"Save by his enemies. So far so good. Do you know the standing of his family?"
"It is one of the oldest, most respected, most aristocratic and wealthiest in the Eternal City."
"Another strong point in the young man's favor. Zuleika, I am satisfied that the mystery surrounding your lover can be cleared away; but I am also satisfied that he needs assistance, the assistance of persons deeply interested in you, who have your welfare at heart and cherish your happiness as their own."
"But such persons cannot be found, madame. Of course my father and brother are deeply interested in me, have my welfare at heart and desire to see me happy. They, however, are not disposed to aid Giovanni, my brother for reasons of his own and my father because he thinks that the Viscount should work his own rehabilitation. No, madame, such persons as you mention cannot be found."
"They can be found, Zuleika, and you will not have far to look for them either!"
Mme. Morrel gazed at Monte-Cristo's daughter with enthusiasm in her fine eyes. The girl was at a loss to understand her.
"Surely you do not mean Albert de Morcerf and Eugénie?" she said.
"No," replied Valentine. "They love you, undoubtedly, but the needful assistance is not to be obtained from them."
"Certainly you cannot allude to Mlle. d' Armilly or Ali, my father's devoted Nubian servant?"
"No, I do not allude to them!"
"Whom then do you mean?"
"Cannot you guess, Zuleika?"
A sudden thought came to Zuleika, filling her with intense amazement.
"You cannot mean yourself and your husband, Mme. Morrel?" she gasped.
"And why not, my child?" answered Valentine, sweetly. "All the assistance we can render you will be but a weak, inadequate return for what your father has done for us. He saved me from death, withdrew the suicidal pistol from Maximilian's hand, comforted us in our time of darkest despair, and finally brought us together after a separation that even M. Morrel deemed eternal, simultaneously placing in our hands wealth sufficient to make us altogether independent of the accidents and disasters of this world. Besides, before that he was the benefactor of M. Morrel's father, saving him also from suicide, suicide that he had determined upon as the only means of avoiding terrible disgrace. You see, Zuleika, that we have abundant motives for aiding you."
"Oh! madame--Valentine--you utterly overwhelm me! How can I show my gratitude to you?"
"By accepting my offer!"
These words were accompanied by a look of ineffable tenderness and sincerity. They instantly brought hope to Zuleika's heart. She burst into a flood of tears, but they were tears of joy. Still, she hesitated. What would her father say if she accepted Mme. Morrel's generous proposition?