"But my mother, the former Countess de Morcerf, who is now the wife of Edmond Dantès, 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:
"Eugénie, 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 Eugénie, 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.