Soon after a carriage stopped before the door. A man got out and hastened up the narrow staircase.
"Mercedes," he called aloud, with faltering voice; it resounded upon him—"Edmond, Edmond!"
CHAPTER XXXVI
A MOTHER
For a moment Mercedes and the count stood motionless opposite each other; then Monte-Cristo extended his hand to the sobbing woman, and in a faltering voice he begged:
"Mercedes—to-day I know that I have sinned—I have punished harder than I had a right to do, and I can only supplicate you to forgive me. Take my life and I shall not murmur. I thought to fulfil my duty, and have executed revenge!"
"No, Edmond—do not talk like this!" said Mercedes, softly; "the lot which met me I deserved even more than—Broken faithfulness must always revenge itself bitterly. The misfortune which nowadays pulls me down has nothing to do with the past, and therefore I ask your help."
"Then speak, Mercedes—I hear," replied Monte-Cristo, simply.