best feelings produced the same effect as though it had been the
result of calculation. My voluntary confession of the assassination
at Auteuil proved to him that I had not committed that of which I
stood accused. When he quitted me, he bade me be of good courage,
and to rely upon his doing all in his power to convince my judges
of my innocence.
"I had speedy proofs that the excellent abbe was engaged in my
behalf, for the rigors of my imprisonment were alleviated by many
trifling though acceptable indulgences, and I was told that my
trial was to be postponed to the assizes following those now being
held. In the interim it pleased providence to cause the
apprehension of Caderousse, who was discovered in some distant
country, and brought back to France, where he made a full
confession, refusing to make the fact of his wife's having
suggested and arranged the murder any excuse for his own guilt. The
wretched man was sentenced to the galleys for life, and I was
immediately set at liberty."
"And then it was, I presume," said Monte Cristo "that you came
to me as the bearer of a letter from the Abbe Busoni?"
"It was, your excellency; the benevolent abbe took an evident
interest in all that concerned me.
"`Your mode of life as a smuggler,' said he to me one day, `will
be the ruin of you; if you get out, don't take it up again.' — `But
how,' inquired I, `am I to maintain myself and my poor sister?'
"`A person, whose confessor I am,' replied he, `and who
entertains a high regard for me, applied to me a short time since
to procure him a confidential servant. Would you like such a post?
If so, I will give you a letter of introduction to him.' — `Oh,
father,' I exclaimed, `you are very good.'
"`But you must swear solemnly that I shall never have reason to
repent my recommendation.' I extended my hand, and was about to
pledge myself by any promise he would dictate, but he stopped me.
`It is unnecessary for you to bind yourself by any vow,' said he;
`I know and admire the Corsican nature too well to fear you. Here,`I know and admire the Corsican nature too well to fear you. Here,
take this,' continued he, after rapidly writing the few lines I
brought to your excellency, and upon receipt of which you deigned
to receive me into your service, and proudly I ask whether your
excellency has ever had cause to repent having done so?"
"No," replied the count; "I take pleasure in saying that you
have served me faithfully, Bertuccio; but you might have shown more
confidence in me."
"I, your excellency?"
"Yes; you. How comes it, that having both a sister and an
adopted son, you have never spoken to me of either?"
"Alas, I have still to recount the most distressing period of my
life. Anxious as you may suppose I was to behold and comfort my
dear sister, I lost no time in hastening to Corsica, but when I
arrived at Rogliano I found a house of mourning, the consequences
of a scene so horrible that the neighbors remember and speak of it
to this day. Acting by my advice, my poor sister had refused to
comply with the unreasonable demands of Benedetto, who was
continually tormenting her for money, as long as he believed there
was a sou left in her possession. One morning that he had demanded
money, threatening her with the severest consequences if she did
not supply him with what he desired, he disappeared and remained
away all day, leaving the kind-hearted Assunta, who loved him as if
he were her own child, to weep over his conduct and bewail his
absence. Evening came, and still, with all the patient solicitude
of a mother, she watched for his return.
"As the eleventh hour struck, he entered with a swaggering air,
attended by two of the most dissolute and reckless of his boon
companions. She stretched out her arms to him, but they seized hold
of her, and one of the three — none other than the accursed
Benedetto exclaimed, — `Put her to torture and she'll soon tell us
where her money is.'
"It unfortunately happened that our neighbor, Vasilio, was at
Bastia, leaving no person in his house but his wife; no humanBastia, leaving no person in his house but his wife; no human
creature beside could hear or see anything that took place within
our dwelling. Two held poor Assunta, who, unable to conceive that
any harm was intended to her, smiled in the face of those who were
soon to become her executioners. The third proceeded to barricade
the doors and windows, then returned, and the three united in
stifling the cries of terror incited by the sight of these
preparations, and then dragged Assunta feet foremost towards the
brazier, expecting to wring from her an avowal of where her
supposed treasure was secreted. In the struggle her clothes caught
fire, and they were obliged to let go their hold in order to
preserve themselves from sharing the same fate. Covered with
flames, Assunta rushed wildly to the door, but it was fastened; she
flew to the windows, but they were also secured; then the neighbors
heard frightful shrieks; it was Assunta calling for help. The cries
died away in groans, and next morning, as soon as Vasilio's wife
could muster up courage to venture abroad, she caused the door of
our dwelling to be opened by the public authorities, when Assunta,
although dreadfully burnt, was found still breathing; every drawer
and closet in the house had been forced open, and the money stolen.
Benedetto never again appeared at Rogliano, neither have I since
that day either seen or heard anything concerning him.
"It was subsequently to these dreadful events that I waited on
your excellency, to whom it would have been folly to have mentioned
Benedetto, since all trace of him seemed entirely lost; or of my
sister, since she was dead."
"And in what light did you view the occurrence?" inquired Monte
Cristo.
"As a punishment for the crime I had committed," answered
Bertuccio. "Oh, those Villeforts are an accursed race!"
"Truly they are," murmured the count in a lugubrious tone.
"And now," resumed Bertuccio, "your excellency may, perhaps, be
able to comprehend that this place, which I revisit for the first