As soon as Charles got home, he walked to the Marquis of Treville's room. Since the Marquis had already gone to bed at this time, he knocked lightly on the door first.

"Come in." The Marquis's voice immediately rang out, and his tone was extremely steady, and it seemed that the old Marquis was not sleeping.

Charles immediately walked in and closed the door.

"You came back earlier than expected, what's the matter, aren't you happy eating?" The old man was half-lying on the back of the bed, asking in a low voice.

"I'm worried that if I come back too late, it will be too sad to wake you up again." Charles explained in a low voice, "Still, it's a lot of fun to eat over there, and it's evocative. ”

"Hmph, haha." The old man couldn't help laughing, "You must have him off, I really want to see Philip crying and mourning......"

"It's fine." Charles smiled.

"So let's get down to business, what did you talk about?" The old man quickly put his smile away and cut to the chase.

"They came up with cooperation." Charles lowered his voice.

As it was expected, there was not the slightest surprise on the old man's face.

"What kind of cooperation?"

"They want us to help...... "Charles, noticing the old man's expression, "get Mr. Soult out of office." ”

Sure enough, as Charles expected, in the face of this sensational news, even the Marquis of Tréville couldn't hold it. "What?"

"Just like you heard." Charles shrugged.

The old marquis's eyes were filled with excitement and a smile that could not be concealed. "Tell me in detail!"

Charles quickly retold Charlotte's conversation with himself to the old man as it was.

The old man squinted slightly, and listened quietly, if it weren't for Charles knowing that this was a sign of his thoughts, he would have thought he had fallen asleep.

It wasn't until long after Charles had finished speaking that the old marquis reopened his eyes. "In other words, our Duke intends to fish in troubled waters, using Mr. Guizot's eagerness to defeat Soulte's psychology and actions to achieve this goal?"

[Refers to François Guizot, born in 1787, statesman and diplomat during the July Dynasty, second in the government at that time, foreign minister in the cabinet from 1840 to 1847, and highly trusted and valued by King Louis-Philippe.] The "man" that Charles and Charlotte refer to when they talk about this is that person. 】

"So far, it looks like it." Charles nodded, continuing to look at his grandfather. "What do you think? Is there any hope of success? ”

"Yes." The old marquis replied categorically, "The fortress is most easily breached from within, and if you want to bring down Sirte, it is best to take advantage of the struggle within the government." ”

Inadvertently, he said the same thing as Charlotte.

"Well, that's what I think too." Charles nodded, "Grandpa, I think this is a good opportunity, an absolutely good opportunity, and we shouldn't let it go." ”

"It's a great opportunity." The old marquis, however, was still calm. "It's just that it seems that it's still in the conceptual stage, and there is still a long way to go before it is actually implemented, let alone succeeded. So, you can't take it lightly, and you shouldn't lose your cool because of it. ”

"Well, I will. Rest assured. Charles agreed.

"Did they just talk about the idea of a partnership? Didn't mention anything else? There was a sudden hint of hesitation in the Marquis's tone, "If their plan is sure to succeed enough, they should be more urgent and willing to show more sincerity, right?" Could it be ...... They're not really in a hurry? ”

"No, I was just about to tell you." Charles smiled and shook his head, "They gave sincerity. ”

Then, as if by magic, he pulled out a small stack of paper coupons from his bosom, a small stack of paper coupons that were well-made and extremely beautifully printed.

The Marquis's eyes widened slightly, and then he quickly regained his composure. "How much?"

"It's all Treasury bonds, and the total value is ......," Charles paused slightly, "three hundred thousand francs." ”

After hearing this huge amount, the marquis was not moved in the slightest, but seemed to remember something. "Exactly how much you asked Mademoiselle Léolan to give him?"

"Yes." Charles nodded. "Not only is it exactly that amount, but it's exactly this batch of bonds."

Charles recalls the scene when he said goodbye.

………………

When everything was said and done, Charles got up to take his leave.

"Charles, you have to give us an answer as soon as possible, time waits for no one. We urgently need cooperation now, and shouldn't the defeat of Sirte be our common goal? ”

"Haode, I will." Charles replied calmly.

Charlotte's smile suddenly became a little sly.

"By the way, there's one more thing I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

Charlotte picked up a small box next to her, then stood up and handed it to Charles across the table.

"In order to make you more positive, and at the same time to show our sincerity, this is for you."

Charles opened the box in confusion, then looked up at Charlotte.

Charlotte was still smiling.

"That's right, the money that Mademoiselle Léoland gave to my grandfather. 300,000 francs is enough to show our sincerity and to finance your activities, right? ”

Does this count as bribery? This is sugar-coated cannonballs, right?

It doesn't matter, the sugar coating eats it, and the shell spits back.

Charles took the stack of bonds.

“xiexie。”

………………

"Taking someone else's money to give a favor, my brother is really very good......" The old marquis laughed a little mockingly, but soon he regained his seriousness. Charles, that's a good thing to say, it shows that they are really anxious and really feel very hopeful of success. ”

"It seems to me that the same is true."

"Charles, put it away, it's the fruit of your labor." The marquis indifferently ordered, "Cherish every child you earn, this is the advice given to you by someone who has come over." ”

“haode。” Charles agreed, and then put the bonds back in his pocket.

"Charles, do you only see money?" The Marquis asked suddenly. "Of course money is important, but there are some things more important than a little bit of money......"

"Don't worry. I'm certainly not just going to be complacent about that. Charles replied immediately.

"Do you have any other plans?"

"There's going to be a very secret gathering in a few days, and if I get the news out......" Charles looked at his grandfather. I guess it will make everyone in attendance cheer, right? ”

"And, if it is done......" added the Marquis.

"That would greatly improve my status." Charles' face was calm, "And to show my abilities." ”

The old marquis raised his head and looked directly at his grandson, his eyes full of relief.

"It's really good that you can think so far, Charles." He reached out and patted Charles on the shoulder, "If you can think of it, then let it go!" ”

"I will." Charles bowed his head.

Just as Charles felt that it was getting late, and it was time to say goodbye to the old man to have a good rest, suddenly there seemed to be a very soft sound in the corridor outside the door.

"Who?!" Both grandparents and grandchildren shouted at the same time, their tones equally full of consternation.

"Take a good rest, I'll take a look." Charles said as he jumped up and stepped forward, opening the room.

His eyes widened, and the scene in front of him almost made him unbelievable.

Fran was half-kneeling against the wall, looking at her brother in horror, her eyes full of horror and helplessness, like a frightened little squirrel.

"Charles, what's wrong? Is someone eavesdropping? At this moment, the marquis's voice carried infinite fierceness, and the officer who had fought countless times seemed to be resurrected.

Charles took a deep breath.

"It's nothing, grandpa, it's just a rat running by."

"Really? That's good. The marquis's voice was obviously relaxed, "Speaking of which, this house is also old, it hasn't been renovated for too long, and there are a lot more rats and insects......

"Let's get back and fix it." Charles replied indifferently, staring at his sister closely.

Fran didn't dare to move, as if she was stunned by her brother's gaze.

"Then you can get some rest...... It's not early. Charles looked at his sister.

"Well, you should rest well." There was also a hint of tiredness in the marquis's voice, "I sleep, good night." ”

"Good night." Charles backhanded them shut.

Then he slowly walked up to his sister.

Then he bowed, then reached out, hugged his sister, and walked to his bedroom.

Maybe he was really frightened by his brother's expression, even if he was already held in the air by his brother, his sister, who had always been extremely arrogant in front of his brother, still didn't dare to move.

After gently kicking open the bedroom door, Charles threw his sister onto his bed, then stood on the edge of the bed, staring at Fran tightly.

"weishenme, weishenme want to eavesdrop?"

Tears suddenly appeared in Fran's eyes, and then teardrops rolled down her eyes. "I ...... I ......" she sobbed and couldn't speak.

Charles waited quietly for her to cry for a while, and only asked again when she had regained her composure a little. “weishenme？”

"I ...... I...... I'm just worried! Fran's tears were still flowing. You went to her house! I'm so scared! ”

"Scared?" Charles came to his senses after a moment, "What are you afraid of?" Could it be that Charlotte would do something to me at her house? ”

"I'm afraid......" Fran looked up at Charles, her white face full of tears, "I'm afraid...... I'm scared that you're with Charlotte again, don't want me anymore! ”

"Huh?" Charles was amazed. "What?"

What kind of thinking circuit does this girl have?

"If you and Charlotte get back together, Charlotte will definitely do everything she can to deal with me! She hates me! She hates me! I hate her too! I hate her more than anyone else! Fran almost shouted.

"So you're going to eavesdrop? Just because you're afraid of Charlotte? Charles suddenly felt a little weak.

"Yes! If you marry her, she will definitely send me away from afar, she hates me so much! Fran's tears grew faster and faster, "And then I will never see you and Grandpa again, and I will have nothing!" I'm just scared of this......"

Charles frowned at first, then secretly breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately, it was not the worst outcome.

He looked at his sister, who was huddled on the bed, her face full of fear and apprehension, and—fear.

I actually made my sister scared of myself! He sighed in his heart.

"And what did you hear?"

It seemed that seeing Charles's face slower a lot, Fran's fear subsided a little, and she shook her head vigorously.

"I didn't hear me, I just got there, and the door is so thick...... Didn't hear anything...... And then you rushed out and looked at me like that...... Look at me like that...... Look at me like that......"

Charles finally relented.

Then he reached out and slapped his sister's ass hard.

"Ahh Fran cried out in pain.

"Forget it this time, next time you dare to do this, I'll smash your ass, I'm serious." Charles hardened his heart and reminded.

Then he helped Fran up. "Go back to sleep."

"That'...... ...... then" Fran suddenly raised his head, "Then you and Charlotte, won't ...... back"

Charles looked at his sister.

And now she was looking at herself expectantly.

She only had these two relatives left, she was afraid, she was afraid of losing it all. God, this is my only sister, will she harm me?

"Not anymore." He replied softly. "And, no matter who it is, I won't leave you alone in this life, don't worry."

Fran's eyes widened as she looked at her brother, tears streaming back into her eyes.

Charles leaned down and kissed his sister on the forehead. "Go back, really, don't do this kind of thing again, you can't mix with the adult's business, you can't even know."

"But, I ...... I can't walk anymore. Fran's tears stopped, but her face turned red.

"Really, stupid." Charles muttered a curse in a low voice, and then hugged his sister back in the same way he had just done it.