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