"Spero, where are you going with this corpse?"
"She is not dead," replied the vicomte, tremblingly. "She lives; she must live—she dare not die!"
"And who is she?" asked Gontram, as he tried to get a glimpse of the face. Yes, he recognized her now as she lay in Spero's arms.
"Jane! Jane Zild?" stammered the painter, terror-stricken. "O my God!"
They had now reached the Place de l'Etoile, and Gontram looked around for a carriage.
"What shall we do?" he asked, turning in desperation to Spero. "Are you going to bring the poor thing to your house? I shall go and arouse the servants."
"Do so, Gontram, and hurry—every minute counts."
Soon the Monte-Cristo mansion was reached. Spero carried the unconscious girl up the stairs and gently laid her on the divan. He then got on his knees beside Jane, and, hiding his face in his hands, he sobbed bitterly.
Gontram now approached his friend.
"Spero," he said, "calm yourself; we must rescue the poor child."