By the time Charles said goodbye to Lucien Debrey and returned home, the city had already begun to fall into night.

Unlike the brisk appearance of his relaxed steps before he went out, he frowned now, looking preoccupied.

In his hand, there is also an inconspicuous paper bag.

No one could tell how important the paper bag was in the young man's hand.

The paper bag contained a number of documents, all from the archives of the Imperial Ministry of the Interior, which recorded a series of official orders issued by the Marquis de Novatière, who had taken over the Ministry of the Interior, to the prison of Château d'Avves, where political prisoners were held, around 1815.

For most people, the papers in the paper bag were insignificant, but to the Attorney General of Villefort, it was a bomb, a secret that father and son had painstakingly tried to conceal – the Marquis de Novatier, who had used his position and power to order a supporter of the Emperor to be held in the prison of Château d'Eve and to keep everything secret.

What's the use of knowing this secret? The charr is not clear now.

But it is clear that in the glitzy and glamour of high society, which is full of all kinds of rancidity, the secret is also a weapon, a weapon that can stab someone, and the more unsightly the secret, the greater the lethality.

Yes, it is now clear that thirty years ago, in 1815, the Procurator of Villefort had sent a supporter of the Emperor, the young Edmond Dantès, to the prison of Château d'Ifs on charges of supporting the Emperor as a dangerous element, and after the restoration of the Empire, Edmond Dantès, who was supposed to be released by the edict of His Majesty the Emperor, was still imprisoned in prison by the interference of the Marquis de Novatier, the father of the Procurator of Villefort, and had to die in despair.

He still has some questions that he doesn't quite understand.

The Attorney General of Villefort was in the service of the Bourbon Restoration at the time, so it was normal for him to arrest the emperor's supporters, and it was not a big deal, so why did the Marquis de Novatier go to such great lengths to cover it up?

What terrible "crime" did this Edmond Dantès commit?

These were all questions to be sorted out, but he was sure that if they were made public, the Attorney-General of Villefort would be discredited.

After all, the father and son joined forces to bend the law, and also let the supporters of the empire cry out for their unjust death, which is a stain that the public absolutely cannot tolerate, even His Majesty the Emperor must take care of public opinion and will not let Villefort easily fool the past.

If he was really so obsessed with justice and fairness, he could announce it immediately, or even go to the emperor and announce all the facts.

However, he was not such a man who was so obsessed with justice.

First of all, the Attorney General of Villefort has not offended him now, and there is no need for him to attack the other party at this time and make enemies for himself.

What's more, he still clearly remembered that His Majesty the Emperor had clearly told him before that he did not want to see Charles implicated in the investigation of the Count of Monte Cristo, especially that Charles had been specifically told that although the Attorney General of Villefort had some historical stains, he was still relatively easy to use and a good tool to use, and he did not want to see this tool accidentally damaged.

Then, if Charles pokes out all the things, of course, it will hinder public opinion, and His Majesty the Emperor will have to punish the Prosecutor General of Villefort, and even let his future be ruined, but Charles, who disobeys his advice, may not have good fruit to eat.

So, Charles doesn't plan to reveal the secret right now, he just wants to keep it for now and then use it as a weapon at the right moment.

His choice, in a sense, has also become a silent accomplice, knowing that a crime is in front of him but still choosing to turn a blind eye, but this is the way of the world.

Perhaps, this is the so-called bureaucracy.

With this mixed thought, he quietly ate his dinner, and then prepared to go back to his bedroom on the second floor to read a book and spend the ordinary evening.

However, as he made his way up the stairs on the second floor, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Young Master!" An old servant stopped him from standing on the floor of the hall with a strange face.

"Huh? What's wrong? Charles stopped, then turned back to look at the other in some surprise.

This old servant has been his grandfather's confidant for many years, he also served as a soldier in the army back then, and he had seen the world back then, and he was usually very calm, how could he behave so gaffe today.

"A young lady came to you, and she said she had something very important to say to you." The old servant said to Charles in a strange tone, "Sir, you'd better hurry, she looks ...... Well, very bad. ”

"Huh?!" Charles was taken aback, then a little puzzled, "Who?!" ”

"Miss of the Attorney General's house in Villefort." The servant replied briefly.

"Valentina...... It's her?? Charles was shocked again. What happened to the Welfort family? ”

Did something happen to Valentina?

Recently, he has been in secret contact with Valentina, at his request, Valentina is regularly writing to him, reporting the situation at home, he also received a letter two days ago, and did not write anything particularly unusual, could it be that something suddenly happened in Villefort's house?

I just found out about Villefort, and it turned out that Valentina came again, which is such a coincidence......

"Young Master?" While Charles was still thinking, the servant woke him up again.

He still looked at Charles with strange eyes, "You...... You'd better hurry up, she...... She cried so much that I couldn't convince her, she just said she wanted to see you. ”

Hey, what are you looking at me with that look? I didn't do anything! I'm also at a loss for words, okay!

Charles suddenly felt a little glad that Marshal Trevier was not at home today, otherwise God knows where the old man would have thought.

"Okay, I see, I'll go." In desperation, Charles had no choice but to go down the stairs again.

Led by the servant, Charles made his way to the reception room in the side hall, and sure enough, he saw Valentina sitting in a chair.

This thin and pale girl was crying at this time, her eyes were red and swollen, her skin was paler than usual, her shoulders were shaking all the time, and the sobs were incessant.

"Valentina, what's wrong?" Charles involuntarily slowed his steps, and then asked Valentina in the softest of voices.

When he approached Valentina, he stopped in shock. "Huh?! What happened to you! ”

When he got closer, he noticed that Valentina had disheveled hair, her clothes were a little disheveled, and she was wearing only one shoe under her feet.

No wonder the old servant's eyes were so strange just now!

What the hell happened to make this girl look so miserable?!

"Charr ......" As soon as she heard Charles' voice, Valentina, who had been hanging her head and crying, raised her head, and then looked at Charles with the eyes of a savior.

She stood up and tried to walk up to Charles, but then tears welled up in her eyes and she shouted, "Dead...... He's dead! ”

As she shouted, her whole body was shaking, almost shaking.

"Hey! Don't worry! When Charles saw this, he hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed her shoulder, finally preventing her from falling to the ground. What the hell is going on, Valentina? ”

"Dead...... Dead ......" Valentina continued to repeat in an almost hysterical manner, and it was clear that she had not fainted, and she grabbed Charles' hand so hard that her fingernails sank deep into the back of Charles' hand, causing her to shiver in pain.

"Who died?" Charles shouted in her ear.

This slap in the face finally saved Valentina's sanity a little.

She took a deep breath, then let out a shrill scream like a night owl that made Charles' eardrums tremble.

"I ...... My grandmother died. ”

"Your grandmother...... ...... the Marquise of Saint-Meyran? Charles' eyes widened in surprise, "Dead?!" ”

"Yes...... He's dead...... He's dead! Valentina replied aloud, and she was about to fall into that semi-insane state again," she ...... She's just died, right next to mine! Next to me! ”

"This ...... This...... How could it be ......," Charles muttered to himself.

It's weird.

The Marquis of Saint-Méran died just before they arrived in Paris, and the reception party prepared for him had to be hastily ended, and the dejected Marquise stayed with the Procurator de Villefort.

And then, just over a week later, the Marquise also sailed west?

The couple just left the world with their front feet and back feet?

"Yes, grandma is dead...... Just now...... Valentina raised her hands and said in a trembling voice, "these are the hands...... It was these hands that gave her the end...... O God, O God! ”

As she spoke, she began to cry again.

Charles froze.

The news was unexpected, and it caught him off guard, but no matter what, he had to stabilize Valentina's spirit first, otherwise everyone would only be more confused, and he couldn't ask what the situation was.

He let go of Valentina's shoulders and sent her back to her chair, then walked straight to the cabinet next to him and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

"Come, drink something, be sure of God." He poured Valentina a glass of wine.

Valentina, who was still crying all the time, didn't look at it, and just came over and drank it.

A small glass of whiskey was actually drunk by her in one go, which shows how unstable her mental state is at this time, and she doesn't even realize the spirits she is drinking.

After drinking the wine, Valentina's face suddenly flushed, but her spirit calmed down a little.

"What the hell is going on? Valentine? Charles then asked, "Your grandmother died, was it a sudden illness?" ”

"My grandmother suddenly fell ill last night and passed away today." Valentina replied with tears in her voice, "The doctor Dad invited here said it was an emergency, and Dad also said it was an emergency illness......

"But you don't believe it?" Charles asked again.

It was obvious, and if she believed and accepted the explanation, there was no need to rush over.

"Yes, I don't believe it...... I'm not entirely convinced. Valentina nodded lightly, and then said hurriedly, "Although my grandmother is very sad because of my grandfather's death, she is not completely unbearable, her spirits have begun to perk, and her appetite is still passable, how can it be...... How could it be that a day suddenly disappeared? ”

"Some people are sad in their hearts, but they don't show it on the outside." Charles replied. "Will it be ......?"

"I know some people are like that, but grandma...... Grandma is clearly not like that! Valentina interrupted Charles, "You know what, I've been with my grandmother these days, we've been together, how much effort it took me to make her laugh again!" Just the day before yesterday, she said that she was going to take me to Marseille, so that I could get to know her friends over there, and by the way look at the estate that was going to be left to me, how could she casually make such an agreement? ”

Although the reasons given by Valentina were somewhat emotional, Charles thought about it and felt that it made sense.

After all, when people get old, the most important thing is children, since Madame Saint-Meran got along so well with her granddaughter the day before yesterday, and decided to take her to Marseille with her, how could she have no love today before she fulfilled her wish and simply died of a sudden illness?

"What do you think...... Did she die an unnatural death? Charles asked cautiously.

"I don't know, I don't know!" Valentina shook her head suddenly, "But, in just a few days, isn't it really strange that my grandfather died, and my grandmother died with her?" Am I the only one who thinks strange? Is there really no human factor? Shire...... I'm really weird! Especially now I still remember what I heard in Italy. ”

A few years ago, when Valentina was traveling to Italy with her family, she overheard her stepmother discussing poison with the Count of Monte Cristo, and this memory now lingered in her mind like a maggot attached to the bones, especially now that her grandparents died one after another, which made her involuntarily have similar suspicions.

She and her grandmother have been getting along day and night for the past few days, and I really don't believe that she will suddenly die of heartache.

"Do you suspect that your stepmother poisoned your grandmother?" Charles felt a pang in his heart, "Is there a basis?" ”

Valentina's face turned pale, she laughed and cried, and then tears fell from the corners of her eyes. "No, who would be on the lookout for their family all the time?"

She did have every reason to be suspicious, but since the doctors had said so, there was nothing Valentina could do to change anything, even if she doubted it.

That's where it gets tough.

Regardless of whether it was poisoned or not, in short, since there is no evidence, then the marquise can only die in the end.

"You don't believe me, Charles?" At this moment, Valentina suddenly asked Charles, "You think this is just my imagination...... Actually, nothing happened, it was just that my grandmother suddenly fell ill and died......"

"No, I believe you." Charles interrupted her, "Valentina, although I rarely deal with your stepmother, I believe that she is indeed a person who can do such a thing, and she is ruthless enough. ”

Seeing that someone finally agreed with her guess, Valentina showed a slightly happy expression. "Thank God, someone finally saw her for what she is, she really is a person who can do everything!"

"But it's useless for me to believe alone, maybe it was indeed your stepmother who committed such a crime, but since we can't come up with any real evidence, then...... It's a pity that I can only keep my doubts in my heart. Charles sighed, "We can only gather evidence first, at least protect ourselves first." ”

"So now we can't do anything? She's my grandmother......" Valentina closed her eyes in pain.

"It is precisely because we have no real evidence that we cannot act rashly." Charles looked at Valentina calmly, "Don't forget, if you can't really defeat her in one fell swoop, blind action will only make her work more intense, and then you will be in danger, and your grandfather!" Don't forget, this old man is powerless! ”

"Grandpa...... They don't even want to do it with grandpa, do they? Valentina's eyes widened suddenly, "That'...... That's Grandpa! ”

"Maybe not under normal circumstances, but when people are in a hurry, they can do anything." Charles sighed, "Valentina, now you have to be careful to gather evidence and see what your stepmother will show. And before that, you have to be more careful, you have to be cautious and make sure you are safe – remember, this comes first. You don't just live for yourself, your safety is also at stake for your grandfather, remember that. ”

"yes...... And grandpa, I still have to go back. Valentina seemed to finally come to her senses, "My mind was completely messed up just now, thank you Charles, now I finally figured it out...... I have to take care of my grandfather, and I can't let him become a new victim......"

"It's not your fault that anyone can have a catastrophe like this, Valantina." Charles gently reassured the other, "Moreover, you did not make a senseless move, in fact, now that I know your suspicions, I will help you." If there's really any demon in your home, let's stop it, and we can do it. ”

"Yes...... We can do it. The flush on Valentina's face grew thicker, "We must stop the demon ......"

"Don't go back tonight, rest here." Charles looked at each other with pity, "In the future, it will be a battle for you in that home, you must be in good spirits, and be careful not to make yourself and grandpa become new victims, this is not an easy job for you, so I think, at least tonight, you should have a good rest and forget all the pain, because you will always be in the company of pain in the future." ”

"I'm still ...... I still ......" Valentina wanted to say something, but the liquor she had drunk was already working, and she was dizzy and couldn't speak clearly.

Just then, the old servant knocked on the door again and came to Charles's side.

"Young master, another visitor has come, it's Inspector Villefort." He looked at Valentina, then hesitated for a moment, and finally added, "It's with several people, and it doesn't seem to be good." ”

Charles turned to look at Valentina.

"I ...... I took advantage of the unpreparedness of people and escaped from my home. Valentina explained abruptly, "Daddy must be angry." ”

No wonder Valentina looked so embarrassed.

Charles knew it.

"Take this young lady to the guest room to rest." He turned his head again and gave orders to the old servant.

"But......," said the old servant, trying to persuade Charles.

"Take her to rest!" Charles impatiently ordered again, "Now that Grandpa is away, I'll have the final say here!" ”

"Yes, young master." The old servant bowed his head, obeyed Charles's orders, and helped Valentina to leave.

"Thank you, Charles......" Valentina whispered to Charles.

"No thanks." Charles shook his head, then asked, "What if...... If everything really turns out as you guessed, you ...... What are you going to do? ”

"I ...... I'll kill her with my own hands! Valentina hissed and replied, "God testifies, I will never forgive!" ”

Her pale face shone with hatred, and at this moment, Charles had absolutely no doubt about the determination in her words.

"Okay, I got it." Charles smiled softly, then watched the girl leave.

………………………………

At the same time that Valentina was sent to rest, another person was ushered into the reception room.

But this time it was no longer a bright and beautiful girl, but a middle-aged man with a frown.

This middle-aged man, dressed in a black coat, his hair was meticulously combed, and he could not see any expression in front of him, as serious as if he were the embodiment of the law.

"You did something very indecent, Mr. Treville." As soon as he walked in, he said coldly to Charles, "If your grandfather was at home, he would never agree to your ridiculous behavior." ”

"That's a difficult accusation...... What do you mean, Attorney General? I don't know what bad things I've done. Charles replied quietly.

"There's no point in trying to deny it until now." The Attorney General looked at Charles with a cold gaze, "My daughter has just escaped from the house like crazy and came to your house, and you have silently hid her - isn't that a ridiculous joke?" Please give her back to me, sir, for everyone's good. ”

"It's a bit ridiculous if it's plain, but you have to consider her current condition, she's overly sad and needs a break, and that's why I've asked her to rest for a night with me." Charles replied coldly, "Our two families are relatives, so what does it matter if relatives spend one night?" ”

"Family is a warm harbor for her, and other places can never replace it." The prosecutor general was unmoved, "Girls in the boudoir shouldn't run around, it will only cause gossip." It is not her sin that Valentina did something stupid because she was overly sad, it is her sin to coax an ignorant maiden, a playboy like you is the greatest danger to her, you will only ruin her reputation, so if you are really good for her, then please return her to her father. ”

"What if I want you to change your mind?" Charles asked calmly.

"I repeat, I'm a father, and I can decide where my daughter stays and where she leaves." The prosecutor general interrupted him, "This is my right, and you, you should respect my rights, otherwise in the eyes of anyone, you are just a bully, a villain, do you want to become like that?" Don't forget, although you are favored in front of Your Majesty, I can also say a few words in front of Your Majesty. ”

"You're going too far, I've never stopped Valentina from going home, I'm just saying that tonight she's so sad that she can't run anymore, and now we're resting at my house, we'd better not disturb her, isn't that human?" Charles seemed to patiently explain to the Attorney General, "She's asleep now, please go back first, she'll be home tomorrow." ”

"Is that what you want to say to a father?" Attorney General Villefort sneered, "Then my answer is no, for the sake of my daughter's reputation, I can't let her stay here, not for one night!" If you took her in because of sheer kindness, then I thank you here, and please let me take my daughter home! Right now! ”

Seeing the prosecutor general speak so unkindly, Charles's heart was also angry.

"Home? Thank you for saying it so nicely...... Charles sneered, and there was a little more mockery in his tone, "But have you ever given Valentina a feeling over the years?" Over the years, you have ignored her and devoted yourself to your continuation and son, what warmth have you given her? If she really felt good, why did she help her grandfather make a new will? Why did she run away? Something happened, but you remember that she was your daughter...... But have you ever understood the grief of her loss of her grandparents? How many words did you comfort her? If you don't have any, how can you say big things, what home is her warm harbor? In front of people who know the inside story, this is really not a funny joke! ”

Charles's words, like bullets, struck the Attorney General of Villefort with a whistling sound, making his face more and more ugly.

Because Charles and Marshal Treville helped the paralyzed Marquis de Novatier make a will, he has been holding back hatred for the Tréville family lately, and now Charles is turning over old accounts, which makes him even more angry.

"Hey, interesting! I didn't expect the people of the Trevier family to be able to teach me what family is! He retorted, "This is not a funny joke in front of anyone who knows the inside story!" No kidding! ”

"What's wrong?" Charles frowned.

"What's wrong? Charles, now, let's stop pretending to be confused, right? The prosecutor general sneered and asked, "I have been a prosecutor for so many years, and I don't know how many of those ups and downs back then, to be honest?" You've got a lot of bad debts in your own house, and now you're embarrassed to teach me a lesson, and it's a joke that can't be laughed at! ”

"I don't understand what you're talking about." Charles replied word for word, "If you want to scare me, you'd better be clear." ”

"It seems that the old guy is quite secretive......" As if to see that Charles was telling the truth, the prosecutor general shrugged his shoulders, "Well, let me tell you a little bit - there were many strange things about your mother's death at the beginning, her mother's family was reluctant to find out the truth, and it was your grandfather who made people suppress it, and there were many rumors at that time!" With such a bad debt in front of you, what kind of family do you dare to talk about in front of me...... It's ridiculous! ”

Charles froze.

He didn't expect that the Tréville family would still have such old accounts in the past.

The death of the mother is not a normal death, but related to the father?

His mind was a little messy, and he tried to remember, but he couldn't piece together the appearance of his parents in his mind, let alone recall how they got along back then.

They all left too early to make any impression on themselves.

At this time, he remembered that when he was at home, Villefort wanted to threaten himself, and vaguely talked about his parents—it was because of this?

There is no doubt that Villefort, as the prosecutor of Paris, although he was not a sitting official at the time, must have had a sufficient source of information, and perhaps he really knew what was in his parents' affairs that could not be kept secret by outsiders, and his wife should have been able to hear and see something.

You actually threatened me with this...... Charles's expression was calm, but he was already clenching his fists.

Charles de Treville, who hates others threatening himself the most.

"Okay, I've already said what I should say, there are some old things that no one wants to mention, but you have to toss, so what can I do?" As if seeing Charles's vacillation, Attorney General Villefort smiled triumphantly, "Charles, I don't care about your family's affairs, I don't care what you like to do, but in exchange, I also ask you to never get involved in my family's affairs in the future, not at all...... As the head of the family, I think I have that right! I don't think anything happened before, but in the future, please don't pester anyone in our family anymore, we don't want to have anything to do with your family! ”

In the face of his fierce reprimand, Charles's expression was very calm, as if he had turned a deaf ear.

After a while, he looked up and looked at the other man.

"I may not interfere in your family affairs, sir, but I want you to promise that no one will be allowed to threaten Valentina's safety no matter what, can you promise me?"

"Our family doesn't need you to worry about it yet." The prosecutor general replied with a sneer, "My daughter, I will protect her without you reminding her." ”

Insincere.

Then there is no way.

Although it is a pity to throw the shells now, since it has reached this point, it can only be thrown.

After all, there is no way to watch Valentina return to danger.

Hey, there are gains and losses, and it is really a wise saying.

Charles took a deep breath.

Then he opened his mouth and uttered a few syllables as if he were reciting a mantra.

"Edmond Dantès."