Flowers, Swords and France

The happy reunion of the Treville family could not last forever as Fran wished. After just a few days, Charles walked out of the house again and started a new journey. .

The hustle and bustle of the New Year has become a thing of the past. Although there is still snow left everywhere on the streets, people's lives have returned to silence. However, beneath this apparent silence, there seems to be a terrifying undercurrent lurking, which will burst out and wash everything away as long as it gets the chance.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Treville." The banker Du Taai said this blessing in an emotionless tone, as if he was afraid that others would not see the insincerity of his words.

"Oh, happy New Year." Ciel was not offended by his attitude at all and greeted him gently.

The place where they met was a poor neighborhood in the 16th District. They managed to avoid the mud and garbage everywhere before walking in. At the place where they met, small bungalows stood side by side, squeezing out narrow alleys that led to dark unknown places. Both of them were wearing thick velvet hats and thick black coats. They looked completely out of touch with this place. Following them were several people who were dressed much more simply.

"Really, we have to meet in a place like this on the first day of the new year..." Du-Taai frowned, patted his coat, and sighed slightly, "It's pitiful to run errands for others!"

"Let's get down to business first." Charles also patted the dust on his coat, and then gestured to the people behind him.

They understood and immediately spread out to survey the terrain according to the original plan, and also drew some sketches of their own.

It's funny to say that in this era, city maps were basically completely unreliable - at this time, European cities were in the peak stage of industrialization, with a large influx of people every year, or even every day. So in order to find some shelter for themselves, they would crowd into slums or lower-class neighborhoods and build shanties, making the streets in those neighborhoods completely unrecognizable and changing their appearance in a year or two; in addition, urban construction has also reached its peak, and new houses are often being built. Old houses are often demolished due to construction, so after a block has been destroyed like this for several years, even the original residents may get lost while walking at night, and the previous map (if any) will be completely useless. Useful.

Since what Charles and others are planning is such an important matter, of course they cannot place their hopes on a completely useless map. Instead, they must survey the terrain on the ground in order to provide the most powerful support for their actions at that time. This is also the reason why Charles and Du Taai came to this place together.

Several people brought by Charles went to survey the terrain, and only Du Taai and him were left on the spot. Charles held a pencil and kept writing and drawing without speaking.

But Du Taai seemed to have something on his mind, and looked aside cautiously. After making sure that no one was around, his face suddenly filled with a smile, and then he moved next to Charles.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Treville."

He greeted him a second time with the same greeting.

However, the tone of his greeting this time was full of attentiveness and ingratiation. Compared with the cold and frosty look just now, he was completely different.

Ciel stopped his pencil and raised his head to look at the other person with some confusion.

"What's the matter? Monsieur Du Taai."

"You must think that I still hate you now?" Du Taai smiled very strangely. "If you feel that way, then we are already halfway there."

Ciel was slightly surprised by his words.

"What do you mean? Please explain to me in detail."

"It was indeed my fault that time before. I apologize to you." He took off his hat and saluted, trying his best to express his apology. "The reason why I was so blunt with you before was because I had other considerations. , please don’t doubt my sincerity.”

Seeing the suddenly changed banker, Charles had countless doubts in his heart.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Du-Taai looked to the side again, and then pointed to a dark corner on the street.

"Let's go over there and talk. I guarantee you won't be disappointed..."

Ciel, full of suspicion, followed him carefully to the corner.

After making sure that no one could see the two of them again, Du-Taai seemed to be relieved, and his whole body relaxed. Then, he smiled at Charles.

"Mr. Treville, you must be able to imagine the reason why I was so blunt with you in front of my boss? Yes, my boss likes his subordinates to be at odds with others, so I have to pretend this Looks like..."

Did this cunning banker deliberately create a stalemate with him in front of Baron Beauvain?

"I understand what you mean." Charles replied calmly, "Then why do you think of disclosing this situation to me now?"

"Because, if we are really at odds with each other, it will only benefit our boss and be very detrimental to us." Du Taai replied simply, "This is not good for us at all."

"I'm glad you are so sober." Charles nodded, as if he appreciated what he said. "I thought you would care too much about the past and forget that it is just history."

"Of course I can wake up. Who wouldn't wake up when faced with an opportunity?! Because, I know, and you also know, we have a lot of room for cooperation," Du Taai said while making an exaggerated gesture. He made a big gesture and said, "A very, very huge space for cooperation!"

Charles did not answer, but allowed the other party to continue speaking, as if waiting for him to explain what "a very huge space for cooperation" meant.

And Du Taai did not disappoint him and quickly continued.

"You have only met Baron Beauvain a few times, and you may not know him very well, but I have followed him for more than ten years. Over the past ten years, I have been trying to understand him and figure him out every day! So, of course I understand. What a great chance we have this time..."

"I think I somewhat understand what you mean." Charles stared at the banker opposite.

"Yes, just as you thought." Du Taai nodded, "I know Mr. Beauvain too well. He is so bold that he can swallow the world, but he is so cautious that he only lives for a few hundred years. A fox, God knows how these two qualities were combined into him. So, once Paris and the whole country are in chaos, he will definitely leave Paris with his family. He will never take any risks. He will only hide comfortably at the border and remotely command our subordinates to help him. Beaten to death..."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"I can understand his thoughts." Charles said calmly.

"Oh, I also understand. If I had a fortune of tens of millions like him, I wouldn't let myself risk my life at all," Du Taai smiled sarcastically and nervously. "But, M. Treville, I say to you seriously - don't you think this is an excellent opportunity? During the few months he is away from Paris, here he will entrust me, and There are only a few people in charge. If I can get your support and cooperation..."

Du Taai paused for a moment, and only after he felt that he had whetted Charles's appetite again, he spoke again, "In that case, we can make another big windfall on the basis of the original!"

"It sounds very good, but what are you going to do?" Charles was a little moved and quickly asked the other party, "Do you already have an idea?"

"Yes, I have already thought about it." Du Taai nodded immediately, "After he leaves, although there will definitely be some people left to supervise, I have a way to get a large sum of money out of the bank, and then He'll spend the few months he's in the provinces wandering around, and when he comes back, I'll put the money back without anyone noticing. Think about it, Mr. Treville. All the money we make in these few months belongs to us!”

"If I understand correctly, are you planning to embezzle a large sum of money while he is away, and then use the money to make money?" Charles asked calmly, "Furthermore, Baron Beauvain had already planned to I’ll give you a large sum of money as a reward after everything’s done, right?”

Driven by adrenaline, Du-Taai's voice was full of passion, almost hoarse. "Yes, that's what you think. As you said, Mr. Bowang does intend to give me a sum of money after the matter is completed, but does that small amount of money just want to spend my decades of hard work? This Just asking for money is not enough, not at all! Do you think I am ungrateful? So what if I get rich? "

It is indeed ridiculous to demand loyalty, filial piety and justice among the bourgeoisie, especially among financiers. As soon as he got the chance, Du Taai planned to bite his master, without any sense of guilt, and even thought it was natural.

"Mr. Treville, I have seen you for a long time. You are definitely someone who can understand me..." Du Taai looked at the silent Charles with bright eyes, full of expectation, "I am risking Risk and you said this, would you push out such an opportunity to make a fortune? I know you are not this kind of person."

"No, of course I'm not." Ciel quickly decided, then smiled and held out his hand.

"I knew it!" Du Taai breathed a long sigh of relief.

Then, he also stretched out his hand and shook Ciel tightly.

"Then, we are allies now. Of course, in the future in front of Baron Beauvain and others, our relationship must be very cold and hostile. Thank you, Mr. Treville!"

"Thank you too." Charles nodded, then took out his pocket watch and checked the time, "They will be back soon. We will talk again when we have the opportunity."

"OK."

"Wait a minute, please take me to meet those radicals. Have you made an appointment with them already?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Du-Taai nodded repeatedly and smiled happily. (To be continued.)