CHAPTER XLVIII
UNITED IN DEATH
When Benedetto entered the hall he was neither Malvernet, Cavalcanti orFagiano. He was simply Benedetto.
"Whoever you are," cried the vicomte, "I implore you to help me bringthis poor child out of here."
"Vicomte," replied Benedetto, coldly, "I will not help you, and you'llnot bring this woman away from here."
"I will shoot you down like a dog," said Spero, contemptuously.
With these words he pulled out a pistol and held it toward Benedetto.
"You wish to commit murder, vicomte!"
"Do not speak of murder, wretch? You robbed me of my freedom, and thispoor child, whose innocence ought to be sacred to you, you--"
"The poor innocent child," interrupted the ex-convict. "You told me itwas brought here against its will!"
"Scoundrel, you lie!" cried Spero, angrily.
Benedetto laughed coarsely.
"Jane Zild," he then said, drawing back a step, "tell the Vicomte ofMonte-Cristo that you are worthy of him. Don't you remember who yourmother was, what your mother was, and where she died?"
"Mercy," cried Jane, throwing herself at Benedetto's feet. "Mercy!"
"Jane Zild, shall I tell the vicomte who your father was?"
"My father?" stammered Jane, confused.
"Yes, your father. Do you not remember a man who took care of you afteryour mother died? The man was formerly a galley-slave named Anselmo.Before that he wore the dress of a priest. Jane Zild is the daughter ofthe convict of Toulon and the woman of Lyons."
"Miserable scoundrel," cried Spero, "you lie! If you have weapons, letus fight. Only one of us dare leave this room alive."
"Just my idea," said Benedetto, as he took two swords from under hiscloak. "Choose, and now _vogue ma galere_."
"The motto is no doubt derived from your past," said Spero.
"You shall pay for that, boy," hissed Benedetto as he placed himself inposition.
A hot struggle ensued, and Benedetto was finally driven against thewall.
"Wretch!" exclaimed Spero, "your life is in my hands; beg for mercy, orI shall stab you through the heart."
"I beg for mercy? Fool, you do not know what you are speaking of! I hateyou--I hate your father--take my life, or, as true as I stand here, Ishall take yours!"
"Then die," replied Spero, and with a quick movement he knockedBenedetto's sword out of his hand and made a lunge at him!
But the lunge did not reach Benedetto's heart, but that of the younggirl! At the same moment a shot rang through the hall, and Jane andSpero sank lifeless to the floor.
How had this horrible thing happened?
At the moment Benedetto saw Spero's sword turned toward his heart, heseized the pistol the vicomte had carelessly laid aside, and fired athis opponent. Jane saw the wretch seize the pistol. She threw herselfinto Spero's arms to save her lover, and received the death-blow fromhis hand!
* * * * *
The moment Spero breathed his last, loud cries were heard throughout thehouse, and many voices called Spero's name.
Benedetto grew pale. How could he save himself? Only one way was left tohim, and he hesitated to carry it out.
Hasty steps were now heard coming along the corridor. Tearing the windowopen, Benedetto swung himself on the sill. He looked into the darkwaters of the Seine, and firmly muttered: "Forward! Down there is hope;here, death!"
Fanfaro, Gontram, Carmen, Bobichel and Coucou now hurried into the hall.Benedetto looked at them with flaming eye, and mockingly cried:
"You are too late! I have killed Monte-Cristo's son!"
The next minute he had disappeared, and, while the waves rushed overhim, Fanfaro and Gontram rushed toward Spero's body, and Fanfarosobbingly exclaimed:
"Too late! Too late! Oh, poor, poor father!"
The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume II Page 49
