"No," replied Coucou, rather hesitatingly.
"Then I am surprised that you acquaint me of this," said Monte-Cristo, while he threw a penetrating glance at the Zouave.
Coucou was silent—he could not explain even to himself wherein lay the great influence Monte-Cristo had over him.
"You saw Medje constantly," the count took up the topic once more; "have you never noticed anything striking about her?"
Almost frightened, Coucou looked at the count.
"Yes," said he, then, hesitating; "upon her two cheeks and on her forehead one could perceive a small red cross; it was tattooed by a skilful hand, and seemed to become her very well."
Monte-Cristo began to tremble.
"Do you know," he then said, "that Mohammed ben Abdallah is the most cruel enemy of France, and that he has taken an oath to take vengeance for Abd-el-Kader? If the captain has fallen into his hands then we shall never see him again, unless by a miracle."
"Commander, if you take the matter in hand, then a miracle will happen," said Coucou, confidently.