Albert's departure for Normandy the few lines which had rendered the
unfortunate young man almost crazy.

Chapter 86. 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 I am," 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;