The Count of Monte Cristo

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four pieces, and threw it into the middle of the room. Then, the effort
having exhausted her strength, she fell not asleep this time, but
fainting on the floor. The count leaned over her and raised her in his
arms; and seeing that sweet pale face, those lovely eyes closed, that
beautiful form motionless and to all appearance lifeless, the idea
occurred to him for the first time, that perhaps she loved him otherwise
than as a daughter loves a father.

"Alas," murmured he, with intense suffering, "I might, then, have been
happy yet." Then he carried Haidee to her room, resigned her to the care
of her attendants, and returning to his study, which he shut quickly
this time, he again copied the destroyed will. As he was finishing,
the sound of a cabriolet entering the yard was heard. Monte Cristo
approached the window, and saw Maximilian and Emmanuel alight. "Good,"
said he; "it was time,"--and he sealed his will with three seals. A
moment afterwards he heard a noise in the drawing-room, and went to open
the door himself. Morrel was there; he had come twenty minutes before