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When Zola and Nana heard the invitation, they both held their breath at the same time.

An invitation from the royal family is not something that everyone has the opportunity to meet, but for a young man from another province, this is the most important opportunity!

Zola even silently muttered in his heart, "Promise her, promise her, promise her." ”

Princess Mathilde has a straightforward personality and loves freedom, playing a role that Napoleons and his wife are not good at playing. Whether it is in Saint-Gratien on the shores of Lake Anghien or rue Cousin, her mansion will be enthusiastic to receive literati and celebrities in the society, so a small group of literati gradually gathered around her, and has her own small circle.

She also wanted to invite Garion in.

Originally, he thought he was sincere, but after thinking for a moment, Garion politely refused, "I'm sorry, if I were to write an article touting the empire like Sainte-Beuve, I really can't put pen to paper." ”

Zola and the princess were stunned at the same time.

Usually, when the other people heard Princess Mathilde's invitation, they were already grateful to Dade. And Garion pondered for a moment at most, and then said the offer of rejection.

However, the more the other party refuses, the more interested Princess Mathilde becomes in him.

Being able to be their own guest of honor is something that many literati in Paris dream of.

"But I don't need you to write about the Empire, my mind is much freer than my cousin."

Princess Mathilde said directly, "As long as you don't oppose the regime in Paris, you don't oppose the rule of the Bonapartes." In the future, the news censorship department will turn a blind eye to articles published in newspapers and content that has slightly crossed the line. Don't you know why your novel was published in the Goncourt brothers' newspaper? Unless the evidence is conclusive, they will not dare to act rashly. Because your "1984" crossed the line too much, no one can keep it. ”

Garion was lost in thought, knowing that what the princess said was not a lie, and that joining his literary salon circle would be more conducive to making a name for himself in Paris.

"Now that you've offended Mérimée, and your readers threaten to assassinate him, do you think he'll let you go when you get back? According to his retributive character, I'm afraid he will stare at your novels every day. It's light to make small moves behind your back, you shouldn't have thought that things would go in this direction when you offended him, right? ”

"Yes, I always thought that my readers' threats to cut off the serialization and give me a bullet were fake, and it wasn't until I saw Mérimée's fate that it became clear that this group of fanatical book lovers was ready to do it. However, they didn't realize that the crazy revenge had put me in an awkward position. ”

After thinking for a moment, Garion said seriously, "Okay, I'm a person who is afraid of death, and I agree to your request." ”

"But I also hope that Princess Mathilde will try not to mention it to the outside world, and I am under your protection."

"Hmmm......"

Princess Mathilde looked at him, then nodded. The flower inlaid on the hat swayed with the up and down of the jaw.

"No problem."

When Garion agreed, Princess Mathilde was very satisfied, and she seemed to have thought of something when she was about to return to the house, and added to Garion behind her, "There are still some questions, and I will slowly ask you for advice when the time comes." ”

After seeing Princess Mathilde leave, Garion breathed a sigh of relief, which meant that from now on he could finally do whatever he wanted in the newspapers of Paris!

"Garion, you really dared to refuse Princess Mathilde's invitation just now, do you know? My nervous heart was about to pop out of my chest! ”

There was no excitement on Garion's face, and after a moment of reflection, he said, "Send a telegram to Monsieur Baudelaire and tell him that we will be back the day after tomorrow." You'll go back to your room to pack your bags and get ready to go back to Paris. ”

"Ahh

As if remembering something, Zola pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Garion.

"Just now Monsieur Flaubert asked me to bring you a telegram from Monsieur de Baudelaire."

"Huh?"

Garion took the telegram for some unknown reason.

"Monsieur Baudelaire says that the editor-in-chief Goncourt is in a hurry, because your manuscript has been delayed for several days. I hope you can get the manuscript of "Prison No. 6" in as soon as possible before next Friday. ”

Reminder!

Oops, not a word was written!

Garion scratched his head in embarrassment and said, "Ah, then, you can write one more sentence in the telegram when the time comes, and just say that I will deliver it on time." ”

"If you delay the manuscript any longer, the editor-in-chief of Goncourt will probably have the heart to kill you."

Zola looked at Garion and shook his head helplessly, sure enough, he can do whatever he wants if he is talented, and he doesn't know how many "pen and ink prisoners" have not yet become famous, envying his talent and opportunities.

And this time the workers' group incident was mixed with joys and sorrows.

The riots orchestrated by the Rouen Workers' Association forced all the capitalists who oppressed the workers to pay attention to the question of wages and treatment.

They had wanted to find the city government to forcibly dissolve the Rouen Workers' Association through the state apparatus of violence, so that they would no longer have a chance to resist.

However, the mayor's answer disappointed them.

"The city government will not take rash action, and if it turns into a real workers' riot, I am afraid that everyone here will have their heads hanging from telephone poles."

Since even the mayor of Rouen said so, they did not dare to say anything more, but could only start discussing the issue of raising the wages of the workers. The most unfortunate was Viscount Mifa, who, after being beaten, went to the mayor of Rouen to use his police connections to jail the workers involved in the riot. However, the mayor of Rouen directly announced that he would not take any coercive measures against the workers, because this was a requirement from above, and the viscount of Mifa could only bear all the losses unfortunately.

For the first time, the working class tasted the sweetness of revolt. As the young man said at the mobilization of the workers' association.

"Believe me, when we leave, they will raise your wages and improve your treatment, not because the capitalists have found out their conscience, nor because they have become good people, but because we have come and led you to fight!"

They silently remembered the young man who led them in battle.

When the trip to Rouen was over, Garian set out on his way back with his luggage.

It was as if the drunken Paris was beckoning to him, and this time he was no longer a reckless young man.

Early the next morning, the three of them followed the princess to the Rouen train station to prepare for their return to Paris.

The train slowly approached the platform, and Garion and Zola followed behind the princess with their luggage, and because of the low-key travel, she did not take all the first seats on the train. After stepping on the carriage, you can still see the richly dressed upper-class people sitting together in twos and threes, talking and laughing.

As soon as Garian found his place to sit down, Zola and Nana were deliberately separated into another position. And sitting opposite him was Princess Mathilde.

The other party obviously has something to say about such an arrangement.

Princess Mathilde put the previous manuscript in front of Garion, supported her chin with her hands, and said calmly, "This report of yours is good, the only certainty is that the most wonderful place is to write the pause, I now wonder how you will write about France next?" And the relationship between Paris and Berlin or Vienna? ”

The man opposite the princess was stunned for a moment, and he asked with a wry smile, "Your Royal Highness the princess, are you urging a change?" ”

"Isn't it?"

Princess Mathilde stared at Garián and gritted her teeth, "Because I have to prove on the one hand that the women of the Bonaparte family are better than the country women from Spain in politics!" ”