登陆注册
5382900000395

第395章

The Trial.

At eight o'clock in the morning Albert had arrived at Beauchamp's door.The valet de chambre had received orders to 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 to have spoken of that painful circumstance.Your having sent for me is another proof of your affection.So, without losing time, tell me, have you the slightest idea whence this terrible blow proceeds?""I think I have some clew."

"But first tell me all the particulars of this shameful plot." Beauchamp proceeded to relate to the young man, who was overwhelmed with shame and grief, the following facts.

Two days previously, the article had appeared in another paper besides the Impartial, and, what was more serious, one that was well known as a government paper.Beauchamp was breakfasting when he read the paragraph.He sent immediately for a cabriolet, and hastened to the publisher's office.

Although professing diametrically opposite principles from those of the editor of the other paper, Beauchamp -- as it sometimes, we may say often, happens -- was his intimate friend.The editor was reading, with apparent delight, a leading article in the same paper on beet-sugar, probably a composition 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 editor of the ministerial paper.

"No," replied Beauchamp, "I have not considered the question; 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 a prosecution for defamation of character.""Not at all; we have received with the information all the requisite proofs, and we are quite sure M.de Morcerf will not raise his voice against us; besides, it is rendering a service to one's country to denounce these wretched criminals who are unworthy of the honor bestowed on them."Beauchamp was thunderstruck."Who, then, has so correctly informed you?" asked he; "for my paper, which gave the first information on the subject, has been obliged to stop for want of proof; and yet we are more interested than you in exposing M.de Morcerf, as he is a peer of France, and we are of the opposition.""Oh, that is very simple; we have not sought to scandalize.

This news was brought to us.A man arrived yesterday from Yanina, bringing a formidable array of documents; and when we hesitated to publish the accusatory article, he told us it 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 he had been unable to send to Albert the following particulars, as the events had transpired after the messenger's departure; namely, that the same day a great agitation was manifest in the House of Peers among the usually calm members of that dignified assembly.Every one had arrived almost before the usual hour, and was conversing on the melancholy event which was to attract the attention of the public towards one of their most illustrious colleagues.

Some were perusing the article, others making comments and recalling circumstances which substantiated the charges still more.The Count of Morcerf was no favorite with his colleagues.Like all upstarts, he had had recourse to a great deal of haughtiness to maintain his position.The true nobility laughed at him, the talented repelled him, and the honorable instinctively despised him.He was, in fact, in the unhappy position of the victim marked for sacrifice; the finger of God once pointed at him, every one was prepared to raise the hue and cry.

The Count of Morcerf alone was ignorant of the news.He did not take in the paper containing the defamatory article, and had passed the morning in writing letters and in trying a horse.He arrived at his usual hour, with a proud look and insolent demeanor; he alighted, passed through the corridors, and entered the house without observing the hesitation of the door-keepers or the coolness of his colleagues.Business had already been going on for half an hour when he entered.Every one held the accusing paper, but, as usual, no one liked to take upon himself the responsibility of the attack.At length an honorable peer, Morcerf's acknowledged enemy, ascended the tribune with that solemnity which announced that the expected moment had arrived.There was an impressive silence; Morcerf alone knew not why such profound attention was given to an orator who was not always listened to with so much complacency.The count did not notice the introduction, in which the speaker announced that his communication would be of that vital importance that it demanded the undivided attention of the House; but at the mention of Yanina and Colonel Fernand, he turned so frightfully pale that every member shuddered and fixed 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 and open in the heart.

The article having been read during the painful hush that followed, a universal shudder pervaded the assembly.and immediately the closest attention was given to the orator as he resumed his remarks.He stated his scruples and the difficulties of the case; it was the honor of M.de Morcerf, and that of the whole House, he proposed to defend, by provoking a debate on personal questions, which are always such painful themes of discussion.He concluded by calling for an investigation, which might dispose of the calumnious report before it had time to spread, and restore M.de Morcerf to the position he had long held in public opinion.

同类推荐
  • 文殊师利发愿经

    文殊师利发愿经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 容斋五笔

    容斋五笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诸德福田经

    诸德福田经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛顶尊胜陀罗尼别法

    佛顶尊胜陀罗尼别法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 老子像名经

    老子像名经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 你好,前任先生

    你好,前任先生

    前任要求破镜重圆?不好意思,目前追求者较多,请取号排队。前任也不能插队哦。前任表白我喜欢你!我也是啊,我也很喜欢我自己呢。
  • 带刀禁卫

    带刀禁卫

    站在你面前的是:威名远播的UCLA的史诗传奇、08届状元大热门终结者、帕特莱利的梦魇、铁血教派的集大成者、恐怖尼克斯的指挥官、红色公牛的传奇领军人、憎恶的创造者、《魔兽世界》的忠实玩家、黑曼巴的亲密伙伴……残暴统治NBA长达十数年的带刀禁卫。斯努比杜。AKA公爵狗!
  • 无量大慈教经

    无量大慈教经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Z组织之恋

    Z组织之恋

    “Z”组织,现在在全球相当受欢迎的一个神秘组织。七位成员竟然在一年的时间里全部都红鸾星动,一个接一个的恋爱结婚了。看看在别人眼中这群怪胎们的恋爱史吧!
  • 武道巨擘

    武道巨擘

    人有九极,武分九境,天地异变,武者复苏!少年顾墨尘偶得蛮荒龙坠,从此踏足武道,一步步走偏,成为……武道大魔头!
  • 佛说尊上经

    佛说尊上经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你和时光从未离开过

    你和时光从未离开过

    哥哥是前职业选手,被称为国服第一中单,但是让所有人都没有想到的是,在职业巅峰的时候,退役了。而她,从小就接触电子游戏,最大的愿望就是,有一天可以在电子竞技的舞台上打出自己的一片天。
  • 丧尸之城

    丧尸之城

    当进入到一个鬼屋的时候,记住,千万不要睁开你的眼睛,否则……在这里,现实一片废墟,满世界都是行尸走肉的僵尸,世界各地出现宗教暴徒,神棍……所有人为了权力与欲望,利用这个疯狂的世界,而我,正是这个世界的始作俑者。
  • 末世之僵世尸界

    末世之僵世尸界

    轮回之间,是谁打开禁闭的大门。一次偶然的失误,是否是命运的安排。一切的一切那么匪夷所思。人类……终将毁灭……天地间一片黑暗……突然出现了光,一片闪亮的光,从天而降的4位异能少年,能否扛起拯救世界的大任……让我们聆听这末世序章的旋律……这未完的旋律啊……——序章————作者:刀龙
  • 全世界不要别离

    全世界不要别离

    “杨年铭”这三个字,是程一艾的整个青春,那场已然落幕却依旧璀璨的青春。翩翩美少年有着一副睡不醒的慵懒模样,程一艾每次遇见他都灾难连连,第一次当面掉进下水道,第二次生理痛被他调侃,第三次干脆从舞台上摔下来撞得额头出血。两人好不容易在一起,未想到阴谋接踵而至,青春兵荒马乱,他甚至不说一声,便转身走远。年华弹指,一刹那便苍老。再见故人,是在他和导演千金的订婚席上。他干涩地说好久不见,她无语凝噎。他们,还能回到过去吗?