English
Ateighto’clockinthemorningAlberthadarrivedatBeauchamp’sdoor.Thevaletdechambrehadreceivedorderstousherhiminatonce.Beauchampwasinhisbath.“HereIam,”saidAlbert.
“Well,mypoorfriend,”repliedBeauchamp,“Iexpectedyou.”
“IneednotsayIthinkyouaretoofaithfulandtookindtohavespokenofthatpainfulcircumstance.
Yourhavingsentformeisanotherproofofyouraffection.
So,withoutlosingtime,tellme,haveyoutheslightestideawhencethisterribleblowproceeds?”
“IthinkIhavesomeclew.”
“Butfirsttellmealltheparticularsofthisshamefulplot.”
Beauchampproceededtorelatetotheyoungman,whowasoverwhelmedwithshameandgrief,thefollowingfacts.
Twodayspreviously,thearticlehadappearedinanotherpaperbesidestheImpartial,and,whatwasmoreserious,onethatwaswellknownasagovernmentpaper.
Beauchampwasbreakfastingwhenhereadtheparagraph.
Hesentimmediatelyforacabriolet,andhastenedtothepublisher’soffice.
Althoughprofessingdiametricallyoppositeprinciplesfromthoseoftheeditoroftheotherpaper,Beauchamp—asitsometimes,wemaysayoften,happens—washisintimatefriend.
Theeditorwasreading,withapparentdelight,aleadingarticleinthesamepaperonbeet–sugar,probablyacompositionofhisown.
“Ah,pardieu,”saidBeauchamp,“withthepaperinyourhand,myfriend,Ineednottellyouthecauseofmyvisit.”
“Areyouinterestedinthesugarquestion?”askedtheeditoroftheministerialpaper.
“No,”repliedBeauchamp,“Ihavenotconsideredthequestion;atotallydifferentsubjectinterestsme.”
“Whatisit?”
“ThearticlerelativetoMorcerf.”
“Indeed?Isitnotacuriousaffair?”
“Socurious,thatIthinkyouarerunningagreatriskofaprosecutionfordefamationofcharacter.”
“Notatall;wehavereceivedwiththeinformationalltherequisiteproofs,andwearequitesureM.deMorcerfwillnotraisehisvoiceagainstus;besides,itisrenderingaservicetoone’scountrytodenouncethesewretchedcriminalswhoareunworthyofthehonorbestowedonthem.”Beauchampwasthunderstruck.
“Who,then,hassocorrectlyinformedyou?”
askedhe;“formypaper,whichgavethefirstinformationonthesubject,hasbeenobligedtostopforwantofproof;andyetwearemoreinterestedthanyouinexposingM.deMorcerf,asheisapeerofFrance,andweareoftheopposition.”
“Oh,thatisverysimple;wehavenotsoughttoscandalize.Thisnewswasbroughttous.
AmanarrivedyesterdayfromYanina,bringingaformidablearrayofdocuments;andwhenwehesitatedtopublishtheaccusatoryarticle,hetoldusitshouldbeinsertedinsomeotherpaper.”
Beauchampunderstoodthatnothingremainedbuttosubmit,andlefttheofficetodespatchacouriertoMorcerf.
ButhehadbeenunabletosendtoAlbertthefollowingparticulars,astheeventshadtranspiredafterthemessenger’sdeparture;namely,thatthesamedayagreatagitationwasmanifestintheHouseofPeersamongtheusuallycalmmembersofthatdignifiedassembly.
Everyonehadarrivedalmostbeforetheusualhour,andwasconversingonthemelancholyeventwhichwastoattracttheattentionofthepublictowardsoneoftheirmostillustriouscolleagues.
Somewereperusingthearticle,othersmakingcommentsandrecallingcircumstanceswhichsubstantiatedthechargesstillmore.
TheCountofMorcerfwasnofavoritewithhiscolleagues.
Likeallupstarts,hehadhadrecoursetoagreatdealofhaughtinesstomaintainhisposition.
Thetruenobilitylaughedathim,thetalentedrepelledhim,andthehonorableinstinctivelydespisedhim.
Hewas,infact,intheunhappypositionofthevictimmarkedforsacrifice;thefingerofGodoncepointedathim,everyonewaspreparedtoraisethehueandcry.
TheCountofMorcerfalonewasignorantofthenews.
Hedidnottakeinthepapercontainingthedefamatoryarticle,andhadpassedthemorninginwritinglettersandintryingahorse.
Hearrivedathisusualhour,withaproudlookandinsolentdemeanor;healighted,passedthroughthecorridors,andenteredthehousewithoutobservingthehesitationofthedoor–keepersorthecoolnessofhiscolleagues.
Businesshadalreadybeengoingonforhalfanhourwhenheentered.
Everyoneheldtheaccusingpaper,but,asusual,noonelikedtotakeuponhimselftheresponsibilityoftheattack.
Atlengthanhonorablepeer,Morcerf’sacknowledgedenemy,ascendedthetribunewiththatsolemnitywhichannouncedthattheexpectedmomenthadarrived.
Therewasanimpressivesilence;Morcerfaloneknewnotwhysuchprofoundattentionwasgiventoanoratorwhowasnotalwayslistenedtowithsomuchcomplacency.
Thecountdidnotnoticetheintroduction,inwhichthespeakerannouncedthathiscommunicationwouldbeofthatvitalimportancethatitdemandedtheundividedattentionoftheHouse;butatthementionofYaninaandColonelFernand,heturnedsofrightfullypalethateverymembershudderedandfixedhiseyesuponhim.
Moralwoundshavethispeculiarity,—theymaybehidden,buttheyneverclose;alwayspainful,alwaysreadytobleedwhentouched,theyremainfreshandopenintheheart.
Thearticlehavingbeenreadduringthepainfulhushthatfollowed,auniversalshudderpervadedtheassembly,andimmediatelytheclosestattentionwasgiventotheoratorasheresumedhisremarks.
Hestatedhisscruplesandthedifficultiesofthecase;itwasthehonorofM.deMorcerf,andthatofthewholeHouse,heproposedtodefend,byprovokingadebateonpersonalquestions,whicharealwayssuchpainfulthemesofdiscussion.
Heconcludedbycallingforaninvestigation,whichmightdisposeofthecalumniousreportbeforeithadtimetospread,andrestoreM.deMorcerftothepositionhehadlongheldinpublicopinion.
Morcerfwassocompletelyoverwhelmedbythisgreatandunexpectedcalamitythathecouldscarcelystammerafewwordsashelookedaroundontheassembly.
Thistimidity,whichmightproceedfromtheastonishmentofinnocenceaswellastheshameofguilt,conciliatedsomeinhisfavor;formenwhoaretrulygenerousarealwaysreadytocompassionatewhenthemisfortuneoftheirenemysurpassesthelimitsoftheirhatred.
Thepresidentputittothevote,anditwasdecidedthattheinvestigationshouldtakeplace.
Thecountwasaskedwhattimeherequiredtopreparehisdefence.
Morcerf’scouragehadrevivedwhenhefoundhimselfaliveafterthishorribleblow.
“Mylords,”answeredhe,“itisnotbytimeIcouldrepeltheattackmadeonmebyenemiesunknowntome,and,doubtless,hiddeninobscurity;itisimmediately,andbyathunderbolt,thatImustrepeltheflashoflightningwhich,foramoment,startledme.
Oh,thatIcould,insteadoftakingupthisdefence,shedmylastdropofbloodtoprovetomynoblecolleaguesthatIamtheirequalinworth.”
Thesewordsmadeafavorableimpressiononbehalfoftheaccused.
“Idemand,then,thattheexaminationshalltakeplaceassoonaspossible,andIwillfurnishthehousewithallnecessaryinformation.”
“Whatdaydoyoufix?”askedthepresident.
“To–dayIamatyourservice,”repliedthecount.Thepresidentrangthebell.“DoestheHouseapprovethattheexaminationshouldtakeplaceto–day?”
“Yes,”wastheunanimousanswer.
AcommitteeoftwelvememberswaschosentoexaminetheproofsbroughtforwardbyMorcerf.
Theinvestigationwouldbeginateighto’clockthateveninginthecommittee–room,andifpostponementwerenecessary,theproceedingswouldberesumedeacheveningatthesamehour.
Morcerfaskedleavetoretire;hehadtocollectthedocumentshehadlongbeenpreparingagainstthisstorm,whichhissagacityhadforeseen.
Albertlistened,tremblingnowwithhope,thenwithanger,andthenagainwithshame,forfromBeauchamp’sconfidenceheknewhisfatherwasguilty,andheaskedhimselfhow,sincehewasguilty,hecouldprovehisinnocence.
Beauchamphesitatedtocontinuehisnarrative.“Whatnext?”askedAlbert.
“Whatnext?Myfriend,youimposeapainfultaskonme.Mustyouknowall?”
“Absolutely;andratherfromyourlipsthananother’s.”
“Musterupallyourcourage,then,forneverhaveyourequireditmore.”
Albertpassedhishandoverhisforehead,asiftotryhisstrength,asamanwhoispreparingtodefendhislifeproveshisshieldandbendshissword.
Hethoughthimselfstrongenough,forhemistookfeverforenergy.“Goon,”saidhe.
“Theeveningarrived;allPariswasinexpectation.
Manysaidyourfatherhadonlytoshowhimselftocrushthechargeagainsthim;manyotherssaidhewouldnotappear;whilesomeassertedthattheyhadseenhimstartforBrussels;andotherswenttothepolice–officetoinquireifhehadtakenoutapassport.
Iusedallmyinfluencewithoneofthecommittee,ayoungpeerofmyacquaintance,togetadmissiontooneofthegalleries.
Hecalledformeatseveno’clock,and,beforeanyonehadarrived,askedoneofthedoor–keeperstoplacemeinabox.
Iwasconcealedbyacolumn,andmightwitnessthewholeoftheterriblescenewhichwasabouttotakeplace.
Ateighto’clockallwereintheirplaces,andM.deMorcerfenteredatthelaststroke.
Heheldsomepapersinhishand;hiscountenancewascalm,andhisstepfirm,andhewasdressedwithgreatcareinhismilitaryuniform,whichwasbuttonedcompletelyuptothechin.Hispresenceproducedagoodeffect.
ThecommitteewasmadeupofLiberals,severalofwhomcameforwardtoshakehandswithhim.”
Albertfelthisheartburstingattheseparticulars,butgratitudemingledwithhissorrow:hewouldgladlyhaveembracedthosewhohadgivenhisfatherthisproofofesteematamomentwhenhishonorwassopowerfullyattacked.
“Atthismomentoneofthedoor–keepersbroughtinaletterforthepresident.
‘Youareatlibertytospeak,M.deMorcerf,’saidthepresident,asheunsealedtheletter;andthecountbeganhisdefence,Iassureyou,Albert,inamosteloquentandskilfulmanner.
HeproduceddocumentsprovingthattheVizierofYaninahaduptothelastmomenthonoredhimwithhisentireconfidence,sincehehadinterestedhimwithanegotiationoflifeanddeathwiththeemperor.
Heproducedthering,hismarkofauthority,withwhichAliPashagenerallysealedhisletters,andwhichthelatterhadgivenhim,thathemight,onhisreturnatanyhourofthedayornight,gainaccesstothepresence,evenintheharem.
Unfortunately,thenegotiationfailed,andwhenhereturnedtodefendhisbenefactor,hewasdead.
‘But,’saidthecount,‘sogreatwasAliPasha’sconfidence,thatonhisdeath–bedheresignedhisfavoritemistressandherdaughtertomycare.
’”Albertstartedonhearingthesewords;thehistoryofHaideerecurredtohim,andherememberedwhatshehadsaidofthatmessageandthering,andthemannerinwhichshehadbeensoldandmadeaslave.
“Andwhateffectdidthisdiscourseproduce?”anxiouslyinquiredAlbert.
“Iacknowledgeitaffectedme,and,indeed,allthecommitteealso,”saidBeauchamp.
“Meanwhile,thepresidentcarelesslyopenedtheletterwhichhadbeenbroughttohim;butthefirstlinesarousedhisattention;hereadthemagainandagain,andfixinghiseyesonM.deMorcerf,‘Count,’saidhe,‘youhavesaidthattheVizierofYaninaconfidedhiswifeanddaughtertoyourcare?’
—’Yes,sir,’repliedMorcerf;‘butinthat,likealltherest,misfortunepursuedme.
Onmyreturn,VasilikiandherdaughterHaideehaddisappeared.’—’Didyouknowthem?’
—’Myintimacywiththepashaandhisunlimitedconfidencehadgainedmeanintroductiontothem,andIhadseenthemabovetwentytimes.’
”’Haveyouanyideawhatbecameofthem?’
—’Yes,sir;Iheardtheyhadfallenvictimstotheirsorrow,and,perhaps,totheirpoverty.
Iwasnotrich;mylifewasinconstantdanger;Icouldnotseekthem,tomygreatregret.’Thepresidentfrownedimperceptibly.
‘Gentlemen,’saidhe,‘youhaveheardtheComtedeMorcerf’sdefence.
Canyou,sir,produceanywitnessestothetruthofwhatyouhaveasserted?’
—’Alas,no,monsieur,’repliedthecount;‘allthosewhosurroundedthevizier,orwhoknewmeathiscourt,areeitherdeadorgoneaway,Iknownotwhere.
IbelievethatIalone,ofallmycountrymen,survivedthatdreadfulwar.
IhaveonlythelettersofAliTepelini,whichIhaveplacedbeforeyou;thering,atokenofhisgood–will,whichishere;and,lastly,themostconvincingproofIcanoffer,afterananonymousattack,andthatistheabsenceofanywitnessagainstmyveracityandthepurityofmymilitarylife.’
Amurmurofapprobationranthroughtheassembly;andatthismoment,Albert,hadnothingmoretranspired,yourfather’scausehadbeengained.
Itonlyremainedtoputittothevote,whenthepresidentresumed:‘Gentlemenandyou,monsieur,—youwillnotbedispleased,Ipresume,tolistentoonewhocallshimselfaveryimportantwitness,andwhohasjustpresentedhimself.
Heis,doubtless,cometoprovetheperfectinnocenceofourcolleague.
HereisaletterIhavejustreceivedonthesubject;shallitberead,orshallitbepassedover?
andshallwetakenonoticeofthisincident?’
M.deMorcerfturnedpale,andclinchedhishandsonthepapersheheld.
Thecommitteedecidedtoheartheletter;thecountwasthoughtfulandsilent.Thepresidentread:—
”’Mr.President,—IcanfurnishthecommitteeofinquiryintotheconductoftheLieutenant–GeneraltheCountofMorcerfinEpirusandinMacedoniawithimportantparticulars.’
“Thepresidentpaused,andthecountturnedpale.Thepresidentlookedathisauditors.‘Proceed,’washeardonallsides.Thepresidentresumed:—
”’IwasonthespotatthedeathofAliPasha.Iwaspresentduringhislastmoments.
IknowwhatisbecomeofVasilikiandHaidee.
Iamatthecommandofthecommittee,andevenclaimthehonorofbeingheard.
Ishallbeinthelobbywhenthisnoteisdeliveredtoyou.’
”’Andwhoisthiswitness,orratherthisenemy?’
askedthecount,inatoneinwhichtherewasavisiblealteration.
‘Weshallknow,sir,’repliedthepresident.
‘Isthecommitteewillingtohearthiswitness?’—’Yes,yes,’theyallsaidatonce.Thedoor–keeperwascalled.‘Isthereanyoneinthelobby?’saidthepresident.
”’Yes,sir.’—’Whoisit?’—’Awoman,accompaniedbyaservant.’Everyonelookedathisneighbor.‘Bringherin,’saidthepresident.
Fiveminutesafterthedoor–keeperagainappeared;alleyeswerefixedonthedoor,andI,”saidBeauchamp,“sharedthegeneralexpectationandanxiety.
Behindthedoor–keeperwalkedawomanenvelopedinalargeveil,whichcompletelyconcealedher.
Itwasevident,fromherfigureandtheperfumesshehadabouther,thatshewasyoungandfastidiousinhertastes,butthatwasall.
Thepresidentrequestedhertothrowasideherveil,anditwasthenseenthatshewasdressedintheGreciancostume,andwasremarkablybeautiful.”
“Ah,”saidAlbert,“itwasshe.”
“Who?”
“Haidee.”
“Whotoldyouthat?”
“Alas,Iguessit.Butgoon,Beauchamp.YouseeIamcalmandstrong.Andyetwemustbedrawingnearthedisclosure.”
“M.deMorcerf,”continuedBeauchamp,“lookedatthiswomanwithsurpriseandterror.
Herlipswereabouttopasshissentenceoflifeordeath.
Tothecommitteetheadventurewassoextraordinaryandcurious,thattheinteresttheyhadfeltforthecount’ssafetybecamenowquiteasecondarymatter.
Thepresidenthimselfadvancedtoplaceaseatfortheyounglady;butshedeclinedavailingherselfofit.
Asforthecount,hehadfallenonhischair;itwasevidentthathislegsrefusedtosupporthim.
”’Madame,’saidthepresident,‘youhaveengagedtofurnishthecommitteewithsomeimportantparticularsrespectingtheaffairatYanina,andyouhavestatedthatyouwereaneyewitnessoftheevent.’
—’Iwas,indeed,’saidthestranger,withatoneofsweetmelancholy,andwiththesonorousvoicepeculiartotheEast.
”’Butallowmetosaythatyoumusthavebeenveryyoungthen.’
—’Iwasfouryearsold;butasthoseeventsdeeplyconcernedme,notasingledetailhasescapedmymemory.’
—’Inwhatmannercouldtheseeventsconcernyou?
andwhoareyou,thattheyshouldhavemadesodeepanimpressiononyou?’
—’Onthemdependedmyfather’slife,’repliedshe.
‘IamHaidee,thedaughterofAliTepelini,pashaofYanina,andofVasiliki,hisbelovedwife.’
“Theblushofmingledprideandmodestywhichsuddenlysuffusedthecheeksoftheyoungwoman,thebrilliancyofhereye,andherhighlyimportantcommunication,producedanindescribableeffectontheassembly.
Asforthecount,hecouldnothavebeenmoreoverwhelmedifathunderbolthadfallenathisfeetandopenedanimmensegulfbeforehim.
‘Madame,’repliedthepresident,bowingwithprofoundrespect,‘allowmetoaskonequestion;itshallbethelast:Canyouprovetheauthenticityofwhatyouhavenowstated?’
—’Ican,sir,’saidHaidee,drawingfromunderherveilasatinsatchelhighlyperfumed;‘forhereistheregisterofmybirth,signedbymyfatherandhisprincipalofficers,andthatofmybaptism,myfatherhavingconsentedtomybeingbroughtupinmymother’sfaith,—thislatterhasbeensealedbythegrandprimateofMacedoniaandEpirus;andlastly(andperhapsthemostimportant),therecordofthesaleofmypersonandthatofmymothertotheArmenianmerchantEl–Kobbir,bytheFrenchofficer,who,inhisinfamousbargainwiththePorte,hadreservedashispartofthebootythewifeanddaughterofhisbenefactor,whomhesoldforthesumoffourhundredthousandfrancs.’
Agreenishpallorspreadoverthecount’scheeks,andhiseyesbecamebloodshotattheseterribleimputations,whichwerelistenedtobytheassemblywithominoussilence.
“Haidee,stillcalm,butwithacalmnessmoredreadfulthantheangerofanotherwouldhavebeen,handedtothepresidenttherecordofhersale,writteninArabic.
IthadbeensupposedsomeofthepapersmightbeintheArabian,Romaic,orTurkishlanguage,andtheinterpreteroftheHousewasinattendance.
Oneofthenoblepeers,whowasfamiliarwiththeArabiclanguage,havingstudieditduringthefamousEgyptiancampaign,followedwithhiseyeasthetranslatorreadaloud:—
”’I,El–Kobbir,aslave–merchant,andpurveyoroftheharemofhishighness,acknowledgehavingreceivedfortransmissiontothesublimeemperor,fromtheFrenchlord,theCountofMonteCristo,anemeraldvaluedateighthundredthousandfrancs;astheransomofayoungChristianslaveofelevenyearsofage,namedHaidee,theacknowledgeddaughterofthelatelordAliTepelini,pashaofYanina,andofVasiliki,hisfavorite;shehavingbeensoldtomesevenyearspreviously,withhermother,whohaddiedonarrivingatConstantinople,byaFrenchcolonelintheserviceoftheVizierAliTepelini,namedFernandMondego.
Theabove–mentionedpurchasewasmadeonhishighness’saccount,whosemandateIhad,forthesumoffourhundredthousandfrancs.
”’GivenatConstantinople,byauthorityofhishighness,intheyear1247oftheHegira.
”’SignedEl–Kobbir.’
”’Thatthisrecordshouldhavealldueauthority,itshallbeartheimperialseal,whichthevendorisboundtohaveaffixedtoit.’
“Nearthemerchant’ssignaturetherewas,indeed,thesealofthesublimeemperor.
Adreadfulsilencefollowedthereadingofthisdocument;thecountcouldonlystare,andhisgaze,fixedasifunconsciouslyonHaidee,seemedoneoffireandblood.
‘Madame,’saidthepresident,‘mayreferencebemadetotheCountofMonteCristo,whoisnow,Ibelieve,inParis?’
—’Sir,’repliedHaidee,‘theCountofMonteCristo,myfoster–father,hasbeeninNormandythelastthreedays.’
”’Who,then,hascounselledyoutotakethisstep,oneforwhichthecourtisdeeplyindebtedtoyou,andwhichisperfectlynatural,consideringyourbirthandyourmisfortunes?’
—’Sir,’repliedHaidee,‘Ihavebeenledtotakethisstepfromafeelingofrespectandgrief.
AlthoughaChristian,mayGodforgiveme,Ihavealwayssoughttorevengemyillustriousfather.
SinceIsetmyfootinFrance,andknewthetraitorlivedinParis,Ihavewatchedcarefully.
Iliveretiredinthehouseofmynobleprotector,butIdoitfromchoice.
Iloveretirementandsilence,becauseIcanlivewithmythoughtsandrecollectionsofpastdays.
ButtheCountofMonteCristosurroundsmewitheverypaternalcare,andIamignorantofnothingwhichpassesintheworld.
Ilearnallinthesilenceofmyapartments,—forinstance,Iseeallthenewspapers,everyperiodical,aswellaseverynewpieceofmusic;andbythuswatchingthecourseofthelifeofothers,IlearnedwhathadtranspiredthismorningintheHouseofPeers,andwhatwastotakeplacethisevening;thenIwrote.’
”’Then,’remarkedthepresident,‘theCountofMonteCristoknowsnothingofyourpresentproceedings?’
—’Heisquiteunawareofthem,andIhavebutonefear,whichisthatheshoulddisapproveofwhatIhavedone.
Butitisagloriousdayforme,’continuedtheyounggirl,raisingherardentgazetoheaven,‘thatonwhichIfindatlastanopportunityofavengingmyfather!’
“Thecounthadnotutteredonewordthewholeofthistime.
Hiscolleagueslookedathim,anddoubtlesspitiedhisprospects,blightedundertheperfumedbreathofawoman.
Hismiserywasdepictedinsinisterlinesonhiscountenance.
‘M.deMorcerf,’saidthepresident,‘doyourecognizethisladyasthedaughterofAliTepelini,pashaofYanina?’
—’No,’saidMorcerf,attemptingtorise,‘itisabaseplot,contrivedbymyenemies.’
Haidee,whoseeyeshadbeenfixedonthedoor,asifexpectingsomeone,turnedhastily,and,seeingthecountstanding,shrieked,‘Youdonotknowme?’saidshe.‘Well,Ifortunatelyrecognizeyou!
YouareFernandMondego,theFrenchofficerwholedthetroopsofmynoblefather!
ItisyouwhosurrenderedthecastleofYanina!
Itisyouwho,sentbyhimtoConstantinople,totreatwiththeemperorforthelifeordeathofyourbenefactor,broughtbackafalsemandategrantingfullpardon!
Itisyouwho,withthatmandate,obtainedthepasha’sring,whichgaveyouauthorityoverSelim,thefire–keeper!ItisyouwhostabbedSelim.
Itisyouwhosoldus,mymotherandme,tothemerchant,El–Kobbir!
Assassin,assassin,assassin,youhavestillonyourbrowyourmaster’sblood!Look,gentlemen,all!’
“Thesewordshadbeenpronouncedwithsuchenthusiasmandevidenttruth,thateveryeyewasfixedonthecount’sforehead,andhehimselfpassedhishandacrossit,asifhefeltAli’sbloodstilllingeringthere.
‘YoupositivelyrecognizeM.deMorcerfastheofficer,FernandMondego?’—’IndeedIdo!’criedHaidee.
‘Oh,mymother,itwasyouwhosaid,“Youwerefree,youhadabelovedfather,youweredestinedtobealmostaqueen.
Lookwellatthatman;itishewhoraisedyourfather’sheadonthepointofaspear;itishewhosoldus;itishewhoforsookus!
Lookwellathisrighthand,onwhichhehasalargewound;ifyouforgothisfeatures,youwouldknowhimbythathand,intowhichfell,onebyone,thegoldpiecesofthemerchantEl–Kobbir!”Iknowhim!
Ah,lethimsaynowifhedoesnotrecognizeme!’
EachwordfelllikeadaggeronMorcerf,anddeprivedhimofaportionofhisenergy;assheutteredthelast,hehidhismutilatedhandhastilyinhisbosom,andfellbackonhisseat,overwhelmedbywretchednessanddespair.
Thisscenecompletelychangedtheopinionoftheassemblyrespectingtheaccusedcount.
”’CountofMorcerf,’saidthepresident,‘donotallowyourselftobecastdown;answer.
ThejusticeofthecourtissupremeandimpartialasthatofGod;itwillnotsufferyoutobetrampledonbyyourenemieswithoutgivingyouanopportunityofdefendingyourself.Shallfurtherinquiriesbemade?
ShalltwomembersoftheHousebesenttoYanina?Speak!’Morcerfdidnotreply.
Thenallthememberslookedateachotherwithterror.
Theyknewthecount’senergeticandviolenttemper;itmustbe,indeed,adreadfulblowwhichwoulddeprivehimofcouragetodefendhimself.
Theyexpectedthathisstupefiedsilencewouldbefollowedbyafieryoutburst.
‘Well,’askedthepresident,‘whatisyourdecision?’
”’Ihavenoreplytomake,’saidthecountinalowtone.
”’HasthedaughterofAliTepelinispokenthetruth?’saidthepresident.
‘Isshe,then,theterriblewitnesstowhosechargeyoudarenotplead“Notguilty”?
Haveyoureallycommittedthecrimesofwhichyouareaccused?’
Thecountlookedaroundhimwithanexpressionwhichmighthavesoftenedtigers,butwhichcouldnotdisarmhisjudges.
Thenheraisedhiseyestowardstheceiling,butwithdrewthen,immediately,asifhefearedtheroofwouldopenandrevealtohisdistressedviewthatsecondtribunalcalledheaven,andthatotherjudgenamedGod.
Then,withahastymovement,hetoreopenhiscoat,whichseemedtostiflehim,andflewfromtheroomlikeamadman;hisfootstepwasheardonemomentinthecorridor,thentherattlingofhiscarriage–wheelsashewasdrivenrapidlyaway.
‘Gentlemen,’saidthepresident,whensilencewasrestored,‘istheCountofMorcerfconvictedoffelony,treason,andconductunbecomingamemberofthisHouse?’
—’Yes,’repliedallthemembersofthecommitteeofinquirywithaunanimousvoice.
“Haideehadremaineduntilthecloseofthemeeting.
Sheheardthecount’ssentencepronouncedwithoutbetrayinganexpressionofjoyorpity;thendrawingherveiloverherfaceshebowedmajesticallytothecouncillors,andleftwiththatdignifiedstepwhichVirgilattributestohisgoddesses.”
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