At eight o'clock in the morning Albert had arrived atBeauchamp's door. The valet de chambre had received ordersto usher him in at once. Beauchamp was in his bath. "Here Iam," said Albert.

"Well, my poor friend," replied Beauchamp, "I expected you."

"I need not say I think you are too faithful and too kind tohave spoken of that painful circumstance. Your having sentfor me is another proof of your affection. So, withoutlosing time, tell me, have you the slightest idea whencethis terrible blow proceeds?"

"I think I have some clew."

"But first tell me all the particulars of this shamefulplot." Beauchamp proceeded to relate to the young man, whowas overwhelmed with shame and grief, the following facts.Two days previously, the article had appeared in anotherpaper besides the Impartial, and, what was more serious, onethat was well known as a government paper. Beauchamp wasbreakfasting when he read the paragraph. He sent immediatelyfor a cabriolet, and hastened to the publisher's office.Although professing diametrically opposite principles fromthose of the editor of the other paper, Beauchamp - as itsometimes, we may say often, happens - was his intimatefriend. The editor was reading, with apparent delight, aleading article in the same paper on beet-sugar, probably acomposition of his own.

"Ah, pardieu," said Beauchamp, "with the paper in your hand,my friend, I need not tell you the cause of my visit."

"Are you interested in the sugar question?" asked the editorof the ministerial paper.

"No," replied Beauchamp, "I have not considered thequestion; a totally different subject interests me."

"What is it?"

"The article relative to Morcerf."

"Indeed? Is it not a curious affair?"

"So curious, that I think you are running a great risk of aprosecution for defamation of character."

"Not at all; we have received with the information all therequisite proofs, and we are quite sure M. de Morcerf willnot raise his voice against us; besides, it is rendering aservice to one's country to denounce these wretchedcriminals who are unworthy of the honor bestowed on them."Beauchamp was thunderstruck. "Who, then, has so correctlyinformed you?" asked he; "for my paper, which gave the firstinformation on the subject, has been obliged to stop forwant of proof; and yet we are more interested than you inexposing M. de Morcerf, as he is a peer of France, and weare of the opposition."

"Oh, that is very simple; we have not sought to scandalize.This news was brought to us. A man arrived yesterday fromYanina, bringing a formidable array of documents; and whenwe hesitated to publish the accusatory article, he told usit should be inserted in some other paper."

Beauchamp understood that nothing remained but to submit,and left the office to despatch a courier to Morcerf. But hehad been unable to send to Albert the following particulars,as the events had transpired after the messenger'sdeparture; namely, that the same day a great agitation wasmanifest in the House of Peers among the usually calmmembers of that dignified assembly. Every one had arrivedalmost before the usual hour, and was conversing on themelancholy event which was to attract the attention of thepublic towards one of their most illustrious colleagues.Some were perusing the article, others making comments andrecalling circumstances which substantiated the chargesstill more. The Count of Morcerf was no favorite with hiscolleagues. Like all upstarts, he had had recourse to agreat deal of haughtiness to maintain his position. The truenobility laughed at him, the talented repelled him, and thehonorable instinctively despised him. He was, in fact, inthe unhappy position of the victim marked for sacrifice; thefinger of God once pointed at him, every one was prepared toraise the hue and cry.

The Count of Morcerf alone was ignorant of the news. He didnot take in the paper containing the defamatory article, andhad passed the morning in writing letters and in trying ahorse. He arrived at his usual hour, with a proud look andinsolent demeanor; he alighted, passed through thecorridors, and entered the house without observing thehesitation of the door-keepers or the coolness of hiscolleagues. Business had already been going on for half anhour when he entered. Every one held the accusing paper,but, as usual, no one liked to take upon himself theresponsibility of the attack. At length an honorable peer,Morcerf's acknowledged enemy, ascended the tribune with thatsolemnity which announced that the expected moment hadarrived. There was an impressive silence; Morcerf alone knewnot why such profound attention was given to an orator whowas not always listened to with so much complacency. Thecount did not notice the introduction, in which the speakerannounced that his communication would be of that vitalimportance that it demanded the undivided attention of theHouse; but at the mention of Yanina and Colonel Fernand, heturned so frightfully pale that every member shuddered andfixed his eyes upon him. Moral wounds have this peculiarity,- they may be hidden, but they never close; always painful,always ready to bleed when touched, they remain fresh andopen in the heart.

The article having been read during the painful hush thatfollowed, a universal shudder pervaded the assembly. andimmediately the closest attention was given to the orator ashe resumed his remarks. He stated his scruples and thedifficulties of the case; it was the honor of M. de Morcerf,and that of the whole House, he proposed to defend, byprovoking a debate on personal questions, which are alwayssuch painful themes of discussion. He concluded by callingfor an investigation, which might dispose of the calumniousreport before it had time to spread, and restore M. deMorcerf to the position he had long held in public opinion.Morcerf was so completely overwhelmed by this great andunexpected calamity that he could scarcely stammer a fewwords as he looked around on the assembly. This timidity,which might proceed from the astonishment of innocence aswell as the shame of guilt, conciliated some in his favor;for men who are truly generous are always ready tocompassionate when the misfortune of their enemy surpassesthe limits of their hatred.

The president put it to the vote, and it was decided thatthe investigation should take place. The count was askedwhat time he required to prepare his defence. Morcerf'scourage had revived when he found himself alive after thishorrible blow. "My lords," answered he, "it is not by time Icould repel the attack made on me by enemies unknown to me,and, doubtless, hidden in obscurity; it is immediately, andby a thunderbolt, that I must repel the flash of lightningwhich, for a moment, startled me. Oh, that I could, insteadof taking up this defence, shed my last drop of blood toprove to my noble colleagues that I am their equal inworth." These words made a favorable impression on behalf ofthe accused. "I demand, then, that the examination shalltake place as soon as possible, and I will furnish the housewith all necessary information."

"What day do you fix?" asked the president.

"To-day I am at your service," replied the count. Thepresident rang the bell. "Does the House approve that theexamination should take place to-day?"

"Yes," was the unanimous answer.

A committee of twelve members was chosen to examine theproofs brought forward by Morcerf. The investigation wouldbegin at eight o'clock that evening in the committee-room,and if postponement were necessary, the proceedings would beresumed each evening at the same hour. Morcerf asked leaveto retire; he had to collect the documents he had long beenpreparing against this storm, which his sagacity hadforeseen.

Albert listened, trembling now with hope, then with anger,and then again with shame, for from Beauchamp's confidencehe knew his father was guilty, and he asked himself how,since he was guilty, he could prove his innocence. Beauchamphesitated to continue his narrative. "What next?" askedAlbert.

"What next? My friend, you impose a painful task on me. Mustyou know all?"

"Absolutely; and rather from your lips than another's."

"Muster up all your courage, then, for never have yourequired it more." Albert passed his hand over his forehead,as if to try his strength, as a man who is preparing todefend his life proves his shield and bends his sword. Hethought himself strong enough, for he mistook fever forenergy. "Go on," said he.

"The evening arrived; all Paris was in expectation. Manysaid your father had only to show himself to crush thecharge against him; many others said he would not appear;while some asserted that they had seen him start forBrussels; and others went to the police-office to inquire ifhe had taken out a passport. I used all my influence withone of the committee, a young peer of my acquaintance, toget admission to one of the galleries. He called for me atseven o'clock, and, before any one had arrived, asked one ofthe door-keepers to place me in a box. I was concealed by acolumn, and might witness the whole of the terrible scenewhich was about to take place. At eight o'clock all were intheir places, and M. de Morcerf entered at the last stroke.He held some papers in his hand; his countenance was calm,and his step firm, and he was dressed with great care in hismilitary uniform, which was buttoned completely up to thechin. His presence produced a good effect. The committee wasmade up of Liberals, several of whom came forward to shakehands with him."

Albert felt his heart bursting at these particulars, butgratitude mingled with his sorrow: he would gladly haveembraced those who had given his father this proof of esteemat a moment when his honor was so powerfully attacked. "Atthis moment one of the door-keepers brought in a letter forthe president. `You are at liberty to speak, M. de Morcerf,'said the president, as he unsealed the letter; and the countbegan his defence, I assure you, Albert, in a most eloquentand skilful manner. He produced documents proving that theVizier of Yanina had up to the last moment honored him withhis entire confidence, since he had interested him with anegotiation of life and death with the emperor. He producedthe ring, his mark of authority, with which Ali Pashagenerally sealed his letters, and which the latter had givenhim, that he might, on his return at any hour of the day ornight, gain access to the presence, even in the harem.Unfortunately, the negotiation failed, and when he returnedto defend his benefactor, he was dead. `But,' said thecount, `so great was Ali Pasha's confidence, that on hisdeath-bed he resigned his favorite mistress and her daughterto my care.'" Albert started on hearing these words; thehistory of Haidee recurred to him, and he remembered whatshe had said of that message and the ring, and the manner inwhich she had been sold and made a slave. "And what effectdid this discourse produce?" anxiously inquired Albert. "Iacknowledge it affected me, and, indeed, all the committeealso," said Beauchamp.

"Meanwhile, the president carelessly opened the letter whichhad been brought to him; but the first lines aroused hisattention; he read them again and again, and fixing his eyeson M. de Morcerf, `Count,' said he, `you have said that theVizier of Yanina confided his wife and daughter to yourcare?' - `Yes, sir,' replied Morcerf; `but in that, likeall the rest, misfortune pursued me. On my return, Vasilikiand her daughter Haidee had disappeared.' - `Did you knowthem?' - `My intimacy with the pasha and his unlimitedconfidence had gained me an introduction to them, and I hadseen them above twenty times.'

"`Have you any idea what became of them?' - `Yes, sir; Iheard they had fallen victims to their sorrow, and, perhaps,to their poverty. I was not rich; my life was in constantdanger; I could not seek them, to my great regret.' Thepresident frowned imperceptibly. `Gentlemen,' said he, `youhave heard the Comte de Morcerf's defence. Can you, sir,produce any witnesses to the truth of what you haveasserted?' - `Alas, no, monsieur,' replied the count; `allthose who surrounded the vizier, or who knew me at hiscourt, are either dead or gone away, I know not where. Ibelieve that I alone, of all my countrymen, survived thatdreadful war. I have only the letters of Ali Tepelini, whichI have placed before you; the ring, a token of hisgood-will, which is here; and, lastly, the most convincingproof I can offer, after an anonymous attack, and that isthe absence of any witness against my veracity and thepurity of my military life.' A murmur of approbation ranthrough the assembly; and at this moment, Albert, hadnothing more transpired, your father's cause had beengained. It only remained to put it to the vote, when thepresident resumed: `Gentlemen and you, monsieur, - you willnot be displeased, I presume, to listen to one who callshimself a very important witness, and who has just presentedhimself. He is, doubtless, come to prove the perfectinnocence of our colleague. Here is a letter I have justreceived on the subject; shall it be read, or shall it bepassed over? and shall we take no notice of this incident?'M. de Morcerf turned pale, and clinched his hands on thepapers he held. The committee decided to hear the letter;the count was thoughtful and silent. The president read: -

"`Mr. President, - I can furnish the committee of inquiryinto the conduct of the Lieutenant-General the Count ofMorcerf in Epirus and in Macedonia with importantparticulars.'

"The president paused, and the count turned pale. Thepresident looked at his auditors. `Proceed,' was heard onall sides. The president resumed: -

"`I was on the spot at the death of Ali Pasha. I was presentduring his last moments. I know what is become of Vasilikiand Haidee. I am at the command of the committee, and evenclaim the honor of being heard. I shall be in the lobby whenthis note is delivered to you.'

"`And who is this witness, or rather this enemy?' asked thecount, in a tone in which there was a visible alteration.`We shall know, sir,' replied the president. `Is thecommittee willing to hear this witness?' - `Yes, yes,' theyall said at once. The door-keeper was called. `Is there anyone in the lobby?' said the president.

"`Yes, sir.' - `Who is it?' - `A woman, accompanied by aservant.' Every one looked at his neighbor. `Bring her in,'said the president. Five minutes after the door-keeper againappeared; all eyes were fixed on the door, and I," saidBeauchamp, "shared the general expectation and anxiety.Behind the door-keeper walked a woman enveloped in a largeveil, which completely concealed her. It was evident, fromher figure and the perfumes she had about her, that she wasyoung and fastidious in her tastes, but that was all. Thepresident requested her to throw aside her veil, and it wasthen seen that she was dressed in the Grecian costume, andwas remarkably beautiful."

"Ah," said Albert, "it was she."

"Who?"

"Haidee."

"Who told you that?"

"Alas, I guess it. But go on, Beauchamp. You see I am calmand strong. And yet we must be drawing near the disclosure."

"M. de Morcerf," continued Beauchamp, "looked at this womanwith surprise and terror. Her lips were about to pass hissentence of life or death. To the committee the adventurewas so extraordinary and curious, that the interest they hadfelt for the count's safety became now quite a secondarymatter. The president himself advanced to place a seat forthe young lady; but she declined availing herself of it. Asfor the count, he had fallen on his chair; it was evidentthat his legs refused to support him.

"`Madame,' said the president, `you have engaged to furnishthe committee with some important particulars respecting theaffair at Yanina, and you have stated that you were aneyewitness of the event.' - `I was, indeed,' said thestranger, with a tone of sweet melancholy, and with thesonorous voice peculiar to the East.

"`But allow me to say that you must have been very youngthen.' - `I was four years old; but as those events deeplyconcerned me, not a single detail has escaped my memory.' - `In what manner could these events concern you? and who areyou, that they should have made so deep an impression onyou?' - `On them depended my father's life,' replied she.`I am Haidee, the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina,and of Vasiliki, his beloved wife.'

"The blush of mingled pride and modesty which suddenlysuffused the cheeks of the young woman, the brilliancy ofher eye, and her highly important communication, produced anindescribable effect on the assembly. As for the count, hecould not have been more overwhelmed if a thunderbolt hadfallen at his feet and opened an immense gulf before him.`Madame,' replied the president, bowing with profoundrespect, `allow me to ask one question; it shall be thelast: Can you prove the authenticity of what you have nowstated?' - `I can, sir,' said Haidee, drawing from underher veil a satin satchel highly perfumed; `for here is theregister of my birth, signed by my father and his principalofficers, and that of my baptism, my father having consentedto my being brought up in my mother's faith, - this latterhas been sealed by the grand primate of Macedonia andEpirus; and lastly (and perhaps the most important), therecord of the sale of my person and that of my mother to theArmenian merchant El-Kobbir, by the French officer, who, inhis infamous bargain with the Porte, had reserved as hispart of the booty the wife and daughter of his benefactor,whom he sold for the sum of four hundred thousand francs.' Agreenish pallor spread over the count's cheeks, and his eyesbecame bloodshot at these terrible imputations, which werelistened to by the assembly with ominous silence.

"Haidee, still calm, but with a calmness more dreadful thanthe anger of another would have been, handed to thepresident the record of her sale, written in Arabic. It hadbeen supposed some of the papers might be in the Arabian,Romaic, or Turkish language, and the interpreter of theHouse was in attendance. One of the noble peers, who wasfamiliar with the Arabic language, having studied it duringthe famous Egyptian campaign, followed with his eye as thetranslator read aloud: -

"`I, El-Kobbir, a slave-merchant, and purveyor of the haremof his highness, acknowledge having received fortransmission to the sublime emperor, from the French lord,the Count of Monte Cristo, an emerald valued at eighthundred thousand francs; as the ransom of a young Christianslave of eleven years of age, named Haidee, the acknowledgeddaughter of the late lord Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, andof Vasiliki, his favorite; she having been sold to me sevenyears previously, with her mother, who had died on arrivingat Constantinople, by a French colonel in the service of theVizier Ali Tepelini, named Fernand Mondego. Theabove-mentioned purchase was made on his highness's account,whose mandate I had, for the sum of four hundred thousandfrancs.

"`Given at Constantinople, by authority of his highness, inthe year 1247 of the Hegira.

"`Signed El-Kobbir.'

"`That this record should have all due authority, it shallbear the imperial seal, which the vendor is bound to haveaffixed to it.'

"Near the merchant's signature there was, indeed, the sealof the sublime emperor. A dreadful silence followed thereading of this document; the count could only stare, andhis gaze, fixed as if unconsciously on Haidee, seemed one offire and blood. `Madame,' said the president, `may referencebe made to the Count of Monte Cristo, who is now, I believe,in Paris?' - `Sir,' replied Haidee, `the Count of MonteCristo, my foster-father, has been in Normandy the lastthree days.'

"`Who, then, has counselled you to take this step, one forwhich the court is deeply indebted to you, and which isperfectly natural, considering your birth and yourmisfortunes?' - `Sir,' replied Haidee, `I have been led totake this step from a feeling of respect and grief. Althougha Christian, may God forgive me, I have always sought torevenge my illustrious father. Since I set my foot inFrance, and knew the traitor lived in Paris, I have watchedcarefully. I live retired in the house of my nobleprotector, but I do it from choice. I love retirement andsilence, because I can live with my thoughts andrecollections of past days. But the Count of Monte Cristosurrounds me with every paternal care, and I am ignorant ofnothing which passes in the world. I learn all in thesilence of my apartments, - for instance, I see all thenewspapers, every periodical, as well as every new piece ofmusic; and by thus watching the course of the life ofothers, I learned what had transpired this morning in theHouse of Peers, and what was to take place this evening;then I wrote.'

"`Then,' remarked the president, `the Count of Monte Cristoknows nothing of your present proceedings?' - `He is quiteunaware of them, and I have but one fear, which is that heshould disapprove of what I have done. But it is a gloriousday for me,' continued the young girl, raising her ardentgaze to heaven, `that on which I find at last an opportunityof avenging my father!'

"The count had not uttered one word the whole of this time.His colleagues looked at him, and doubtless pitied hisprospects, blighted under the perfumed breath of a woman.His misery was depicted in sinister lines on hiscountenance. `M. de Morcerf,' said the president, `do yourecognize this lady as the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pashaof Yanina?' - `No,' said Morcerf, attempting to rise, `itis a base plot, contrived by my enemies.' Haidee, whose eyeshad been fixed on the door, as if expecting some one, turnedhastily, and, seeing the count standing, shrieked, `You donot know me?' said she. `Well, I fortunately recognize you!You are Fernand Mondego, the French officer who led thetroops of my noble father! It is you who surrendered thecastle of Yanina! It is you who, sent by him toConstantinople, to treat with the emperor for the life ordeath of your benefactor, brought back a false mandategranting full pardon! It is you who, with that mandate,obtained the pasha's ring, which gave you authority overSelim, the fire-keeper! It is you who stabbed Selim. It isyou who sold us, my mother and me, to the merchant,El-Kobbir! Assassin, assassin, assassin, you have still onyour brow your master's blood! Look, gentlemen, all!'

"These words had been pronounced with such enthusiasm andevident truth, that every eye was fixed on the count'sforehead, and he himself passed his hand across it, as if hefelt Ali's blood still lingering there. `You positivelyrecognize M. de Morcerf as the officer, Fernand Mondego?' - `Indeed I do!' cried Haidee. `Oh, my mother, it was you whosaid, "You were free, you had a beloved father, you weredestined to be almost a queen. Look well at that man; it ishe who raised your father's head on the point of a spear; itis he who sold us; it is he who forsook us! Look well at hisright hand, on which he has a large wound; if you forgot hisfeatures, you would know him by that hand, into which fell,one by one, the gold pieces of the merchant El-Kobbir!" Iknow him! Ah, let him say now if he does not recognize me!'Each word fell like a dagger on Morcerf, and deprived him ofa portion of his energy; as she uttered the last, he hid hismutilated hand hastily in his bosom, and fell back on hisseat, overwhelmed by wretchedness and despair. This scenecompletely changed the opinion of the assembly respectingthe accused count.

"`Count of Morcerf,' said the president, `do not allowyourself to be cast down; answer. The justice of the courtis supreme and impartial as that of God; it will not sufferyou to be trampled on by your enemies without giving you anopportunity of defending yourself. Shall further inquiriesbe made? Shall two members of the House be sent to Yanina?Speak!' Morcerf did not reply. Then all the members lookedat each other with terror. They knew the count's energeticand violent temper; it must be, indeed, a dreadful blowwhich would deprive him of courage to defend himself. Theyexpected that his stupefied silence would be followed by afiery outburst. `Well,' asked the president, `what is yourdecision?'

"`I have no reply to make,' said the count in a low tone.

"`Has the daughter of Ali Tepelini spoken the truth?' saidthe president. `Is she, then, the terrible witness to whosecharge you dare not plead "Not guilty"? Have you reallycommitted the crimes of which you are accused?' The countlooked around him with an expression which might havesoftened tigers, but which could not disarm his judges. Thenhe raised his eyes towards the ceiling, but withdrew then,immediately, as if he feared the roof would open and revealto his distressed view that second tribunal called heaven,and that other judge named God. Then, with a hasty movement,he tore open his coat, which seemed to stifle him, and flewfrom the room like a madman; his footstep was heard onemoment in the corridor, then the rattling of hiscarriage-wheels as he was driven rapidly away. `Gentlemen,'said the president, when silence was restored, `is the Countof Morcerf convicted of felony, treason, and conductunbecoming a member of this House?' - `Yes,' replied allthe members of the committee of inquiry with a unanimousvoice.

"Haidee had remained until the close of the meeting. Sheheard the count's sentence pronounced without betraying anexpression of joy or pity; then drawing her veil over herface she bowed majestically to the councillors, and leftwith that dignified step which Virgil attributes to hisgoddesses."