"Well," asked Peppino, "how has your Excellency succeeded?"
"I have made but little progress as yet, though I hope to be able to do something for you and Beppo in a very short time," answered the Count, in a reassuring voice.
"I am satisfied," said Peppino, cheerily. "If your Excellency only determines upon it, Beppo and myself will shortly be free!"
"I cannot go that far, my good fellow, but I can and do promise you all my aid and influence can effect."
"They will effect everything necessary, Signor Count," replied the Italian, confidently.
"Do not hope for too much, Peppino. I have told you that Paris is different from Rome."
"I have occasion now to know that," rejoined the outlaw, bitterly. "But the power of the Count of Monte-Cristo is the same here as in the campagna!"
"Keep up a stout heart, at all events, my good fellow. We shall soon know what can be done."
"I will keep up a stout heart, Signor Count, for I have perfect faith in you!"
"So be it. Now, my man, what do you know about the plot against the Viscount Massetti?"
"Pardon me, Signor Count," said the Italian, shrewdly, "but I will tell you that when Beppo and myself are at liberty!"
Monte-Cristo smiled at the man's cunning.
"At least," he said, "tell me if you have seen the Viscount recently."
"I will do that, your Excellency. I saw him a very short time ago in Rome and afterwards with Luigi Vampa and Pasquale Solara in the marshy country beyond the Trastavere."
"What brought you and your companion to Paris?"
"We had a disagreement with old Solara, whom Luigi Vampa insisted we should obey implicitly. Solara was a tyrant; besides, he was as greedy and avaricious as a miser; he wanted everything for himself and would allow us nothing; he demanded that all the booty we acquired should be brought directly to him without division, stating that he would parcel out our shares; this he invariably failed to do and naturally we rebelled. Vampa, who has become, if he was not always so, old Pasquale's fast friend, decided against us whenever we carried our complaints to him. Finally we could stand it no longer; we were absolutely starving while Solara was heaping up riches, so we determined to quit the band. We did so and came to Paris, where we have been ever since."
"I will not ask you what you have been doing in Paris," said Monte-Cristo, smiling faintly; "in fact, I need not ask you, for I know; the chief of the poste has told me; but will you promise me to lead a better life in future and to try to induce Beppo to do the same, if I should succeed in effecting your release?"