m, or he will kill me. I rely on your friendship to assist
me, Beauchamp, if contempt has not banished it from your heart."

"Contempt, my friend? How does this misfortune affect you? No, happily
that unjust prejudice is forgotten which made the son responsible for
the father's actions. Review your life, Albert; although it is only just
beginning, did a lovely summer's day ever dawn with greater purity than
has marked the commencement of your career? No, Albert, take my advice.
You are young and rich--leave Paris--all is soon forgotten in this great
Babylon of excitement and changing tastes. You will return after three
or four years with a Russian princess for a bride, and no one will think
more of what occurred yesterday than if it had happened sixteen years
ago."

"Thank you, my dear Beauchamp, thank you for the excellent feeling
which prompts your advice; but it cannot be. I have told you my wish, or
rather my determination. You understand that, interested as I am in this
affair, I cannot see it in the same light as you do. What appears to you
to emanate from a celestial source, seems to me to proceed from one far
less pure. Providence appears to me to have no share in this affair; and
happily so, for instead of the invisible, impalpable agent of celestial
rewards and punishments, I shall find one both palpable and visible,
on whom I shall revenge myself, I assure you, for all I have suffered
during the last month. Now, I repeat, Beauchamp, I wish to return
to human and material existence, and if you are still the friend you
profess to be, help me to discover the hand that struck the blow."

"Be it so," said Beauchamp; "if you must have me descend to earth, I
submit; and if you will seek your enemy, I will assist you, and I
will engage to find him, my honor being almost as deeply interested as
yours."

"Well, then, you understand, Beauchamp, that we begin our search
immediately. Each moment's delay is an eternity for me. The calumniator
is not yet punished, and he may hope that he will not be; but, on my
honor, if he thinks so, he deceives himself."

"Well, listen, Morcerf."

"Ah, Beauchamp, I see you know something already; you will restore me to
life."

"I do not say there is any truth in what I am going to tell you, but it
is, at least, a ray of light in a dark night; by following it we may,
perhaps, discover something more certain."

"Tell me; satisfy my impatience."

"Well, I will tell you what I did