"Know this day that the LORD your God is coming before you like a consuming fire, to destroy them and to subdue them before you. Then thou shalt drive them out, as the LORD hath said, and thou shalt destroy them quickly. ”

Under Charles' cross-examination, the dying Father Boussani uttered such a sentence that made Charles inexplicable.

Although Charles knew the source, it had nothing to do with the topic they were talking about, so he couldn't understand the implicit meaning of the passage at all.

Charles was confused and a little uneasy, because the implicit meaning of this passage did give people a sense of foreboding.

This passage is the original text of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy and describes the prospects for the children of Israel, the difficulties they will face on the other side of the Jordan River, and Moses' final instructions to the people.

As we all know, the Israelites lived in a miserable situation, their homeland was destroyed, their children and grandchildren were displaced, enslaved and slaughtered, and this living environment naturally bred the desire for salvation and hatred for a desperate world. So the Old Testament they wrote was full of absurd and cruel foreshadowings, and full of hatred that destroyed everything.

But what does this have to do with you?

Who is this "Israelite" who is full of grievances and hatred and wants to destroy all enemies?

While Charles was still pondering the meaning of the priest's words in a daze, the priest turned back to the subject.

"Child, does the name of this prisoner matter? Why are you so enthusiastic about knowing the answer? ”

"I can't say it's important...... "Charles," Charles replied with some embarrassment, "but, as a very curious person, since I know one part of a thing, I can't wait to know the other parts of the thing, and only then will my curiosity be satisfied and my mind will be calm." ”

"In other words, you're trying to satisfy your excess curiosity, aren't you?" The priest smiled bitterly, "For such a purpose, you came over on your own and forced me to uncover the scars of the past, uncover the dusty past, and make everyone never have peace......"

"You're going too far, aren't you? If you don't want to tell me, I won't force an old man to tell the truth out of politeness, you just have to say what you mean! Charles was a little upset, and his tone became a little grim. Father, please believe me, I have no idea of embarrassing anyone. ”

"I don't have much more to tell you, because I've already made everything clear to the judge in order to rescue Bertuccio, unless another judge comes up to me and asks me to repeat it." The priest let out a sigh, "not because I neglected you, but because I can't say anything more." ”

"But from what I've got, you haven't been too detailed, and there's too much ambiguity—" Charles saw that the other man's tone had softened, and he began to test again, "You told the judge that the diamond was a British nobleman who was imprisoned at the Eve Castle at the time, and that he gave it to a young cellmate of his time for friendship, and then the young cellmate gave you the diamond before he died, hoping that you could help him pass it on to his friends......"

As he spoke, Charles watched the priest cautiously, observing his reaction.

Although he also knew that this was not appropriate, and the other party had clearly revealed that he was unwilling to cooperate, but in order to understand the doubts in his happiness, Charles still chose to continue the interrogation, even if it made him look a little aggressive.

"Yes, that's what I said, and it's a shame that you were able to find out." The priest's expression didn't change, except for a slight brow.

"So, who are the English nobleman and the fellow inmate?" Charles asked, "Actually, the investigators were very puzzled by this, because they searched through the list of prisoners who were in prison at the time, and they couldn't find anyone who matched your description at the time - so, some people suspect that this is actually your fictional story." ”

Not good!

As soon as he said this, Charles himself felt that something was wrong.

Isn't this a scareless snake?

How can I say that? He secretly complained in his heart and blamed himself for his negligence.

This question is not insignificant, but the extended problem is somewhat fatal—when Kong Ze investigated in the Château d'Eve, not only did he not find the English nobleman who gave the diamond that Father Boussani said, but he also did not find any traces left by Father Boussani himself in the Château de Eve.

Now that he has revealed the former, then Father Boussani must have guessed the latter, and the investigators can find the latter.

In other words, he already knows that his entire fictional story has been exposed! Completely scares the snake.

What a big oversight! How could I say such a thing without thinking about it? Charles fell into remorse at once.

However, his panic quickly flashed, and the whole person regained his composure.

After all, since the mistake has been made, there is no point in regretting it, it is better to simply make the mistake and see how Father Boussani disguises himself.

Fighting the grass and startling the snake will certainly have a negative effect, but it also has some positive effects, at least it can break the opponent's psychological defense line and make him panic, and people will inevitably show some flaws in the panic.

Sure enough, as Charles had expected, the priest's eyes widened suddenly, apparently in some kind of shock, after Charles said that the investigators had been to Eve Castle.

Then, with a furrowed brow, he opened his lips slightly, as if to rebuke the Charles, angrily reprimanding them for their rudeness, but in the end, he did not speak, but only pondered, as if he was thinking about how to deal with the sudden bad news.

"Do you remember?" Charles waited for a long time, but the other party still didn't speak, so he was also a little impatient, and asked again, "Father, who is the person who left you the diamond?" Now ......"

"I've forgotten that name!" A loud shout interrupted Charles, and then the priest stood up and looked at Charles with a fierce voice, "This is an ominous man, a complete unlucky man, a fool who dies and still does not know what sin he has committed, his name, I don't need to remember!" It is only possible for me to remember this name until the judgment of the last day comes, when God will sprinkle the fire of his righteousness on earth, and when sinners will wail in hell. ”

……

What happened to him? This is an explosion?

Almost instinctively, Charles bounced off his seat as soon as the priest got up from his seat, and then took a sharp step back in a defensive stance.

It wasn't that he overreacted, it was that the priest was too intense, and almost instantly, Charles forgot that this was an old man who was about to die, but instinctively felt the extreme danger, and subconsciously prepared to defend.

Fortunately, the storm did not come, and the priest just stood there angrily, looking at Charles with a look of anger, and did not attack Charles.

Charles didn't expect that he would detonate the priest with a single sentence.

Why the hell is he so angry?

Was it because Charles was forcing him to say that name? Why did the name infuriate him so much?

"Only wait for the judgment of the last day, until God will sprinkle the fire of his righteousness on the earth, and until sinners will wail in hell"......

Something suddenly occurred to Charles.

Isn't this talking about Edmond Dantès, who died unjustly?

"You...... You're saying that the prisoner who gave you the diamond was unjustly imprisoned? Charles lowered his voice, "Father, do you mean that?" ”

"I didn't mean anything, I just wanted to say that there are so many questions you asked that I don't want to answer." The priest replied categorically.

He no longer concealed his hostility towards Charles now, so his eyes were full of acrimonious light, "Mr. Treville, you said that there are investigators investigating me, so if you are not involved, I ask you to tell them that all these investigations they have conducted are rude, as I have just said to you, as a clergyman, I am obliged to keep everyone's deathbed confession confidential, so I have nothing to say about this matter." ”

"If you wish to do so, I'll tell you." Charles took a deep breath and let himself relax from his state of imminent battle, "But I remind you that it is the state apparatus that investigates all this, and they will not stop because of your obstruction, nor will they fail to investigate the truth because of your obstruction, and your silence will only make you suspicious of you by them - with your identity and prestige, no one will doubt you, why would you put yourself in such a dangerous situation?" ”

"If they want to investigate me, then let them investigate." The priest replied coldly, and then sat back in his seat, "My innocence is judged by God, and the laws of mortals can neither judge me nor hinder me. ”

"May I assume that you mean that you admit that you made up the truth?" Charles took another deep breath, then pressed again, "No one gave you the diamond, you made up a story and gave it to the innkeeper—"

The priest did not answer.

The matter was now very clear, so he seemed to find no point in quibbling, and simply acquiesced.

Anyway, Charles can't produce any evidence right now.

"Father Boussani, you're not a prisoner now, you're not involved in any crime, so even if you make up a story and deceive anyone, it's your freedom, it's harmless—who wouldn't be born to do something bad? But ......," said Charles, looking solemnly, "is a very different story if you are a danger to France, or to a French citizen. The diamonds you gave to the innkeeper at that time caused a bloody case, and the deaths of two people were related to it, of course, I know that the direct responsibility is not on you, it is greed that has buried their lives. ”

"God is judging some people, but only through my hands." Although the corners of the priest's mouth twitched slightly, he made up a slightly mocking smile, "Cardrus is a sinful bastard, he doesn't deserve the gift God has given him, so he gets the retribution he deserves. ”

Caderus was the owner of the inn, and together with his wife, he killed the jeweller, who had come to buy his diamonds with a large sum of money, and his wife was killed in the fight.

"So is there anyone else who wants to get the retribution they deserve?" Charles asked rhetorically. "How many others is God going to lend your hand to retribution?"

"You can guess as much as you like." Father Bushani shrugged, "If you're coming to visit me today for interrogation, then you can go back, I don't have anything else to say." ”

Although the priest had already ordered the expulsion in person, Charles did not mean to leave now, but took a step forward.

"You want me to go, you want me to shut up, it's your right as a master, and I'll obey it. Well, then before parting, I have one last question for you, a very simple question, will you be able to answer it? Father, I hope that you will answer this question truthfully for God's sake, because it is about the lives of too many people, and it is about what I am going to do with you. ”

"What's the problem?" The priest hissed, looking impatient with the charles.

"Have you ever been to the Fort Eve prison?" Charles smiled slightly, then suddenly asked a question that seemed inconsequential. "No doubt you can still leave this question unanswered, but if you don't, then I will have to treat you as the most dangerous object like some people, because everything is really too unusual for us to take seriously."

There was silence again.

Time ticked by, but Charles waited for his answer.

He asked this question to Father Bousani, but in fact to the Count of Monte Cristo.

Yes, by now, Charles had just seen the clue.

Or rather, after seeing through Lord Wilmo's true identity at that time, before he came to visit Father Boussani, he already had a similar guess in his mind.

That's right, Father Boussani is actually the Count of Monte Cristo himself.

Since Lord Wilmo was a fake, then Father Bushani could naturally be a disguise as well, so Charles wasn't much surprised when he discovered this fact.

It would have been difficult for an energetic man in the prime of life to play the kind of old man who was full of old age and was about to die, not to mention that the priest was too excited just now to maintain his performance, and when he subconsciously stood up to stop Charles, that debilitating spirit was gone.

It is clear that Father Boussani is not an old man, but a man in the prime of life.

Like Lord Wilmore, he was pretended to be someone – and by the same person.

It is clear that Father Boussani is also a fictitious identity of the Count of Monte Cristo.

However, in the questioning he just asked, he also revealed that he had been investigating the Count of Monte Cristo, and had found out a series of old deeds in Marseille and Château d'Eve, so the Count of Monte Cristo must have been alerted by now and realized that he had been seen through by Charles.

I know you're acting, and you know I know you're acting, but both of us tacitly pretend that neither of us noticed that the other was acting.

It's complicated to think about.

But it's actually quite simple.

Since everything is laid out by the Count of Monte Cristo himself, it is easy to do.

Everything he said just now can be explained.

"Know this day that the LORD your God is coming before you like a consuming fire, to destroy them and to subdue them before you. Then thou shalt drive them out, as the LORD hath said, and thou shalt destroy them quickly.

"Only wait for the judgment of the last day, until God will sprinkle the fire of his righteousness on the earth, and when sinners will wail in hell......"

He's venting his anger, he's threatening Charles.

Sensing that the Charr was approaching him, he declared that he wanted to subdue all enemies, and advised him not to be his enemies.

Now the only question for Charles is whether the Count of Monte Cristo, when he pretended to be Father Bousani, had personally experienced the prison of Château d'If, or was he purely a fictional story?

"I've been there." Charles was quick to get an answer.

An answer he expected.

Perhaps Father Boussani was too lazy to make up stories to cover himself, but he spoke very clearly and quickly, "That hell on earth, that place where the poor gather, I wish I had never been." ”

"I see." Charles nodded unexpectedly.

This is indeed a plain fact.

If you hadn't spent time in the Everneve prison, how could there have been so many coincidences?

All accidents in the world contain some kind of necessity.

"Thank you for everything you taught me today, Father." Charles solemnly said goodbye to the priest, "I think you have helped me a lot, and I should not bother you any longer. ”

"Then before I leave, I have one more word for you, child." The priest sighed softly, as if he had made up his mind.

"Speak, please." Charles made a gesture.

"After the Lord your God has driven these nations out of your presence, you shall not say in your heart, 'The Lord brought me in to possess this land because of my righteousness.'" But the LORD has cast them out from before you because of their wickedness. ”

Father Bousani, or the Count of Monte Cristo, looked out the window at the dark night sky and calmly uttered this passage as if reciting poetry.

Deuteronomy again.

I have to say that the Count of Monte Cristo is indeed quite suitable to be a clergyman.

"I'll remember your words." Charles thought for a moment, then nodded to the priest, "Well, before I leave, I have a word for you—"

Charles also gave Father Boussani a passage from the Bible's book of Numbers, as if reciting, "There we saw the Achon people, the Nephilim, and they were the descendants of the Nephilim. We see ourselves as grasshoppers, and so do we see them as we do. ”

"You've chosen yourself a less auspicious position." The priest did not show any irritation or agitation, but calmly commented on Charles's words.

"It's man-made, isn't it?" A gentle, new smile appeared on Charles' face, and he walked out of the dimly lit room.

Led by the servants, he silently left the detached house and returned to the streets that had become much cleaner.

However, instead of leaving, he walked to the corner.

He's waiting.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for the gate of the mansion to open again, and a small carriage with a dark stain and unsightly appearance galloped out of the house.

Charles stood still, watching the carriage disappear into the night.

It's time for him to go back.

All questions have been answered.

The Count of Monte Cristo spent time in the prison of Château d'Ives, and since he was not a priest, he could only be a prisoner.

Things are so clear, so simple and straightforward, that it no longer takes much thought to come to a shocking conclusion.

If Edmond Dantès had lived until now...... That's about the Count of Monte Cristo's age.

Count of Monte Cristo, Lord Wilmo, Father Boussany, Edmond Dantès.

"Hmph." In the cool breeze of the night, Charles spat out a faint syllable, then turned away, submerging into the endless darkness.