The Count of Monte Cristo

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sacrifice she knew beforehand would be useless. "Now, sir," said Albert,
"if you think my apology sufficient, pray give me your hand. Next to
the merit of infallibility which you appear to possess, I rank that of
candidly acknowledging a fault. But this confession concerns me only. I
acted well as a man, but you have acted better than man. An angel alone
could have saved one of us from death--that angel came from heaven, if
not to make us friends (which, alas, fatality renders impossible), at
least to make us esteem each other."

Monte Cristo, with moistened eye, heaving breast, and lips half open,
extended to Albert a hand which the latter pressed with a sentiment
resembling respectful fear. "Gentlemen," said he, "M. de Monte Cristo
receives my apology. I had acted hastily towards him. Hasty actions are
generally bad ones. Now my fault is repaired. I hope the world will not
call me cowardly for acting as my conscience dictated. But if any one
should entertain a false opinion of me," added he, drawing himself up
as if he would challenge both friends and enemies, "I shall endeavor to