"Why?"
"Perhaps you may know at some future period, and, in the mean time, I request your indulgence for my secret."
"Well, I will have Franz and Château-Renaud!"
"Do so, then, they will be the very men for it."
"But if I do fight, you will surely not object to giving me a lesson or two in shooting and fencing?"
"That, too, is impossible."
"What a singular being you are!―you will not interfere in any thing."
"You are right―that is the principle on which I wish to act."
"We will say no more about it, then. Good-bye, count."
Morcerf took his hat, and left the room. He found his chariot at the door, and doing his utmost to restrain his anger, he drove at once to Beauchamp's house. Beauchamp was in his office. It was one of those gloomy, dusty-looking apartments, such as journalists' offices have always been. The servant announced Albert de Morcerf. Beauchamp repeated the name to himself, and then gave orders for him to be admitted. Albert entered.
Beauchamp uttered an exclamation of surprise on seeing his friend leap over and trample under foot all the newspapers which were strewed about the room.
"Here! here! my dear Albert!" said he, holding out his hand to the young man. "Are you out of your senses, or do you come peaceably to take breakfast with me? Try and find a seat―there is one by that geranium, which is the only thing in the room to remind me that there are other leaves in the world besides leaves of paper."
"Beauchamp," said Albert, "it is of your journal that I come to speak."
"Indeed! what do you wish to say about it?"
"I desire that a statement contained in it should be rectified."
"To what do you allude? But pray sit down."
"Thank you," said Albert, with a cold and formal bow.
"Will you now explain?"
"An announcement has been made which implicates the honor of a member of my family."
"What is it," said Beauchamp, much surprised; "surely you must be mistaken."
"It is an article headed 'Janina.'"
"'Janina?'"
"Yes; really you appear to be totally ignorant of the cause which brings me here."
"Such is really the case, I assure you, upon my honor! Baptiste, give me yesterday's paper," cried Beauchamp.
