the imperial seal, which the vendor is bound to have affixed to
it.'
"Near the merchant's signature there was, indeed, the seal of
the sublime emperor. A dreadful silence followed the reading of
this document; the count could only stare, and his gaze, fixed as
if unconsciously on Haidee, seemed one of fire and blood. `Madame,'
said the president, `may reference be made to the Count of Monte
Cristo, who is now, I believe, in Paris?' — `Sir,' replied Haidee,
`the Count of Monte Cristo, my foster-father, has been in Normandy
the last three days.'
"`Who, then, has counselled you to take this step, one for which
the court is deeply indebted to you, and which is perfectly
natural, considering your birth and your misfortunes?' — `Sir,'
replied Haidee, `I have been led to take this step from a feeling
of respect and grief. Although a Christian, may God forgive me, I
have always sought to revenge my illustrious father. Since I set my
foot in France, and knew the traitor lived in Paris, I have watched
carefully. I live retired in the house of my noble protector, but I
do it from choice. I love retirement and silence, because I can
live with my thoughts and recollections of past days. But the Count
of Monte Cristo surrounds me with every paternal care, and I am
ignorant of nothing which passes in the world. I learn all in the
silence of my apartments, — for instance, I see all the newspapers,
every periodical, as well as every new piece of music; and by thus
watching the course of the life of others, I learned what had
transpired this morning in the House of Peers, and what was to take
place this evening; then I wrote.'
"`Then,' remarked the president, `the Count of Monte Cristo
knows nothing of your present proceedings?' — `He is quite unaware
of them, and I have but one fear, which is that he should
disapprove of what I have done. But it is a glorious day for me,'
continued the young girl, raising her ardent gaze to heaven, `that
on which I find at last an opportunity of avenging my father!'on which I find at last an opportunity of avenging my father!'
"The count had not uttered one word the whole of this time. His
colleagues looked at him, and doubtless pitied his prospects,
blighted under the perfumed breath of a woman. His misery was
depicted in sinister lines on his countenance. `M. de Morcerf,'
said the president, `do you recognize this lady as the daughter of
Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina?' — `No,' said Morcerf, attempting to
rise, `it is a base plot, contrived by my enemies.' Haidee, whose
eyes had been fixed on the door, as if expecting some one, turned
hastily, and, 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 byfeatures, 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 his stupefied silence would be followed by a fiery outburst.
`Well,' asked the president, `what is your decision?'
"`I have no reply to make,' said the count in a low tone.
"`Has the daughter of Ali Tepelini spoken the truth?' said the
president. `Is she, then, the terrible witness to whose charge you
dare not plead "Not guilty"? Have you really committed the crimes
of which you are accused?' The count looked around him with an
expression which might have softened tigers, but which could not
disarm his judges. Then he raised his eyes towards the ceiling, but
withdrew then, immediately, as if he feared the roof would open and
reveal to his distressed view that second tribunal called heaven,
and that other judge named God. Then, with a hasty movement, he
tore open his coat, which seemed to stifle him, and flew from the
room like a madman; his footstep was heard one moment in theroom like a madman; his footstep was heard one moment in the
corridor, then the rattling of his carriage-wheels as he was driven
rapidly away. `Gentlemen,' said the president, when silence was
restored, `is the Count of Morcerf convicted of felony, treason,
and conduct unbecoming a member of this House?' — `Yes,' replied
all the members of the committee of inquiry with a unanimous
voice.
"Haidee had remained until the close of the meeting. She heard
the count's sentence pronounced without betraying an expression of
joy or pity; then drawing her veil over her face she bowed
majestically to the councillors, and left with that dignified step
which Virgil attributes to his goddesses."