“Yes, your excellency; he came from Marseilles, where he had been deputy procureur. His zeal had procured him advancement, and he was said to be one of the first who had informed the government of the departure from the Island of Elba.”

“Then,” said Monte Cristo, “you went to him?”

“ ‘Monsieur,’ I said, ‘my brother was assassinated yesterday in the streets of Nîmes, I know not by whom, but it is your duty to find out. You are the representative of justice here, and it is for justice to avenge those she has been unable to protect.’

“ ‘Who was your brother?’ asked he.

“ ‘A lieutenant in the Corsican battalion.’

“ ‘A soldier of the usurper, then?’

“ ‘A soldier of the French army.’

“ ‘Well,’ replied he, ‘he has smitten with the sword, and he has perished by the sword.’