event as unexpected as it was
portentous occurred almost within earshot of where he lay, an event
brought about by his rash and inconsiderate action of that morning.
Monte-Cristo's salon was opposite to Massetti's chamber, a wide corridor
separating the two apartments. It was late in the afternoon and the
Count, seated at his desk, was pondering over his plans in relation to
the Viscount. Matters had not progressed as swiftly as he had hoped.
Besides, much further delay seemed inevitable. Maximilian, of course,
could do nothing, for the present at least, and Valentine's ability to
be of use was limited to encouraging Zuleika and exercising a proper
degree of surveillance over the lovers when such surveillance was
possible. Peppino and Beppo, too, were comparatively useless, though by
careful and well-directed inquiries they had ascertained that Luigi
Vampa and his band had changed their quarters from the old rendezvous,
locating in a fastness that could not be approached without great
difficulty and danger. None of the brigands now visited Rome and even
Vampa himself seemed distrustful of the future. According to the
intelligence gathered by Peppino and Beppo he constantly went about in
various disguises that defied detection, studiously avoiding all his
accustomed haunts. With regard to the brigand chief's actions
Monte-Cristo could entertain but one of two opinions--either he was
filled with remorse for his shameful conduct towards poor Annunziata
Solara and for his complicity with old Pasquale in bringing the innocent
Viscount under suspicion, which was doubtful, or he was afraid that
Roman justice stimulated by young Massetti and such friends as he still
possessed would overtake him, which was the more probable. The Count had
not hoped for much from Annunziata Solara, though he had calculated
somewhat on the effect upon her of his assurance that he possessed
conclusive proof of Giovanni's innocence. His recent interview with the
girl, however, had established the fact that she firmly believed the
Viscount guilty, and it was fair to presume that she would retain her
belief in the face of everything with all the proverbial obstinacy of
woman. Besides, after all, what was his conclusive proof? Simply the
unsupported assertions of a former member of Vampa's band, who in making
them had clearly been actuated by a desire of wreaking personal
vengeance upon old Pasquale Solara!
The Count was not a little discouraged, but his own conviction of the
truth of Peppino's statement was as strong as ever and, notwithstanding
all the apparently insurmountable obstacles, he did not doubt that he
would eventually find some way to force Vampa and the shepherd into a
full confirmation of every diabolical detail related by the ex-bandit in
the cell of the police poste in Paris.
As he sat thus communing with his sombre thoughts and reflecting that
the delay might stretch out into many months, a knock was heard at his
door and in response to his permission Peppino entered the salon.
A glance at the man's pale and agitated countenance was sufficient to
tell Monte-Cristo that something unusual had happened.
"Well," said he, gazing keenly at him, "what is it?"
The man looked hastily about the apartment and, having satisfied himself
that his master was alone, came close to him, bending down and
whispering in his ear:
"Signor Count, a strange visitor is below, asking to see you. He is
garbed like a Roman noble and his face is made up with paints and
cosmetics like that of an actor on the stage of a theatre. Still, I
think I have pierced his disguise and that he is no less a personage
than Luigi Vampa himself!"
"Ah!" said the Count, rising, with a smile of satisfaction. "Heaven
grant that you are correct! If Vampa is here, his visit will simplify
matters."
"But you do not mean to see the brigand chief, do you, Signor Count?"
said Peppino, in a startled tone.
"Why, pray, should I not see him when for so long I have been
impatiently awaiting an opportunity to meet him?" asked Monte-Cristo, in
amazement.
"Because," answered the Italian, with an unmistakable display of fear,
"he may have divined your mission to Rome and his business with you here
to-day may be assassination!"
Monte Cristo laughed heartily.
"My good fellow," said he, in a reassuring tone, "dismiss your childish
terrors. Vampa will not dare even to attempt to harm me! Show the
mysterious visitor up and let the problem of his identity be solved!"
"I know your power over Vampa, Signor Count," returned Peppino,
hesitating, "but still in this peculiar instance it may fail you!"
"Pshaw!" said the Count, impatiently. "I tell you I do not fear Vampa.
Show him up at once."
Peppino very reluctantly quitted the salon, soon returning with the
suspicious visitor.
Monte-Cristo advanced to meet the new comer, who silently pointed to
Peppino, motioning towards the door. The Count nodded to the ex-bandit
and with a slow step he left the room.
Although Vampa was carefully disguised and even elegantly dressed in the
fashionable attire of the Roman aristocracy, Monte-Cristo, like Peppino,
had no difficulty whatever in recognizing him.
"Well, Luigi Vampa!" said he, facing his visitor and calmly folding his
arms as soon as they were alone. "What do you want with me?"
The brigand chief did not seem either disconcerted or surprised even in
the slightest degree. He boldly returned his host's gaze and said:
"I knew you would recognize me at once, for I am well aware of your
extraordinary keenness and penetration, Signor Count, but, to confess
the truth, my disguise was not intended to deceive you; its sole object
was to secure me safe entrance to and exit from Rome which of late has
become dangerous for men in my line of industry!"
The Count smiled in his peculiar way.
"What do you want with me, Luigi Vampa?" he repeated. "Your errand must
be of vast importance since you have taken so much trouble to execute
it!"
"It is of vast importance, Signor Count. This morning one of the most
efficient members of my band, old Pasquale Solara, was attacked and
severely wounded by your protege the Viscount Giovanni Massetti!"
"Old Solara attacked and severely wounded by the Viscount Massetti?
Impossible!"
The Count was greatly disconcerted by this intelligence; he could not
conceal his chagrin. The Viscount's rashness and impetuosity would ruin
all!
"What I say is true," continued Vampa, "and I have come to you to
protest. You must restrain this Viscount Massetti, this reckless madman!
He professes to have a grudge against Pasquale Solara and there is no
telling to what length he may go if you do not control him. Had Pasquale
been able to speak when discovered lying bathed in blood upon the
highway by some of the members of my band, young Massetti would have
been pursued, captured and made to pay for his murderous assault with
his life; but it was only later, when brought into my presence, that he
became sufficiently conscious to relate what had happened. Signor Count,
I wish to respect your friends, but they on their part must respect me
and my band!"
"Luigi Vampa," replied Monte-Cristo, sternly, "you say that young
Massetti has a grudge against old Pasquale Solara! What you seek to
belittle with the name of grudge is simply just indignation for an
outrage such as human beings rarely commit! This you know!--you to whom
Solara basely sold his daughter!--you who plotted with the aged
scoundrel that the charge of abduction and murder might fall upon the
Viscount's innocent shoulders when you, Luigi Vampa, were the guilty
man!"
The brigand chief started and grew pale beneath the paint and cosmetics
with which his visage was thickly coated.
"You have been deceived, Signor Count!" he stammered, taken at a
disadvantage, but nevertheless speaking guardedly and endeavoring to put
on a bold front. "The girl herself, Annunziata Solara, will swear to you
that the Viscount Giovanni Massetti was her abductor and the author of
her ruin!"
"Yes," replied Monte-Cristo, bitterly, "she will and does say so, for
she has been completely blinded by the cunning, fiendish stratagems you
resorted to, aided and abetted by that infamous miscreant old Pasquale
Solara, for whom a lingering death upon the rack of the ancient Spanish
Inquisition would not be a sufficient punishment!"
"You speak very confidently, Signor Count," said Vampa, resuming his
cool self-possession. "Pray tell me how you are going to prove all
this?"
"I should be foolish, indeed, did I do so," replied Monte-Cristo, seeing
the brigand chief's trap and adroitly avoiding being caught in it.
"However, suffice it to say that I can and will make good all I have
asserted! Even Annunziata Solara herself shall be thoroughly convinced!"
"Signor Count," said Vampa, pleadingly, "we have long been good friends,
have long understood each other perfectly. Do not let the idle tales
designing persons have poured into your ears destroy that friendship and
that understanding!"
"I have heard no idle tales from designing persons," retorted the Count.
"What I have heard was a plain and simple statement of the truth. I know
how old Solara summoned you with his signal whistle, how you bargained
with him for his beautiful daughter and how you finally bought her of
him! I know how you abducted the girl while her infamous father waited
outside the cabin with a torch, how you bore her away in your arms
through the forest, murdering her brother and in turn encountering my
son Esperance and the Viscount Massetti. I know how you carried her to
the hut you had prepared, how you kept her a close prisoner there
guarded by members of your band until your shameful object was
accomplished! I know how you wrote that letter signed Tonio which was
intended to influence Annunziata's belief in the Viscount's guilt, and I
know how old Solara secreted it where his daughter afterwards found and
read it! Now, Luigi Vampa, are you satisfied? You said a moment ago that
we have long understood each other. I hope there will be no
misunderstanding on your part when I tell you that I mean to force both
you and old Solara to confess your crimes and make reparation for them
as far as possible!"
"Then you declare war against us?" cried the brigand chief.
"I do!" answered Monte-Cristo, coldly.
"Then in my own name and in that of Pasquale Solara, I defy you, Edmond
Dantes, Count of Monte-Cristo!"
He backed towards the door as if afraid the Count would attack him. When
he reached it, he turned, flung it open and stepped into the corridor,
instantly finding himself in the grasp of Peppino and Beppo, who at once
handed him over to a squad of policemen, the officer in charge of whom
said:
"I arrest you, Luigi Vampa! Follow me!"