which was on the table beside me, an old paper quite yellow with age, and which had served as a marker for centuries, kept there by the request of the heirs. I felt for it, found it, twisted it up together, and putting it into the expiring flame, set light to it.
“But beneath my fingers, as if by magic, in proportion as the fire ascended, I saw yellowish characters appear on the paper. I grasped it in my hand, put out the flame as quickly as I could, lighted my taper in the fire itself, and opened the crumpled paper with inexpressible emotion, recognizing, when I had done so, that these characters had been traced in mysterious and sympathetic ink, only appearing when exposed to the fire; nearly one-third of the paper had been consumed by the flame.
It was that paper you read this morning; read it again, Dantès, and then I will complete for you the incomplete words and unconnected sense.”
Faria, with an air of triumph, offered the paper to Dantès, who this time read the following words, traced with an ink of a reddish color resembling rust:
This 25th day of April, 1498, be … Alexander VI , and fearing that not … he may desire to become my heir, and re … and Bentivoglio, who were poisoned, … my sole heir, that I have bu … and has visited with me, that is, in … Island of Monte Cristo, all I poss … jewels, diamonds, gems; that I alone … may amount to nearly two mil …