Welcome back, everyone to 1001 Stories for the Road,

and the Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 37, Part 2, the catacombs of San Sebastian.

The Count and Franz are now traveling by carriage outside of the city after midnight to meet with the men who were holding Franz's good friend hostage.

Our story continues.

Franz and the Count went downstairs, accompanied by Pepino. At the door they found the carriage.

Ali was on the box, in whom Franz recognized the dumb slave of the grotto of Monte Cristo.

Franz and the Count got into the carriage.

Pepino placed himself beside Ali, and they set off at a rapid pace.

Ali had received his instructions and went down the Corso,

crossed the Campo Vassino,

went up to St. Gregorio,

and reached the gates of St. Sebastian.

Then the porter raised some difficulties.

But then the Count of Monte Cristo produced a permit

from the governor of Rome,

allowing him to leave or enter the city at any hour of the day a permit from the governor of Rome, allowing him to leave

or enter the city at any hour of the day or night. The portacullis was therefore raised, the

porter had a louis for his trouble, and they went on their way. The road which the carriage

now traversed was the ancient Appian way, and boarded with tombs. From time to time, by the light of the moon, which began to rise,

Franz imagined that he saw something like a sentinel appear at various points among the ruins,

and suddenly retreat into the darkness on a signal from Pepino. A short time before they

reached the baths of Caracalla, the carriage stopped. Papino opened the door,

...