Looking at the endless flow of the Loire River and the rows of sailboats on the river, enjoying the spectacular scenery under the sunset, although the sun has completely disappeared behind the mountains, and its majestic light is gathered in the darkness, but no one speaks anymore, and the mood of all three people has an indescribable sense of agitation.

"My friends, since you can help me without giving up, I can and should give you what I can give. Whether it's a manor, or money, or an official position...... Or something else......" he waved his hand, stopping Albert and Lucien, who seemed to be about to say something, "I know that you will surely say that you are not with me for these things, and that you do not particularly care about such things, but even then, I should do so—I know that it is difficult to repay true loyalty with rare treasures, but if I refuse to share even precious things, then what right can I say that I value my friendship with you?" ”

Then, he smiled a little helplessly, "Besides, as I said just now, the world is unpredictable, and only by holding together can we stay still in the frenzy of the torrent and keep the one we once captured...... The higher your achievement, the more likely I am to benefit from it, though the Bonapartes now seem to be able to ...... So, don't be too busy to be moved, in fact, I'm also doing it for myself. ”

His frank statement made Albert and Lucien laugh again.

"Well, for someone else's sake. For our own sake, let's fight together. At last, Albert spoke the hearts of the three men.

Then. The three of them lost their nostalgia, turned around and walked back, and the moment they left, the last rays of sunlight before the night disappeared, and the whole world gradually disappeared into darkness.

……………………

When they returned to the place where the army had been stationed, tired and having promised to write a detailed report for the Charles, Lucien went back to rest in the barracks they had prepared in the area.

Charles and Albert were not so easy. As officials, and more importantly as aristocrats, they also had to attend a number of celebrity banquets, although not everyone had to visit them once. But the most prestigious people in the city, they had to pay a visit, otherwise it would be a very strict faux pas, almost as a classic example of how selfish and depraved these Parisians are and have no one in sight.

And the Marquis de Linelles was one of the people they had to go to.

"Mr. de Treville. Mr. De Foa-Gray. Thank you very much for coming," said the marquis, who greeted them both politely, after the two young men had arrived on time. "Although the provinces are not as rich as the capital, please play, the surnames of the two are enough to add luster to the contemptible living room."

His face was square, but stiff and indifferent, and his temples were already gray. Although the words are polite, there is not much warmth. It seems that people do not see how much glory they have given to these guests only as a courtesy. Perhaps because of his education since childhood, he always has some old-fashioned words in his speech and demeanor. As if this is not enough to show his noble family.

The marquis's unemotional greetings made Charles and Albert quickly understand what each other meant, "You have such a surname, but you can barely get into my drawing-room, but please don't get carried away and put on the prestige of a Parisian", so they couldn't help but smile at each other.

"Thank you for your hospitality, sir." Charles smiled and replied, "But we're just stopping by to pay a visit on official business, so we can't bother you too much......

Charles and Albert then spoke politely to the marquis.

Although no one knew about his noble family a few dozen miles away, in the province he was considered unquestionable, a leading figure in the city's small upper class, enjoying great fame, and seemed to be regarded as a wise man for it.

Like most of these local aristocracy, he did not recognize the nouveau riche produced in the nineteenth century, and thus respected the old aristocracy before him. Although he pretended to be reserved and indifferent on the surface, he was still a little uneasy in his heart about whether he could satisfy these two young people with more prominent surnames.

Because of this, seeing Charles and Albert talking so well, the marquis was also secretly relieved in his heart. As a result, his tone became a little softer.

After a few pleasantries, the two of them walked into the marquis's drawing-room.

Like almost all local aristocrats, the décor of the living room was very austere, and it had become a little old because it had not been repaired in time. The living room is decorated with gray wainscoting, several portraits of family members hang on the walls, the floor of the living room is paved with large white square tiles, and a large dining table is placed in the middle, which is already filled with all kinds of country game. In the far corner of the living room, there are several card tables, apparently for guests to play Whist in their spare time.

Perhaps because the Marquis was so pleased with his first examination, the Marquise entertained them herself. The lady was much younger than her husband, apparently because there was no shortage of flatterers. For the same reason, he spoke loudly and in a categorical tone, apparently having long been accustomed to saying everything at home.

By any measure, the noble couple, both of whom are ignorant of contemporary luxury, still retain their costumes that are now only worn on stage, albeit with lace from a few years ago. Needless to say, the tableware on the dining table and the furniture next to it are all old-fashioned, and they look very harmonious against the couple.

And there were already some guests in the drawing-room, although the men were obviously not as superior as the marquis's family, but they were all full of spirit, and the ladies were also in the same spirit, as if they thought they were wearing shawls. Wearing a soft hat is a gorgeous dress. In fact, they buy two hats a year. But they had to be carefully calculated, usually brought back from Paris by the way—how could they not be invited to the drawing room by such an old and conservative aristocrat?

This kind of ancient pomp and circumstance can be blended with the frugal atmosphere of the provinces. In short, they were the widows of the aristocracy, but they did not have the right to levy a land transfer tax, they did not have the hereditary property of the eldest son as stipulated by law, and they did not have herds of hounds and baroque garments with sashes. They are complacent. Single-minded allegiance (only verbal allegiance, of course) to them was only to see the princes from afar—and those who have now been driven out of the country are not even aware of their existence.

"I never thought I'd be able to see so many antiques at once today, Charles. It makes me feel like I'm back in love with the 18th century! While smiling as he coped with the entertainment of the nobles present, Albert couldn't help but bite Charles's ear.

"What's the solution? We should face reality. Charles shrugged his shoulders and replied in a low voice. Two young people, with the ability to hide their feelings that they have exercised since childhood. It was a great way to hide his impatience and contempt for this group of nobles.

That's right. This is the France of this era. Although it has become a modern country, and although science and civilization are developing in unimaginable degrees, the so-called progress and progress are only concentrated in Paris and a few large cities, and in the provinces and countryside far from Paris, they are still the same, and there is not much difference in the same two centuries ago. Even the frenzy of the Great Revolution era did not leave much trace here, and every qiē was closed to the mediocre and unchanging countryside. And these people don't regret it. Their immutable rulings on the things of the world have formed a traditional discipline, and no one can think of adding a new spirit. These conformists. Their life is all about going around in circles of habit.

"I'm so glad I got out of this life!" After dealing with another lady's boring greeting, Albert finally whispered again, "I can't even imagine what would have become if I had stayed in my hometown!" ”

Albert was not so favored for a reason—in the conversation just now, in a few roundabout conversations, the ladies weighed the two young men thoroughly with their characteristic cleverness.

Charles de Treville, who held a very high position in the government of the capital, and was said to have a large fortune, had a fiancée...... Ah, what a pity.

Albert de Foa Gray, likewise with a rather privileged surname, and a lower-ranking government official, was unmarried. What's more, according to Monsieur de Treville, the young man also had a large amount of discretionary property, which amounted to about 30,000 francs from the government alone...... Ah, it's perfect! It's hard to find such an ideal son-in-law in the whole of France!

Thus, in just a few minutes, and without knowing it, Albert became the person who was the special care of the wives with their unmarried daughters, and almost the busiest person at the whole banquet. The ladies diligently asked him all sorts of questions (to paraphrase him in passing), and at the same time unobtrusively recommended their daughters, and at the same time criticized each other, trying to convince people that she was an exception in the circle—and in just an hour or two Albert was overwhelmed by the outpouring of genuine affection out of interest.

In this circle, all kinds of calculations replace emotions, politeness is nothing more than obligation, and even the simplest opinions imply hurtful elements. In this small social world, everything in life is very harmonious and monotonous, every qiē is clear, the status of the nobility and the value of the land are clearly marked, everyone knows the affairs of other people's families in detail, and talks about each other's rights as a kind of pastime of monotonous life. This provincial village life, which some people find simple, others suffocating, but after spending a while here, you will get used to this idle and unintentional life, get used to this dull air, take it for granted, and take the radical, almost daily changing life of Paris as a depraved evil.

It was not until the end of the dinner that Albert was relieved of the unspeakable embarrassment and distress he had just felt.

However, out of the necessity of etiquette, they could not leave the family yet. Because it is the custom in the province that after dinner everyone plays a few rounds of cards, they have to play a few rounds of Whist like the other guests before they can leave peacefully and without being criticized.

"Charles. Why do you suddenly and deliberately tell them so much about me? Is it just to make it easier for yourself? While the servants were tidying up the table, Albert couldn't help but complain to Charles, "It's a real trouble for me to watch these ladies quarrel with smiles on their faces!" ”

"My friend, is there anything wrong with that? Isn't it your specialty to deal with women? Charles smiled and replied, "Say no more." What's wrong with listening to them? You're all this age, it's time to find yourself a wife, right? I think the girls here are very nice, they are all taken care of by their parents since they were young. and the clergy instilled in them the vocation of obedience, not as lawless as the girls of Paris......"

"I don't care about this kind of thing myself, why are you so worried about it?" Albert grumbled with some dissatisfaction, "And yes. Find yourself a lady who is as shallow as she was just now. What's the point of being loyal? If I just take it as an affair and run away after catching the bait, it will be even worse, in this kind of countryside, where we know each other's roots and the people's customs are conservative, the problem of a girl's loss of virginity is much stricter than in other places! I'm not worried about the girls' problems, I'm worried about what will happen when other people's fathers and brothers come to me to duel? That's a lot of trouble...... Do you think I haven't suffered such a loss? ”

"Ah, you actually thought of going here?" Charles suddenly had a faint admiration for Albert.

It's a person who has been in the flowers all year round. I can weigh things so clearly.

"Okay, okay, my friend. It seems that I am not thinking too much...... But it doesn't matter, it won't be annoying for long. He patted Albert on the shoulder, a little apologetically. We're just here anyway, and we don't plan to stay here for long, and to be honest, I don't feel comfortable with these people. ”

With that, the two men went to the table and sat down, and began to play cards with the guests.

Although at first the two young men sat at the table with a sense of good-spiritedness, there was even a kind of "Let's teach you stupid villagers!" But soon the two of them became serious again - because their opponents were too good at their cards.

To be fair, they weren't bad at their skills, Charles had also been trained in the Parisian social scene, and Albert was even an old gambler, but they soon showed up to be more skilled than them.

It seems that these little aristocrats in the countryside who have gathered together to eat and play cards for decades have inadvertently developed high playing skills, and can even play tacit subtle cooperation without expression.

- Did these people put their intellectual gifts on the card game? After losing a few handfuls in a row, the two young men couldn't help but curse in their hearts.

Soon, the self-dewarted Charles and Albert began to play their cards in earnest, and although the stakes were not big - a few hundred francs a night in the provinces was big news - the common sense of victory and defeat of young people still made them reluctant to accept such defeat. Inadvertently, the clock began to move into the night, and neither of the two young men remembered that they had planned to play a few laps and leave, and still sat at the table fighting their less odious opponents.

As is customary in the countryside, the servants bring cider and various cakes for snacks between the tables, while chatting non-stop and occasionally exchanging opponents at different tables.

At first, Charles was worried that he would be asked about his political position, but soon he realized that the love of these country nobles for the orthodox monarch was absolutely limited to words, and they may have had various ambitions and experiences, but after experiencing an unknown number of years of country life and breathing enough of this mediocre air, they had already become accustomed to this kind of life in their own manor. They were more interested in a logging or their own cider than in monarchy.

Both Charles and Albert served under Louis Bonaparte? But after all, they are still surnamed de Treville and de Foa-Grail, and after all, they both have a lot of money, isn't that enough? -- From the look on the faces of the people, Charles read this sentence.

Hey, in fact, this group of people is also good...... Charles thought suddenly, then drew a card and threw it.

Just as he was indulging in this card game, the whispers of the ladies next to him suddenly reached his ears.

"Is the Miss de Nordlien here? When did it happen? ”

"I've been here for a long time, and I said I came to the manor to spend the summer, but I haven't shown up yet." A lady next to her replied, "These nobles in the capital are really too much, and they don't come to visit us......

There was some hidden indignation in her words, as if she felt that it was a great rudeness for the other party not to come to visit her.

"That's right, I don't know what to be proud of? Back then, we didn't go to Versailles from a place like ours, but now we look down on people! Her words struck a chord, and someone soon chimed in, "If she doesn't come, she won't come, and we will never go to see her to see who is more uncomfortable." ”

"I met the Duke of de Nordlien back then, and I spoke to him! is obviously a very good person, how can he have such a daughter? The other lady complained, and secretly boasted that she knew a great nobleman—though perhaps only a casual greeting in a public place, and then turned around and forgot about it. We're not a big place, but it's unreasonable to come and not say hello. ”

"The old duke had died the year before, and the present Duke of de Nordlien was his son," the haughty and shrill voice of the Marquise seemed to ring in his ears, "so the old lady must be the sister of the Duke of de Nordlien......"

The Marquise's voice was long, as if she was showing off how many nobles she was familiar with, "I'm afraid that's why no one can discipline her now, so she is so unreasonable...... Oh, what a pity. ”

"I've heard that the De Nordlien family is in trouble right now, right?" Out of some hidden jealousy, the conversation turned to the criticism of D. Nordlien, "The old duke is dead, and the seat of the House of Lords is gone......"

The sarcasm of "hum ......" is condensed into this answer.

However, Charles couldn't listen to anything else.

The cards in his hand fell on the table, but he didn't know it.

"Monsieur de Treville?" A nobleman looked at him with some confusion.

As if awakened, Charles suddenly snorted.

He stood up suddenly, and he didn't care about his sudden movement, so that he became the focus of many people's attention.

He walked straight to the ladies who were chatting in the corner, and bowed skilfully and gracefully to their bewildered gaze.

Then, he looked up, still with that overly perfect smile on his face.

"I'm sorry, ladies, to interrupt your pleasant conversation, but...... Please forgive me, because I have a reason. If I heard me correctly, you seem to be talking about a young lady with the surname de Nordlien? ”

The faces of the ladies instantly turned ugly, and they looked at each other a few times.

In any case, it's always bad to chew someone's tongue behind your back, especially when chewing the tongue of a duchess lady.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you may have misheard." The Marquise spoke, with an expression of 'you are not qualified to come to Xingshi to ask for guilt'.

"Ma'am, I have no intention of defending anyone, or I just want to know something......" Charles suddenly looked up, and there was an astonishing oppression in his eyes in addition to a smile, "Where is that young lady now?" ”

Disturbed by Charles's forced gaze, the Marquise couldn't help but take a step back, and finally she was determined.

"A few miles to the southwest, a small estate called Zeg, Monsieur de Treville." She added an accent to the last name at the end, reminding the other party how rude she was just now.

"Thank you, ma'am." Charles bowed deeply again. (To be continued!)

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