"I know it's useless to say sorry now, it's my bad ......," her voice grew lower.

Yi Qingchen stared at her seriously, and Chu Qiao's back was cold.

There was something unfathomable in his eyes, and she put it down to anger or disappointment.

Just as she was about to continue explaining, he suddenly took her into his arms.

"It's not that you're bad, it's that I'm not good enough, if I'm good enough, my wife won't have to deal with these things personally, if I'm good enough, my wife won't be surrounded by so many troubles, so, it's my ......"

"You are not allowed to fight with me."

She reached out to cover his lips and looked at him domineeringly.

"Okay, don't fight." You never know how scared I am that you're going to leave me, so I want to do better, so good that you can't leave me again.

"Yi Qingchen, do you know that you are the best husband in the world." Chu Qiao suddenly kissed him.

Both of them tacitly did not mention Xi Yijun's matter.

There are some things that are not there in the first place, but they are even more chaotic when they are mentioned.

"There is no best, only better."

His words were like a slogan, making her giggle.

"Have you been to Treasure Island?" Obviously, he sat in front of her unharmed, but she still couldn't help but feel apprehensive in her heart.

Yi Qingchen smiled and shook his head, "It's just a pretense, I was indeed a little angry that afternoon, and I just learned about Jiang Shaoxiu's deployment, so I took this opportunity to arrange for someone to dress up as me and take my private jet to take a trip to Treasure Island, in fact, I have been in Kyoto, waiting for Jiang Shaoxiu to automatically enter the urn." ”

"Is he going to do something to you?"

Chu Qiao was silent for a long time, and finally asked this sentence.

Even if you don't want to admit it, it's true.

"Well, but don't worry, don't meddle, it's a matter between men, trust me and I'll take care of it."

Yi Qingchen didn't tell her that as long as Jiang Shaoxiu dared to touch the person who was pretending to be him, then he could find an excuse to block his sister-in-law's mouth, so as to kill Jiang Shaoxiu.

The little brother-in-law had a special chat for Jiang Shaoxiu for a while ago, and if there was not enough reason, it was not enough to completely destroy the relationship between Jiang Shaoxiu and the little sister-in-law because of some agreement.

"When you come out like this now, won't all your plans be nullified?" Chu Qiao suddenly blamed herself in her heart, all because of her inexplicable cold!

In the eyes of her beloved, the slightest discomfort and unhappiness of her lover will be automatically magnified thousands of times, so what seems to her is an insignificant little cold, but in Yi Qingchen's eyes, it is a terrible disease.

"Even if I don't come out, this thing won't be done, grandpa has been staring at me in the dark, don't put it on your head."

"You seem to be in trouble all the time since you were with me." She reached out and stroked his delicate eyebrows, full of apology

"Quite the opposite." He smiled and raised his eyebrows, "It's because you've been in trouble with me all the time." ”

"Looks like the two of us are really a natural pair of troublemakers."

"Qingchen." She suddenly showed a straight face, "Promise me, no matter what in the future, don't put yourself in danger, okay?" I'm going to tell you very seriously, very seriously, no one is more important in my heart than you, and if something happens to you, I can't live. ”

"Not anymore, never again."

He hugged her, hugged her tightly, patted her slightly thin back, as if to soothe.

Before we have a wedding, I will slowly solve the troubles around us one by one and give you a safe life.

"Yi Qingchen, in front of you, I feel that I am a child, and it seems that I can be a child for a lifetime."

Even though she is already a mother, this feeling is really strong.

No matter what she did wrong, there was always someone to help her deal with the aftermath, no matter who she was bullied by, there was always someone to help her get angry, this feeling should be called happiness.

"You were originally a child, and in my eyes you will be a child for the rest of your life."

His eyes were deep, full of her, and he couldn't hold anything else.

So deep at night, so affectionate people.

……

Chu Qiao originally thought that his cold should not be a big problem, but who knew that when he got up the next day, it became more serious, and his mother's cold was naturally not good if he was close to the baby, so he simply lived in Brittany Manor again.

Yi Qingchen was so worried that he had been busy all the time, so he had to cook porridge for her to drink, saying that it was the last time she had a cold that she drank the porridge he cooked, which made Chu Qiao cry and laugh.

"I didn't dare to eat the porridge you cooked last time, so I forced myself to get better quickly."

She was holding a bowl of porridge that looked very strange, and she really felt like she couldn't eat it.

"Then I'll cook you a few more different flavors, maybe you'll be better tomorrow."

Yi Qingchen was about to leave, but Chu Qiao hurriedly stretched out his hand and grabbed him, "You can let me go, anyone who has no sense of taste can taste unpalatable, it can be seen that your porridge is really unpalatable!" ”

She rang the bell and called Steward Lu to come, pointing to the porridge in the tray, "Come, send this to Yi'an, maybe he will wake up as soon as he smells the smell, and he will be alive and well after eating another bite." ”

"Assistant Wen woke up half an hour ago." Steward Lu said with a smile: "The first thing I did when I opened my eyes was to ask about you, I heard that you had a dragon and phoenix fetus and were in a hurry to come to see you, or I stopped you." ”

As soon as Chu Qiao heard that Wen Yi'an had woken up, he lifted the quilt and wanted to get out of bed, but was dragged back by Yi Qingchen, "You give me a good lay, what about a bad cold, what are you running around?" ”

"I'll just take a look, this kid has been injected with so many tranquilizers, what if he wakes up and becomes a fool?"

"Don't worry, I've already gone to see him just now, it's all fine, you can sleep for a while, and I'll let you go out at lunch."

Chu Qiao slid helplessly into the quilt, and could only compromise.

In the guest room not far away, Wen Yi'an was holding on to the bay window to do some of the simplest rehabilitation actions.

"Wake up."

Xiao Jin pushed the door in with an A4-sized piece of cardboard, and seeing that he was able to get out of bed and move, Wannian Bingshan finally had a trace of joy on his face, and he looked much gentler than usual.

"Well, I'm bothering you this time." He disappeared for so long, Xiao Jin was equivalent to doing the work of two people by himself, and he had to help find him, which made Wen Yi'an feel ashamed.

I never thought that such a thing would happen to me, but now I know that his ability to think of himself as good in the past is really not worth mentioning.

"They're all brothers."

Xiao Jin patted him on the shoulder, "Hurry up and get better, there are a bunch of things waiting for you to do, I'll send you the recovery training schedule that the doctor will help you arrange." ”

He handed him the cardboard in his hand, and by the way, told him everything that had happened in the recent past.

Although he only listened to it afterwards, Wen Yi'an couldn't help but pinch a cold sweat for Chu Qiao in his heart, especially when he heard that she was slapped and knocked to the ground, a trace of cold killing intent flashed in his deep eyes.

Fortunately, Xiao Jin later told him about the tragic death of the mother and daughter of the Song family and Dick, which made him feel a little depressed.

"What about the little master and the little lady?" When I heard the names of the two little guys just now, I was immediately envious.

Yi Xiaochen and Yi Xiaoqiao, just by hearing the names, they can already feel how loving and absolutely their parents are.

"The little master and the little lady are now in the old mansion, with a large family to take care of, as well as two top confinement ladies and several professional maids, all fine."

"That's good."

"So your priority now is to recover as soon as possible, and don't think about anything else for the time being."

"Okay, I got it."

Wen Yi'an was anxious to get better quickly and help Chu Qiao deal with things, he was already young, plus he had insisted on fitness all year round, and it only took him half a week to recover from other people's recovery training.

"Mr. Chu."

Since Chu Qiao caught a cold, he has been pressed on the bed by Yi Qingchen, and when he saw Wen Yi'an jumping around at this time, he was inevitably excited, and he couldn't control it for a while, and he actually had some tears in his eyes.

"I look good, but I have lost a lot of weight, so I need to eat more."

Chu Qiao's voice was still thick nasal, obviously it was just a small cold, but it just didn't get better, and it was wilting all day long, and the small lip flap was completely bloodless.

"yes, I see. Is your cold really okay? He looked very bad. ”

"It's fine." Chu Qiao smiled indifferently, "Actually, it should have been good a long time ago, probably because God thought I was too tired some time ago, so he deliberately found an opportunity to let me rest for two more days."

Wen Yi'an stood aside obediently, and suddenly said seriously: "I'm sorry Mr. Chu." ”

"What stupid things you say, remember to protect yourself in the future."

"Okay."

"Telling you the good news, will it make your cold get better sooner?"

Just as Yi Qingchen entered the door, Xiao Jin made an excuse and left.

"What's the good news?"

As soon as he heard the good news, Chu Qiao immediately came to his senses, there has been no good news in this family for too long, and everything seems to be upset.

"Guess what."

"You don't want me to catch a cold sooner?"

As soon as Chu Qiao was coquettish, Yi Qingchen was out of line.

"Shaojin and Shaoqing are getting engaged."

"Is this true?"

She immediately seemed to be in high spirits, and her originally gloomy eyes finally had some light.

"What about the young people?" Chu Qiao said as he lifted the quilt and walked out, "I immediately feel better now!" ”

"She's still in the old house, I guess I won't be able to come by these days, and the day that my grandfather personally chose is at the end of this month, and the time is quite rushed."

"It's really rushed, but it's good to hurry, I also feel in my heart that I want to see the two of them get engaged and get married, then I'll change my clothes now, let's go back to the old house, I'm in a mood that is so excited that I can't lie down at all."

"Knowing that you can't lie down, Shaojin specially asked me to pick you up, you wait."

Yi Qingchen turned around and went into the cloakroom next door, and after a while, he took a set of thick winter clothes.

"You're going to kill me."

Chu Qiao glanced at the big fur in his hand with disgust, and personally chose a set of woolen materials.

"Get in the car when you go out, get in the door when you get out of the car, what can be cold."

Yi Qingchen stared at her bare legs, then went into the cloakroom and took out a wide cloak, and personally helped her drape it on her shoulders, "You can only take it off when you get to the place, and it will cool down again in the past few days, and if it freezes again, it will be troublesome." ”

When the two arrived at the old house, everyone was already sitting in the living room and began to study the details of the engagement banquet, Chu Qiao teased the brother in Yi Anning's arms, and in a blink of an eye, Yi Qingchen had already snatched the sister in Yi Anle's arms, and carefully held her in his arms to tease her, obviously in his opinion, the engagement banquet between Yi Shaoqing and Yi Shaojin was far less important than his playing with his daughter.

"There's something I don't know what you guys think?"

Everyone looked at Cao Yin.

"Meijiao she ......" Although Cao Yin also has a lot of complaints about Song Meijiao's vicious methods, but after all, Shaoqing is her biological son, and her mother is still alive, even if she is not allowed to attend, she has to send someone to inform her about this matter.

The old man Yi who was sitting down kept a calm face and did not speak, and the originally lively living room instantly quieted down.

What happened at Song's father's funeral is still vivid, and if it makes another fuss, it will be really enough.

Yi Anning gave Cao Yin an angry look, and the latter was embarrassed: "When I didn't say it, when I didn't say it......"

"If you don't have an opinion, I'd still like her to be there."

Yi Shaojin looked at Old Man Yi with a pleading face.

Even if Song Meijiao is wrong, she is Shaoqing's biological mother after all, and Shaoqing will definitely hope that she can appear at her wedding.

Yi Shaojin said so, and other people naturally didn't object, the old man Yi who was on the seat sighed, and kicked the ball to Yi Shaoqing, "If Shaoqing has no opinion, then call it." ”

"I don't agree."

Yi Shaoqing, who had been studying the style of the wedding dress, suddenly said coldly, but when he looked at Yi Shaojin, he was obviously a little more apologetic and gentle.

Everyone was stunned, and no one expected that in the end, Yi Shaoqing voted against.

But there is really no way to persuade this matter, because in fact, most people don't want Song Meijiao to attend, after all, causing trouble and losing face is really not a good thing for a joyful engagement banquet.

"Then follow Shaoqing's meaning."

The old man Yi breathed a sigh of relief, worried that he would bring up some upsetting topics later, so he got up and prepared to leave.

But Xi Yijun happened to enter the door, and he immediately sat back and beckoned to him, "Yijun, come here." ”

"Yes."

"You are also a big man, Qingchen has given birth to children, Shaoqing and Shaojin are about to get engaged, shouldn't you also plan well, start a family first and then start a business, and the man after becoming a family will be more stable and down-to-earth, and there will be many benefits to your career in the future."

"Well, then get married."

Xi Yijun's words relieved everyone present.

Among the brothers of the Yi family, he is the most difficult to communicate, Yi Anning is almost heartbroken for his marriage, and now that he has proposed it himself, then they are all relieved.

"Then I'll arrange some girls to go on a blind date tomorrow."

Xi Yijun ignored Yi Anning's words, and said to himself: "I don't plan to organize the wedding, just get a certificate when the time comes, I know it in my own heart, so don't worry about it." ”

"You kid, what's this called, how can there be a wedding that doesn't take place......" Yi Anle chattered, and suddenly his eyes widened, "Get the certificate?" Who do you want to get the certificate with? ”

What kind of prosaic Ai is with that?

"You've seen it."

"No! As I said, I firmly disagree with this matter, don't even think about it! ”

"I don't agree either!" Old Man Yi said earnestly: "You don't know how heavy the task on your shoulders is, what can she help you with marrying a wife who is like a blank piece of paper?" ”

"All I want is her blank slate." Xi Yijun once again brought his stubbornness to the extreme, "It's me who gets married, I don't need your consent, and I don't need anyone's blessing, I just decide for myself." ”

He didn't love it in the first place, how could he look at these superfluous things? In his eyes, the sacred hall of the wedding must be entered by holding the hand of the beloved, but obviously, it seems impossible in this life.

After he finished speaking, he got up and walked towards the second floor.

Yi Anle suddenly lost the good mood just now, his slender eyebrows frowned slightly, and he leaned on the sofa with a melancholy face and kept rubbing his temples.

"This child has never been worrying since he was a child, and the older he gets, the more stubborn he becomes, which really makes people not know what to do."

"My son can't help but be a mother when he's older, don't force him to get married for the time being, lest you really get the certificate on impulse when you get it, and then it's a big trouble."

Yi Anning's words made Yi Anle's face change on the spot,

Although society is advancing with the times now, marriage and divorce have long been commonplace, but the special identity and background of the Xi family is a thing that cannot be helped.

How can this be!

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became, so he hurriedly picked up his phone and walked aside, not knowing who to call, and only felt a little more relaxed when he came back.

"A call to the Civil Affairs Bureau?"

Yi Anle's face turned unnaturally red, and he nodded awkwardly.

Although it was a bit despicable to do so, she was really forced to do nothing.

Compared with the regret of cutting first and then playing, she would rather strike first.

"You go on, I'll go up and talk to Yijun for a while." Yi Qingchen hugged the brother in Yi Anning's hand together, holding a cute treasure in his left hand and right hand, full of love.

"Yes, yes, you go up and help me persuade."

"Auntie, can Yijun listen to me? You'd better figure it out for yourself. ”

"Yijun can't rush this matter, let's slowly figure out a way."

Chu Qiaoshun picked up a list of invitations and flipped through a few pages, "The banquet will be booked at the Q Hotel, and I can't help my cousin get married, let me arrange this matter." ”

Yi Shaojin nodded embarrassedly, "Then I'll trouble you." ”

"Look at your politeness, it's not like you anymore."

The latter was red-faced again.

Obviously, the weather forecast says that there is cold air these days, why is it very hot today, and my cheeks are very hot.

"I'll go answer the phone first."

Chu Qiao shook her mobile phone at her, smiled and walked to the side hall, while answering the phone, the smile on the corner of her lips instantly froze.

"I'm sorry girl, there are still some things waiting for me to go back to deal with in Baodao, so I left early and didn't say hello to you, I was supposed to invite you to dinner, I guess I have to wait for the next time."

"It's nothing, it's important to get down to business first, I'm here at any time."

Chu Qiao's voice sounded as good as usual, but the expression on his face was extremely indifferent.

"Well, I still have to say sorry to you anyway, I have already sent someone to send you the gift I promised you before, and the treasure island has been a little unpeaceful recently, so it is better for you to come back after a while."

"Mess? Is something big going on? ”

Of course, Jiang Shaoxiu didn't think that Chu Qiao didn't know about this, but since she pretended not to know, he naturally wouldn't be stupid to poke her out.

"It's about my father, but there's something I've been hiding from you, my father...... He was poisoned. ”

His voice was a little pathetic, and he looked like a filial son.

Even though he already knew the truth of the matter, Chu Qiao's heart couldn't help but twitch when he heard him say this in person.

"What!" She suddenly exclaimed, "How could it be! How so! Didn't you say that my father died of illness? ”

In fact, she didn't find it strange that people would do anything for the sake of money and status, and she remembered that she had said something similar to Ling Che's assistant Ling Ran before: In fact, people are like trees, the more they yearn for the sunlight in the heights, the more their roots will stretch out to the dark underground.

If the other party wasn't her father, maybe she really wouldn't have such a strong reaction.

After all, people live in this world, how can they be spotless.

"I'm sorry girl, this matter is not good for me, you are my father's biological daughter, I really shouldn't hide it from you, but since my father entered the hospital, the situation on Baodao has been very critical, and the internal contradictions are not small, my father is worried that there will be a big mess again, and before he died, he specially told me not to make this matter public, so I have always just secretly sent someone to investigate, but I didn't expect it to be exposed on the Internet, and now Baodao is in turmoil, and everyone is in danger."

Chu Qiao let out a long sigh, was silent for a long time, and finally said slowly: "I don't blame you, after all, you have a shallow foundation in Treasure Island, if there is any big mess, it is likely that subversive consequences will occur, no matter what, the Jiang family cannot be destroyed." ”

This may be the only consensus between the two of them now.

The Jiang family can't be destroyed!

"Thank you for your understanding."

Chu Qiao sneered and tugged at the corners of his mouth, "There is no need to be so polite between the family, but there is something I must ask you." ”

"You say, if only I can do it......"

"We must find out the real culprit!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then he firmly said, "I will." ”

Chu Qiao suddenly didn't know what to say, he didn't even say goodbye, and hung up the phone directly.

As soon as I got out of the door of the side hall, I happened to see Steward He walking in with a luxurious gift box.

"Second young lady, this is indicated for you to receive."

"Okay, I see, you can send it to my room first." Wen Yi'an has come back safe and sound, and it is not her care to send anything more.

"Yes."

Thinking of Wen Yi'an and Jiang Shaoxiu in his mind, Chu Qiao suddenly remembered someone.

She has been groggy and sick for the past few days, but she forgot about Chu Yun! asked her to help find Wen Yi'an's whereabouts before, but now that Wen Yi'an is back, then Chu Yun has no need to live anymore!

She hurriedly sent a text message to Wen Yi'an, asking her to investigate Chu Yun's whereabouts, and who knew that she would receive a reply soon.

She looked at the small line of print on her phone's screen, frowned and began to fall into deep thought.

Chu Yun has gone to Treasure Island!

Jiang Shaoxiu actually got Chu Yun to Treasure Island, what did he want to do?

……

At the end of March, the cold that had shrouded for months finally gradually dissipated, the air seemed much softer than before, and the comfortable weather always brought people a good mood, especially in the beautiful and happy atmosphere of the engagement banquet, everyone had a smile on their faces.

Chu Qiao shuttled through the crowd all day, only feeling that his face was about to stiffen with laughter, but he still couldn't help but want to laugh all the time.

For almost a while, she really thought that Yi Shaojin was going to die alone, and now she was finally getting engaged, and there was nothing more good for her than this.

"Woman, long time no see." As soon as Chu Qiao turned around, he just fell into Ling Che's premeditated embrace, who pressed his face against her cheek with a ruffian, "Do you miss me?" ”

"I really want to ......" she gritted her teeth and smiled at him, giving him goosebumps all over her body.

"I really want to beat you up."

As soon as Yi Qingchen saw Ling Che, he hurriedly dragged Chu Qiao back into his arms.

Although the two of them are now sisters and brothers, he seems to have long been accustomed to eating his flying vinegar.

"What's wrong with hugging it, and there won't be a piece of meat missing!"

"Can I take your wife?"

"You dare!"

Chu Qiao and Ling Che said in unison.

"Dare to touch other women, see that I don't break your hands!" She still remembers Wen Ying's affairs!

Yi Qingchen smiled at the corner of his mouth, "Of course not, except for you, this world is full of men." ”

"Where's your daughter?"

"Little people don't need to be gendered before they become adults."

"What about your mother?"

"Chiyo is about to give birth." Chu Qiao was afraid that the two of them would get on the bar again, so he hurriedly pulled the topic away.

At the mention of Kotani Chiyo, Ling Che's eyes became a little softer, "Well, there are still two months, and I don't dare to let her be too tired, so I didn't let her come, and I have to go and say sorry to Brother Shaojin later." ”

"It's the same when you come."

"Alas, women ......," Ling Che said, and habitually put his hand on Chu Qiao's shoulder.

Yi Qingchen coldly slapped the knife in the eye, and he finally realized that something was wrong, but it was too late, and the two black-clothed bodyguards came out of nowhere and walked directly towards the door.

"Woman, save me, woman, your husband is crazy!"

"Yi Qingchen, people are guests!"

"When he realizes his mistake, the bodyguards will let him go."

He took a step forward with a cold face, and Chu Qiao was so frightened that he retreated again and again, "You...... What are you doing! ”

Yi Qingchen suddenly followed Ling Che's example and put his arm around her shoulder, brushed her face with one hand, and looked at her seriously, "You are mine, no one in this world can hold your shoulder except me." ”

"My son can too!" As long as she thinks that Xiao Chenchen will grow up in the future, she will be as tall as her, and she can call her mom by her shoulder, her heart will sprout.

"Don't think about other men!"

...... "That's your son, the kind you gave birth to."

"I've decided that I'll send him to England when he's weaned."

"What about us? Are we going to settle in the UK too? ”

"Of course not." Otherwise, why would I send him all the way away?

When Chu Qiao heard this, he was angry on the spot, "Do you want to throw my son to England alone?" Do not do to others what you would like to be done to you, have you forgotten how lonely you were when you were a child? A little baby who has just been weaned, how can you be so ruthless! ”

"Honey, would you like to add a 'you' after 'me'? Actually, I'm doing this for his good, after all, he will inherit the family business in the future, of course, he will have to experience more than ordinary children, I ......"

"I disagree! I don't want him to inherit any family business, my son must have a happy childhood, as for the rest, it will be fine, if you just sent him back to England, you see how I clean you up! ”

Her poor little Chenchen, if he was to grow up alone in England, how distressed she would be.

What Stuart family, what family owner, all get out!

"Wife, don't be angry, this matter ...... Hmmm......"

Yi Qingchen snorted, looking at the woman who stepped on the back of his feet and walked away, wanting to cry without tears.

This matter is easy to discuss!

Chu Qiao angrily took a glass of wine from the hand of the waiter passing by, poured two sips, thinking that it was still at the engagement banquet at this time, so he smiled again.

"What's the matter, look at you are angry and laughing, who messed with you?"

"Who else?"

Chu Qiao pointed to Yi Qingchen not far away, "You said that this guy actually planned to send my son to England alone as soon as he was weaned, saying that he was going to prepare for inheriting the family business in the future, I heard it and felt angry in my heart, how could he be willing to let such a young child go!" ”

As soon as Chu Qiao mentioned his son, a touch of unnaturalness immediately appeared on Sun Xiang's face, and it was fleeting.

"Actually, Mr. Stuart is also doing this for the good of the child, the young master of your family was born with the most noble status, and in the future, such a big family business is waiting for him to inherit, he must receive all kinds of training as early as possible to achieve the best talent." Sun Xiang smiled lightly and raised the goblet in his hand, "But having said that, in the hearts of us mothers, no money power can compare to the healthy and happy growth of our children." ”

"I'll just say, this is the Sun Xiang I know."

"You, it's good to go back and discuss it later, it's not a big deal, the child is still young, but to be honest, I don't think your family really wants the child to go to some special training before he plans to send him to England, don't you notice that Mr. Stuart cares about you very much?" I guess he's just eating. ”

"Taste?" With his own son?

Chu Qiao held his chin thoughtfully.

But this guy has said this a few times.

"This man, in fact, is sometimes a child, especially a man like Mr. Stuart who only has you in his heart, the opposite sex in this world is a rival in his eyes, did he say that he wants you to have a daughter?"

"Indeed...... So that's ......"

"Well, that's right."

Sun Xiang suddenly sighed and said a little depressed: "In fact, once a woman becomes a mother, she really can't tolerate other people anymore in her eyes, for the sake of her children, she can do anything!" ”

"Huh? What did you say? ”

"It's nothing, I'm just sighing, let's go, go upstairs and see if our bride-to-be is wearing makeup."

The two laughed as they talked.

"My phone seems to have dropped in the car, I'll go down and look for it."

"I'll be with you."

Chu Qiao looked at the red numbers that jumped all the way down in the elevator in every scoundrel, and his inexplicable heart beat uneasily.