Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE CONFLAGRATION. As The Count of Monte-Cristo, Esperance, AH and the servants approached the palace on their return from the struggle with the bandits in the almond grove, their ears were suddenly saluted by loud cries of terror. They came from the library and thither Monte-Cristo hurried, followed by his son. On the floor in the center of the apartment Haydee lay in a swoon, and bending over her mother was Zuleika, screaming and wringing her little hands. The Count raised his wife and placed her upon a divan, while Esperance brought a water- jar and bathed her temples with its cool, refreshing contents, Zuleika meanwhile holding her mother's hands and sobbing violently. At last Haydee recovered consciousness, and opening her eyes gazed wildly around her; seeing her husband, Esperance and Zuleika safe beside her, she uttered a faint sigh of relief. It was several moments longer before she could speak; then she exclaimed in a tremulous voice: " Oh my lord, did you meet that terrible man ?" " What man, Haydee ? " asked the Count. " Do you mean Benedetto?" " I do not know his name; I never saw him before," answered Haydee; but his face was all battered and bleeding; on his uncovered head the locks were matted and unkempt, and his garments were torn as if in wrenching his way through a thicket of tangled briers." " Benedetto, it was Benedetto " cried Monte-Cristo. " You do not mean to say he was here, in this room ?" " He was here and only a short time ago," replied Haydee, with a shudder. " I was standing at the window with Zuleika when he rushed by me like a whirlwind, and going to your secretary endeavored to open it, but in vain; then with a cry of rage he ran to the window, leaped out into the darkness and was gone I know nothing further,...