Charles ended his activities in the south and returned to the city of Paris. Although the sudden return of President Louis Bonaparte disrupted the original schedule, Charles did not fail his trust, completed the original inspection work in his place, and with his eloquence and the temptation of profit, he won many supporters for the Bonapartians in the South and successfully completed the task.

Of course, even if he returned to Paris, it did not mean that he had time to spend his days leisurely, and there were still a lot of official and private affairs, as well as intrigues waiting for him to deal with, so he quickly returned to his original busy rhythm.

By the time he returned home after all his official work, it was already time for the lights to come on.

However, even so, he still did not have the time to rest.

Ignoring his exhaustion, he soon found her sister's maiden companion, Mademoiselle de Marquis de l'Éolang, in the reception room of the mansion.

"Sir, you're finally back!" Mary seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "There are a lot of things that are difficult for us to do during your absence......"

"So I'm not back now, am I?" Charles replied with a smile, and then after beckoning the servant for two cups of coffee, he let the servant leave the room.

Then he added sugar to his coffee and slowly shook it with a spoon.

"Then you can tell me now, I have time to listen now."

"So which part do you want to start with?" Mary smiled and replied as if in jerking.

"Let's start with bonds...... You've heard rumors about this in the market, right? How was the response? Charles saw that the time was almost up. Picking up his coffee and taking a small sip, "Oh. It tastes really good. ”

"That's right, sir." Although Charles's demeanor was relaxed and casual, Mary was still serious, "Now the market has indeed heard the news that the Ministry of Railways is about to sell bonds publicly, because there is a state guarantee, so everyone's response is quite enthusiastic, and basically they are optimistic." Other words. If it is indeed sold, it should be expected that the market will be able to absorb this batch of bonds at par value or even higher. ”

"That's tens of millions. Is this fully acceptable? Charles was a little surprised, "Is it so hot?" ”

"Yes, trust my judgment." Mary looked at Charles steadfastly, "That's what I've come to from my observations in the market. ”

"Okay. That being the case. Trust your judgment. That's good news......" Charles took another sip of his coffee and groaned.

After a moment, he looked up at Mary again, "So how much do you think the market can accept?" If after the first batch of bonds, soon after the second or even the third instalment appeared. ”

"Are there so many?" Mary was also taken aback.

Charles did not answer.

"At the beginning, because the market has psychological expectations, maybe it will be able to raise hundreds of millions of debts...... "After understanding what Charles meant, Mary redetermined. However, if you raise a large amount of money in a short period of time, I am afraid that it will not always go down like this......"

"To be able to have so many. It's already good. Charles still groaned.

"Why are you in such a hurry, sir? Your approach, with all due respect, can raise a lot of money in the short term, but in the long run, it will be harmful and will hurt the credit of the Ministry of Railways. Seeing that Charles had already made a decision, Mary looked at Charles with some puzzlement, her eyes full of doubts, "I don't think you need to move so fast?" Judging from the current market response, as long as the bonds are sold at a fixed frequency, the market is fully able to absorb these bonds, so that the price of bonds can also remain stable...... Why do you have to do this? ”

"You're right." Charles nodded dryly, "If you have enough time, it's best to have a long stream." ”

"You mean there's not enough time?" Mary sensed the problem keenly, and her face was a little surprised, "Could it be that the government is on the ...... Did something go wrong? ”

"No, no, no, don't be nervous." Charles smiled and waved his hand, "God willing, Mr. President's position is still secure." ”

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because, even if Mr. President's position is secure, I cannot guarantee that I or Mr. Minister will stay there forever." Charles sighed softly, "Mademoiselle de Léoland, you are a clever man, and now you are my assistant, so I will not hide it from you—you can see how often the cabinet of the government changes these days?" God knows if in a few years this ministry will not be the place for me to call the shots...... If not, the question of whether my successor will follow my plan is also a big question. We have many examples of governments changing their orders because of a change of party or the jealousy of a successor. ”

Then, Charles took another sip from his cup, "So, after careful consideration, I felt that it would be better to create a fait accompli first if I wanted to complete my preliminary railway plan." ”

"In other words, you plan to raise a lot of money first, so that the construction of several railway lines that you plan will start first?" After thinking for a moment, Mary spoke her mind.

"That's right! I'll just say you're smart! Charles clapped his hands, "That's how I think about it, first raise the funds, and then start work directly, so that even if I have to leave due to an accident in the middle of the process, because construction has already begun, even if the person who takes my place wants to cancel my plan, he will not be able to stop at all." ”

"I see......," Mary sighed after listening to Charles' explanation, "It's strange that the government has to put so much effort into doing something!" ”

"I'm sorry, but that's the way our government is, everybody is proud to get in the way of others." Charles shrugged his shoulders regretfully, "Don't worry, I've carefully estimated that the risk won't be very large, at most some losses." Besides, even if something really happens. I can guarantee that it wasn't me who was unlucky in the end......" and then he glanced at the other man slightly. "Now that I've told you, you should know what to do next, right?"

"Hmmm! I see," Mary nodded knowingly, "we'll hold the bonds for a short time after they're issued, empty them all before you issue new ones, and let them cry!" ”

"Yes. That's it," Charles replied with great satisfaction, "so to speak. You are really a good assistant...... What are you doing looking at me like this? ”

"You're amazing, sir." Mary kept staring at Charles, "That's amazing! At this age, you can be so comfortable! ”

“………… OK. ”

Charles and Mary then went on to discuss several other issues. Until they all got Charles' instructions. Mary finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Sir, now that the problems that need to be solved by you have been solved, I know what to do about the rest."

"Very well, thank you, Mary." Charles nodded, still smiling gently, "I'll pay you enough for your hard work." As I said, you are my collaborator. ”

His compliment came from the heart. Truly. He was very happy with the assistant - a brainy, low-key one. The assistant who never uses boring moral ideas to hinder action is indeed the kind of assistant that best meets his needs.

Because of the rare use of "you" and "Mary" by Charles, Mary's eyes couldn't help but widen. It took her moments before she came to her senses, "Nothing, sir, it's an honor to be able to serve such an extraordinary person as you. ”

"Even if you praise me like that, I won't give you a raise." Charles smiled and took one last sip of coffee, then stood up, intending to go back to rest.

However, he found that Mary was still sitting there, as if she was hesitant.

"What's the matter, Mary, is there anything else?" Curious, Charles sat back down.

"Hmm...... It's not a big deal...... "Mary seemed to be a little talking, and she couldn't say it for a while.

"What the hell is going on?" Charles was slightly surprised, "Don't hesitate, sue me." ”

As if encouraged by Charles, Mademoiselle Marquis finally made up her mind.

"It's about Fran."

"Huh? What the? Charles hurriedly asked.

"Just the other day, Fran told me she was going to see a friend, and asked me to take her out......" Mary looked at Charles with some unease, "I saw that she was resolute, so I did so." ”

Charles looked at Mary silently, not saying a word.

"The result...... Outcome...... Brought out...... And then...... "Mary became more and more uneasy under the oppression of this gaze, and her voice trembled a little," she took me to a young man's house...... Then she told me that the person was her friend...... Then...... Then they talked for a while...... Sir, do you know when she had such a friend? ”

Charles still didn't speak.

"Sir?" Mary plucked up the courage to ask.

"Male?" Charles finally spoke.

"Yes, it's a man." Mary nodded, "That's why I feel wrong......"

"So, what you want to tell me is that you took my sister to a young man's house?" Charles asked in a low voice. At this time, he himself didn't know how stiff his tone was and how cold his expression was.

Going to die, really going to die, really going to die!

In a terrified state, Mary felt like her heart was about to stop, and she realized that what she had feared most had happened.

"I didn't know what was going on, but Fran told me she was going to see a friend, and I thought ......," she quickly defended herself.

"Then why didn't you just pull her away at the time?" Charles asked coldly. "Just let her see it?"

"At the time, I thought you knew who this friend was, maybe it was still yours." Mary whispered, "But don't worry, I stayed next to them and didn't find anything strange, just talking about Fran's art reviews......"

"Do you want to disguise your incompetence with such words? Or stupid? Charles slowly stood up.

Charles's shadow fell over Mary's head, and she felt a paralyzing sense of powerlessness, like an antelope in front of a cheetah.

If I really don't do something, I'm afraid it's going to be over...... The thought flashed through the girl's mind.

"Sir, you have to be reasonable!" She closed her eyes and shouted, "Why are you putting all the blame on me?" She had to do it, could I blame it? ”

Her screams finally woke Charles.

Charles sat back down. Then, a complicated mind suddenly flooded into his heart.

What Mary had just said completely shattered his previous good mood, and a moment of irritation made him almost lose his mind. He unconsciously glanced at Mary and found that the other party was still still frightened, his face was red, and there were even tears in the corners of his eyes.

What did I do?

Charles suddenly let out a sigh in his heart, for the most he hated in his life was anger at others—and from Mary's description, it was indeed not her fault.

Is it the fault after all?

If it's the 21st century, it's not a problem for girls to run to meet friends, even men, right?

No, even in the 19th century, such things abound in the social arena and were not a big deal.

But...... But why are you so angry? Charles was puzzled.

Well, anyway, my sister suddenly has a friend who doesn't know the roots, and it's not a reassuring thing after all.

"What's that man's name, do you know?" After a moment, Charles, who had calmed down a little, asked reluctantly.

"Ezreal-Walter......" Mary looked at Charles with a wince, and then told Charles everything she had seen that day. If you need it, I will give you his address......"

"It turns out that this man is still working under me, what a coincidence." Charles nodded, and then saw that the other party was so uneasy, so he smiled and comforted the other party, "Okay, don't be so nervous, you know, I'm a very gentle person." ”

Then, he stood up again, then pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just lost my temper." He sighed.

“…… Never mind. Mary hung her head. You're just worried about Fran, too. ”

The slight touch on her face made her feel relieved for a while, because if something happened next, she would not have to take responsibility.

Fran, I'm sorry I disobeyed you, but I'm scared too...... Under an inexplicable guilt for her friend, she silently thought in her heart.

"Then, you can continue to be by her side, and if you have any new questions, you must tell me." Charles's voice was a little tired, "I'll go rest first." ”

"Yes." (To be continued......)