Granville's estate

It would have never occurred to Alred that even though they were talking about Galbien, Countess de Lopez, Calliste would be able to transfer the topic to him-he was listening to Dubois with interest. Mr. Richard's conversation with Mr. Richard, trying to find out what the other M. de Durand did to make his grandmother so worried!

Therefore, when his future landlord turned the topic to him because of Callister's calm guidance, the astonished Alred missed the best opportunity to counterattack in the first few seconds, and could only let the landlord Mr. He told the countess endlessly how he had witnessed the miracle: "Madame, as you can see, Mr. Alred de Granville lived in the St. Mr. Granville, let me tell you the truth that offends people, that neighborhood is indeed not where you should live! Although I have never been there, I have heard of the bad atmosphere there. I heard that the people there People are not even religious at church, and they even use the church as a place to flirt, like a place like the Palace Theater!"

Palais Royal Theater - for a decent Parisian, this is not synonymous with a good place. Generally speaking, this place is comparable to either the saltpeter library of 10,000+ poor people who are full of thieves. So, or some more notorious and lowly place; of course, we can also glimpse from the analogy that M. Dubois accidentally made, and we can see that the strictly disciplined residents of the Marsh area are very fond of places like St. George Street. Such a subtle psychology of "degenerate areas" comes.

Alred, who has stayed in Paris for so many years, naturally knows what the Royal Palace Theater is like, and his smile can't help becoming forced, but fortunately, the real purpose of Mr. Dubois is to demonstrate his faith to the countess The miracle brought, so he then lavishly praised how wise Allaide's decision to move was: "You also know that even in Paris, the temperament of different neighborhoods is very different. Moving from one place to another is like moving from one country to another. Madam, I think it must be the arrangement of the Almighty God that M. de Granville chose to leave that depraved St. Georges neighborhood and stay away from Neighbors with bad conduct chose to move here to be with us in Massillon Street."

"Oh, Monsieur Dubois, you are quite right."

Since he was accidentally swayed by Callister, Alred could only grit his teeth and accept the landlord's words, but he was not willing to bow his head and admit defeat to the banker so easily: "I did live in St. George's before. Block, and will live there until Christmas, you are right, maybe it is the Lord Almighty who arranged Mr. Richard's guidance, I am lucky enough to come here to visit you and your wife, and I will be lucky enough to be able to Join me in the Rue Massillon—but I must say, sir, that even if I had not called to-day, you would have found a young man who fit your description by your side."

Mr. Dubois was quite surprised to hear what Alred said.

"That's strange, M. de Granville! It's your first time in the Rue Massillon. How do you know there are other young people like yourself here? Who is that gentleman?"

"He is right in front of you, sir." Alred said, and he looked at Calliste who was sitting next to the Countess de Lopez: "I had the honor to be with Calliste de Durand Monsieur studied at the same boarding school, but I remember very clearly that when M. de Durand was at the boarding school in Saint-Etienne, he did not like to attend mass very much. He even disobeyed his teacher for it, thus I have been punished several times by the supervisor at the school."

"Oh, there is such a thing! Is it true?"

At this time, not only Mr. Dubois, but also the Countess de Lopez was a little surprised, and Louis, who was sitting next to the lady, was anxious to wink at Alrede and signaled his friend to stop talking.

"This is a matter of course, ma'am, but I clearly remember that once Mr. Viscount was punished by the school supervisor for several hours, asking him to reflect on his mistakes against the wall-of course, that time Mr. de Durand In the end, I didn’t admit that I did make a mistake.”

Alred pretended not to see Louis' anxious gesture, and he provocatively gave the viscount sitting there a smile that was more of a demonstration than an apology: "However, it seems that Mr. de Durand is already a A pious, firm believer, and a good Christian who conforms to our secular rules! Gentlemen and madam, this is an achievement that the supervisors and teachers could not achieve with all their ingenuity and wisdom. Mr. Viscount unexpectedly appeared like this Great transformation, isn't this a miracle that only the Almighty can perform?"

This is really an excellent example of irrefutable miracles about the Lord-Mr. Dubois has not recovered for a while, and nodded again and again, but Mr. Richard must have seen the two young nobles There was a full smell of gunpowder between them, and he seemed to want to laugh, but he didn't dare to laugh out loud, for fear that he would be marked down by the vengeful nobles.

"Is it true, my child?"

The Countess de Lopez asked Callister, dumbfounded. The lady didn't mean to blame at all, but obviously, after so many years of turmoil in Paris, Mr. Viscount already possessed a very strong personality. Mental quality, he replied to the countess without blinking his eyes: "I think Mr. de Granville may have remembered the wrong person, madam, maybe something similar happened, but I don't remember such a thing at all." One thing—you say so, Farentin?"

"Ah, this?"

Louis, who was suddenly drawn into the center of the topic, was dumbfounded. He subconsciously looked at Callister, who had not changed his expression, and then couldn't help turning his head to look at his good friend who was obviously going to fight against the Viscount—— For the first time in his life, he felt very deeply what is called "dilemma".

"Monsieur, it's been so long ago that I don't remember much about our days at St. Etienne's boarding school."

It is obviously impossible to directly agree with Callister's words, which undoubtedly puts Alred in a position of lying; and with Louis' character, it is impossible for him to say in front of the Countess de Lopez Saying "Mr. Vicomte de Durand was indeed punished by the superintendent for this" may make the old man sad-even if that gentleman was in Saint-Etienne, it was true that he did not leave the Sunday religious ceremony early. Sneak away and be punished by the teacher!

As a result, Louis could only bite the bullet and try to confuse it with vague words: "My memory has never been very good, ma'am, and I was young at the time, and I didn't care much about what happened around me, and even more so. I don't remember many things."

"Louis!"

Alrede obviously didn't expect that Louis didn't speak for him. He stared at Louis with rounded eyes and angrily, then turned his head away and sulked himself; while Callisto was full of deep meaning. looked at Louis.

"Ah, yes, I forgot," said the vicomte, looking down from Louis's face, and finally fell on the gold chain fastened to the buttonhole of Louis' coat: "Mr. It’s not good, he always forgets things, or the kind that can even forget the promises he made solemnly with others.”

"Sir, I'm sorry, but that's not what I want."

Louis said somewhat unashamedly, of course he understood what Callisto was really referring to - Holy Virgin Mary, who would have thought that an ordinary visit to a new landlord would meet him!If Louis knew that the Viscount would also visit the Countess de Lopez at this time, he must first try to get the gold pocket watch and the franc box back from Alred!

"What are these words! Good boy, don't listen to his nonsense."

The Countess de Lopez patted Louis' hand lovingly to comfort him, then turned her head and blamed Callister: "I said, my child, you should apologize to Mr. Louis for this embarrassing situation. Sad words should never come out of your mouth - Holy Virgin Mary, I remember you came back to Paris ten years ago, which means that it happened more than ten years ago, so long ago , do you still expect everyone to remember it clearly!"

"Eight years ago, ma'am, but you are right."

Mr. Calliste de Durand accepted his wife's criticism almost immediately, he stood up graciously, and stretched out his hand to Louis: "Mr. Farentin, this is my fault, please accept my criticism." Sorry, forgive my inappropriate words just now."

This was another unexpected situation for Alred. He stared at Callister's hand stretched out to Louis, and his eyes were almost bursting with anger; Even Louis could only stand up from his chair and respond to Callister, so as not to be regarded as a countryman who did not understand etiquette by the other two gentlemen present: "Sir, you are too serious, this is just a trivial matter. .”

Callister's hand was as hot as ever, coupled with the focused gaze on Louis when he stretched out his hand, Louis trembled unconsciously when he held his hand, and lowered his eyes to avoid him Sight.

"Ah, ma'am, the vitality of young people is really enviable!"

This time, Callister did not make any small moves to Louis. After their brief contact, Mr. Dubois, who finally figured out the disagreement between Alred and Viscount Durand, smiled at De Lo When Countess Pez said this, it was obvious that he didn't think it was a big deal for a little conflict between young people: "You see, even if young people quarrel or ignore each other, it will pass in a while, but us old people It’s not enough, even if you want to be as noisy as them, you can’t make a fuss!”

When Mr. Dubois said these words, he definitely did not have any malicious intentions, but Alred was very unhappy when he heard them. However, due to the decency that a nobleman should have, he could only bury all his dissatisfaction in his heart— ——The standard aristocratic smile on his face was about to freeze.

"Yes, Monsieur Dubois, it's been a long time since I've been so lively here."

The Countess de Lopez answered with great joy, looking from Callister to Louis to Alred with a smile, like a grandson who looks contentedly at one another. The slapstick kind old grandmother: "Ah, looking at these children, it's like going back to the time when my little Maria was still there! You and Galbien were very young at that time, you were always fighting, and that Old Mr. Maximilien was still there, and Maria was still there, and so were your father, mother, and uncle!"