seeing the count
standing, shrieked, 'You do not know me?' said she. 'Well, I fortunately
recognize you! You are Fernand Mondego, the French officer who led
the troops of my noble father! It is you who surrendered the castle of
Yanina! It is you who, sent by him to Constantinople, to treat with the
emperor for the life or death of your benefactor, brought back a false
mandate granting full pardon! It is you who, with that mandate, obtained
the pasha's ring, which gave you authority over Selim, the fire-keeper!
It is you who stabbed Selim. It is you who sold us, my mother and me, to
the merchant, El-Kobbir! Assassin, assassin, assassin, you have still on
your brow your master's blood! Look, gentlemen, all!'

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

"'Count of Morcerf,' said the president, 'do not allow yourself to be
cast down; answer. The justice of the court is supreme and impartial as
that of God; it will not suffer you to be trampled on by your enemies
without giving you an opportunity of defending yourself. Shall further
inquiries be made? Shall two members of the House be sent to Yanina?
Speak!' Morcerf did not reply. Then all the members looked at each other
with terror. They knew the count's energetic and violent temper; it must
be, indeed, a dreadful blow which would deprive him of courage to defend
himself. They expected that hi