World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 161 Judgment (1)
At 8 o'clock in the morning, Albert came to Beauchamp's residence suddenly like a thunderbolt.Beauchamp's valet had already been ordered, and he immediately led Mosef into the master's room, and Beauchamp had just entered the bathroom to take a shower.

"Well?" said Albert.

"Hi! my poor friend," replied Beauchamp, "I am expecting you."

"That's why I'm here. Beauchamp, I don't have to say anything to you anymore. I believe what you say. You are honest and kind. You will never tell anyone about it. You will never say it." , my friend. Moreover, you sent someone to report to me, which shows that you are sincere to me. So, we don't need to waste time talking about those opening remarks. Do you know who is doing this?"

"I can explain it to you in a few sentences."

"Well, but before you say that, my friend, you must tell me all about this shameful betrayal."

Therefore, Beauchamp explained the ins and outs of the matter to the ashamed and distressed Albert, and we will briefly repeat his words below.

The news had appeared in the papers the morning before yesterday, not in the Fair, but in another paper, but the matter was all the more serious, because everyone knew that this paper was run by the government.Beauchamp was eating lunch when he first saw the news. He immediately asked someone to ask for a buggy, and hurried to the newspaper office without finishing his meal.Although the political views promoted by Beauchamp in his own newspaper are completely different from the views of that newspaper, the publisher of that newspaper is regarded as a confidant.Such a thing is possible, and we might even say it was a common occurrence.When Beauchamp arrived at the newspaper office, the publisher had their paper in his hand and seemed to be reading with interest an article on beet sugar in the edition of the "Paris Gazette", which was probably the author of the article. .

"Ah! That's great!" Beauchamp said, "Since your newspaper is in your hand, I don't need to explain why I came."

"Don't you happen to be a Sugar Pie?" asked the publisher of the official newspaper.

"No," Beauchamp replied, "I don't know anything about this subject. I've come to do something else."

"what's up?"

"Tell me about that article about Mosev.

"Oh, my God, it's very simple. We didn't follow the scandal, but the scandal brought it to our door. A man from Ioannina found this paper yesterday, and he brought a lot of There are too many documents. We hesitated, not knowing whether we should publish the short story, and the person said, if we don’t want to publish, then this news will be published in another newspaper. Of course, Ⅲ Boshang, you know what important news is , so we don’t want to let this news go for nothing. Now we see that this is the right move, this move is very powerful, and it will cause a sensation in the whole of Europe.”

Beauchamp knew that he had no choice but to surrender, so he walked out dejectedly, and immediately sent someone to report to Mosef.However, there were certain things which he could not include in his letter to Albert, because what we are about to tell happened after the messenger had gone away.The factions of the House of Nobles are generally very stable and prudent, but on the day the news was published in the newspaper, the House of Nobles was full of excitement, and all the factions broke out.Nearly all the MPs had arrived ahead of time, and all were whispering about the sad incident, for such an event would surely attract public attention, and public opinion would be fixed on a well-known member of the illustrious House of Peers.

Some people were reading the news in a low voice, some were spouting out comments, and some were talking about it together, explaining the whole story more and more clearly.Count Messef was unpopular in the House of Lords. Like all upstarts, he had to put on an air of arrogance in order to maintain his status.Senior aristocrats laughed at him, men of insight despised him, and great heroes instinctively despised him.The earl was originally in a difficult situation and became a victim for atonement. Once the hand of God designated him as an offering for sacrifice, he became notorious and became a condemnation of thousands of people.

Only Count Mosef himself did not know what had happened.He hadn't seen the newspaper which contained articles that criticized his reputation, and he had been writing letters all morning, and took a horse for a test ride for a while.So he came to the House of Nobles at his usual time, he got out of the carriage with his head held high, walked through the aisle, and walked into the hall. His expression, but he didn't see it at all.The meeting had been going on for more than half an hour when Mosev walked into the hall.

As we have already said, the count was completely ignorant of what had happened, his manner and his steps were not the same as in the past, but everyone felt more arrogant than usual, and he ignored the situation and showed himself to attend the meeting, For all members of the House of Lords who cherish the reputation of the House of Lords, this is completely like a deliberate provocation. The members of the House of Representatives agreed that such a thing is inappropriate. an insult to the court.Obviously, MPs are impatient and want to debate right away.The newspaper councilors who criticized the earl had a copy, but they all hesitated to take the responsibility of being the first to attack.Finally, a respectable member of parliament who had already publicly declared that he was at odds with Count Moserf stepped onto the podium. His serious expression showed that the moment everyone was looking forward to had finally arrived.

There was a sudden silence in the hall, and the silence was chilling.The senator who was about to speak was rarely attractive in his speeches, but this time all the senators listened attentively to his speech, and only Mosev ignored the mystery.The MP made an opening statement, stating that in view of the issue he was about to discuss, it was extremely serious, sacred, and important to the House of Lords, and he asked his colleagues to attach great importance to it.For this opening remark, Mosef just listened quietly and did not pay special attention.But when he heard the words "Ionina" and "Colonel Fernand", his face turned pale, and there was a murmur in the hall, and all eyes were on the count.Mental trauma has its peculiarities, it can disappear, but it never heals, it always hurts, it bleeds when you touch it, it is always sensitive, it is always open, it is always in your heart.

There was no sound in the hall, except for occasional murmurs of whispering, but whenever the congressman was about to continue speaking, the audience fell silent again.The intrusive congressman read the message and went on to express his own disquiet, saying how difficult his task was because private issues were always difficult and he claimed he had provoked debate on them , just to defend the reputation of Mosev and the reputation of the entire House of Nobles.Finally, before the end, he asked for a hearing, and advocated an early arrangement, so that the falsehood could be exposed before it spread, so as to avenge Mr. Moserf and restore his long-term enjoyment in the circle of public opinion. reputation.

Mosev was already crushed. Facing this sudden and huge disaster, he trembled and muttered a few times in a vague way. His eyes were bewildered, and he stared blankly at his colleagues around him.This timid demeanor can be said to be astonishing to the innocent, or it can be said to be ashamed of the guilty. It is this demeanor that has won him some pity.A truly open-minded person will feel compassion for his enemies when the misfortune they suffer exceeds the extent of their vengeance.

The speaker's decision on whether to hold a hearing should be put to a vote, so the parliament decided to hold a hearing through a sit or stand vote.The count was asked how long it would take to prepare his defense.Mercerf regained his courage, feeling that he was still alive after the terrible blow.

"Gentlemen of Parliament," he replied, "at this moment, some enemies who do not want to be named must be attacking me from a dark corner. The question of such an attack is not how long it takes to refute it. It is reasonable to counterattack." There is no time to wait, because since it is a sudden shock, I must strike back with lightning. But instead of defending myself like this, I should pour out my blood and prove to my colleagues that I deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

With these few words the MPs could not help but form a favorable impression of their censured colleague. "So, I request," continued Moserf, "that a hearing be held as soon as possible and that I submit to the House of Lords all valid documents required for the hearing."

"Can you specify an exact date?" asked the Speaker.

"From now on, I will wait for the disposal of the House of Lords." The earl replied.

The Speaker rang the bell and asked, "Does this Court agree that the hearing will be held today?"

"Agreed!" All the members answered unanimously.

Then a hearing committee composed of 12 members was elected to review various documents submitted by Mosef. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held at the office building of the House of Lords at 8 o'clock that night. If multiple consecutive hearings are required, then each meeting shall be held at the same time and place each day.After the decision of the conference, Mosef asked to withdraw.Mercerf was cunning and persistent, and he was prepared for such an eventuality. The relevant documents had already been collected, but now he still needed to sort them out.

Beauchamp told Albert in detail about the situations we mentioned above, but Beauchamp said it more vividly than we did, because it was just after the incident, and Beauchamp said the scene in a blended way, but we are now revisiting it. Let me explain it again, after all, things have changed, it is just a straightforward and dry introduction.When Albert listened to Beauchamp's introduction, he trembled all over his body. Sometimes he felt that there was still a glimmer of hope, but sometimes he looked angry, and sometimes he was ashamed. He trusted Beauchamp very much, so he knew his heart very well. His father owed others, but he couldn't figure it out, since he was a guilty person, how could Earl Mosef prove his innocence?After talking about the situation we mentioned above, Beauchamp stopped and didn't say any more.

"And then?" asked Albert.

"Later?" Beauchamp asked again.

"Correct."

"My friend, this is a very difficult question of yours. Must you know what happened?"

"I must ask about this, my friend, but I would rather hear it from you to my face than from anyone else."

"Well!" said Beauchamp, "then hold on, Albert, for this is the time of your life when you need courage the most."

Albert reached out and touched his forehead, he wanted to know if he had the energy to hold on, just like someone who is at the critical moment of life and death, wants to see if his breastplate is strong, bends his sharp sword to see if it is sharp .

"Speak!" said Albert.

"That evening," said Beauchamp then, "the whole of Paris waited to see how things would turn out. Many said that your father would only have to come out in public and the charge would be cleared; and many said that the count would not be present at the hearing." , Some people also concluded that they saw the Count leave Paris for Brussels with their own eyes, so some people went to the police station and asked, did the Count really take the passport as they said?"

"To tell you the truth," Beauchamp continued, "there is a young member of the hearing committee who is my friend. I tried various methods and finally got him to agree to take me into the conference hall to listen. He did come at seven o'clock. He picked me up, and while there was no one in the conference hall, he led me to a bailiff, and the bailiff stuffed me into an auditorium. There was a column in front of me. It was black all around. So no one could see me, yet I could see and hear the whole horrible scene that was about to begin.

"At eight o'clock, when all the committee members were present, Mr. Moserf stepped into the chamber on the final stroke of the bell. He had several papers in his hand, and he appeared to have a dignified demeanor, and his uncharacteristically easy gait. , well-dressed and very dignified, buttoned down to the top button like all old soldiers. He was punctual, and first of all made a very good impression. The committee held no ill will towards the count. Several committee members also took the initiative to walk to the earl and shake hands with him."

Hearing these details, Albert felt that his heart was about to break, but there was also a sense of gratitude in the bitterness of his sorrow that, at the difficult time of his father's discredit, he should be honored, Albert wished he could embrace them warmly.

"At this moment, a bailiff walked into the conference hall and handed the chairman a letter. 'Mr. Moserf has the floor.'" The chairman said while opening the letter.

"The count then began to defend himself, and I can tell you with certainty, Albert," Beauchamp continued, "his defense was not only eloquent, but also very clever. The count also produced documents to prove that Io The governor of Nina still had great confidence in him until the end, because the governor commissioned him to meet the Turkish emperor to negotiate, which was a major negotiation of life and death. The count also showed a ring, which is a token of the governor's full power, usually the governor of Ali This ring was used as a seal on the sealing seals of the letters. Governor Ali gave him this ring, so that after his return, he could enter the Governor's Palace at any time of day or night, and even enter the harem to see the Governor himself. Earl Said that, unfortunately, his negotiation failed, and when he returned to defend the benefactor, the benefactor died in the line of duty. However, the earl also said that before the death of Governor Ali, he still believed in the earl and entrusted the earl to take care of the governor. favorite concubine and daughter."

Hearing this, Albert couldn't help but shudder, because he heard what Beauchamp said in his ears, but he thought of what Ede said in his heart. He remembered that the Greek beauty had said that she had sent someone to negotiate with the ring, and that she also Said how she was sold into slavery. "Has the count's defense achieved any effect?" asked Albert anxiously.

"To tell you the truth, I was very moved, not only me, but also the whole committee," Beauchamp said. "At this moment, the chairman of the committee accidentally looked at the letter that had just been handed to him. He had just read a few lines, and immediately read it with all his attention. He read the letter from beginning to end, and then After reading it, he fixed his eyes on Mr. Moserf and said: "Mr. Earl, you just told us that the governor of Ioannina entrusted his wife and daughter to you, did you not?"

"'Yes, sir,' replied Mosef, 'I have suffered a great deal from this incident and its consequences. When I returned, Vaziliki and her daughter were missing.'

"'Do you know them?'

"'My relationship with the Governor was so close, and he had such complete confidence in my loyalty to him, that I saw them no less than twenty times.'

"'Do you know anything about their whereabouts?'

"'Yes, sir. I have heard that they were in great distress, and probably in very dire condition. I was not rich at the time, and besides, my own life was at stake, so I did not at once try to find them, and for that I am deeply sorry.'

(End of this chapter)