Flowers, Swords and France

It was already late at night, and the half-revealed moon was hanging high in the sky, shining dim moonlight through the thin clouds.

Charles slowly turned left and right along the familiar streets, and finally led the two people to the courtyard of a small house.

Just as he was about to take out his pocket watch to check the time, several figures walked in from the other side of the back door of the house at the same time. The two groups did not speak, but looked at each other quietly. The moonlight was as clear as water, leaving several floating reflections on the ground.

Because it was late autumn, everyone wore a heavier coat, and the black coat matched the night scene, which was quite complementary.

The two well-dressed leaders on both sides looked at each other carefully, and then nodded at the same time.

"Mr. Treville, you are really a very good young man, and your mind is very quick. It seems that I was not wrong about you."

Baron de Bovan's smile is always so kind, making people feel like spring breeze.

"Thank you for your compliment," Charles nodded kindly, with an unchanged smile on his face, "You only brought two people, this sincerity really touched me."

Then, regardless of their inner feelings, the middle-aged man and the young man shook each other's hands with a smile on their faces. This scene made Charles feel like the scene of "the victorious meeting of revolutionary comrades" that he saw when he was a child.

Well, this must be just an illusion...

When negotiating with Miss Lola de Bovan, Charles, who always advocated that it is better to act sooner rather than later, directly set the time for the next night. And as Charles expected, after Charles wrote down the meeting address for Miss Bovan, Baron de Bovan really came directly and was very sincere.

"I thought you wanted to reschedule." After shaking hands, Charles looked at the other party and chuckled.

"There's nothing we can do. We're all in a hurry." The baron spread his hands, looking helpless, "So this time is just right."

Charles glanced behind the banker. Although the people he brought were wearing hats and their faces could not be seen clearly, judging from their body shapes, the unlucky guy should not have come.

"Mr. Du Ta'ai didn't come today?" Although Charles seemed to be asking for sympathy, there was always a hint of malice in his words. "How is he doing recently?"

"He woke up the next day after you knocked him out. It seems that you still had some mercy on him at that time." The banker shrugged again, his expression did not change at all, and it was obvious that he was not particularly concerned about the health of his subordinate. "He is still very healthy now."

"Oh, then please apologize to him for me when you go back." Charles smiled again, "If he needs compensation, tell him to remember to write me a bill when the time comes."

"I will tell him for you, but there is no need for the bill. He needs to pay the price for his impulsiveness." This cold joke did not make the baron laugh. He just agreed casually and looked at Charles again. "But, Mr. Treville, you must understand that I came to see you today not to discuss Mr. Du Ta'ai's health with you."

The atmosphere instantly changed from the relaxed atmosphere just now to a little tense. Charles knew that the main topic was coming, and his expression also became serious.

"Of course I understand." Charles extended his right hand and made a "please speak" gesture.

It seemed that he was not going to beat around the bush with Charles. After a moment of silence, Baron Bovan spoke again.

"Mr. Treville, as you guessed at this moment, I have always been the one who sponsored and assisted the Bonapartist political group you belong to. Mr. Du-Taye has always been just an executor of my plan. I am the actual leader. Now in front of you, we can speak frankly about this."

"Thank you." Charles smiled and thanked him, and he was relieved.

"No need to thank me, we just need what we need." The banker was surprisingly straightforward, "I don't do these things for your verbal thanks."

"Of course." Charles nodded, and then asked another question he was concerned about, "Have you changed your mind now?"

"Not yet, although there have been some unfortunate accidents, they are just some insignificant obstacles. I think we can overcome these obstacles and move forward, don't you think?" Baron Bovan answered Charles' question in a very gentle tone, and then looked at Charles.

His meaning is very clear-now it depends on how you look at it.

In other words, in the eyes of this business tycoon and the leader of the banking industry, the Marquis of Treville's family almost went bankrupt and the Duke of Treville's family almost lost a lot of money, "just some insignificant obstacles". In the face of the new good situation, everyone should look forward without holding grudges and move out of a new world.

This is the business logic of bankers in this era. Maybe it will be the same in the future?

And what can our Charles say about this?

Of course, it's just...

"We should certainly look forward," Charles nodded, "Can I understand that you will continue to assist us according to the original plan?"

"Of course you can understand it this way." Baron Bowen nodded slightly, "Or I can also tell you that I may additionally sponsor your group in the future - if necessary."

"I have to say that your decision makes us very excited." Charles replied, and then asked again, "So, after spending so much effort, Mr. Bowen, what I really want to know is, What do you want to get in exchange for these efforts? Is it safety? ? Or a title? Or a ministerial position? You can tell me here, and I will convey it to you, no matter what conditions you put forward, if you are willing to help us. , I can guarantee that the higher-ups will give it careful consideration..."

After hearing what Charles said, the banker smiled even more kindly. It wasn't until this banker's professional smile made Charles feel very uncomfortable that he spoke again.

"There are many things I want, but unfortunately, Mr. Treville, none of the things you mentioned are among them. Safety? If tens of millions of francs cannot guarantee my safety, then what can you guarantee? ? A title? Don’t make me laugh even more. I feel stupid now that I have a title of baronet. I feel uncomfortable, so why do I need to humiliate myself with the ridiculous title of Earl and Marquis? As for the position of political ax, I don't think it means much to me. Like others, I only want to enter the cabinet. It will make you a pitiful target in the pornographic world and lower your worth..."

"Then what do you want?" His words made Charles even more confused.

"Is the motive so important?" Baron Beauvain asked with a smile, and then continued talking without waiting for Charles to answer.

"It's good that young people are curious, don't you think?"

He did not ask Charles, but turned to someone who had come with him.

Before Ciel could recover from his surprise, an even greater shock took over his heart.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Of course, curiosity and initiative will lead to progress, and this is a good thing, Mr. Bowen."

After two seconds of surprise and silence, Charles turned his head and looked at the man behind Baron Bowen.

The future Prince of the Second Empire, Joseph Bonaparte, took off his hat, looked back at Charles with a smile, and then said hello softly.

"Char, my friend. We meet again now, but...this time it's not as planned."

After Charles stared at Joseph Bonaparte, he turned away and looked at Baron Beauvain.

"You should have told me directly from the beginning." Finally, he said these words with extreme calmness.

"It's not too late to know now, Charles." Before Baron Beauvin could answer, Joseph Bonaparte answered Charles directly, "You can definitely guess by now that when I came to Paris this time, there was a very important person. The important purpose is to reach an agreement with Baron Bowen, and..." He smiled again, "The agreement has been reached very smoothly."

"Then why..." Charles was a little confused, "Why didn't you just tell me directly, instead of running over here with Mr. Baron? Do you want to give me a surprise?"

Joseph Bonaparte looked at Baron Beauvain, but Baron Beauvain had no intention of speaking, so he had to smile and speak again.

"I said, this is a temporary decision..." Then he smiled even more mysteriously, "And, Charles, I can guarantee that you will thank me for this decision for the rest of your life."

"Oh?" Charles looked at him doubtfully.

"Mr. Treville," Joseph Bonaparte's expression became serious, "this meeting is to repay you and your grandfather for their loyalty to the Bonaparte family for many years, so I specially proposed it to Baron Beauvain. , I’m glad that he agreed directly…”

Charles waited for his next words.

"Let's have a good talk?" Joseph Bonaparte lowered his voice obviously intentionally, and then looked up at the half-moon in the sky, "Although the weather is good today, I'm afraid it's not good for our health if we stay outside all the time, right? "

Ciel quickly meant that the three of them had a secret conversation together, leaving aside the other people present.

Although I don’t understand why he is so serious about it, but...it’s okay.

"Okay." He nodded.

After a while, the three people walked into the hall of the small house together, while the others were told to stay outside.

The corrupt pretenders to the throne, careerists, and capitalists, this combination is so close, and they use each other to guard against each other. In this way, three capitalist fighters with a high degree of bourgeois struggle consciousness came together in a way that was beyond their expectations. (To be continued.)