[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

The lips of both Carton and Dane squirmed slightly, and they recited the name silently.The bishop went on: "Sister Rosa didn't know her at that time. Then she learned that this poor girl named Maureen was a prostitute, so she never told Fantine about her life, and everyone Thought she was an orphan.

Ten years later, Maureen came to the orphanage for help because of dystocia, and Aunt Rosa recognized her again, but she no longer recognized Aunt Mammy.The daughter she left behind was named Corona. Three months later, Sister Rosa heard that Corona had been adopted.I heard, is that you? "

"It's me." Carton said, took out his passport, and spread it out on the table.The bishop didn't even look at it.

"I believe you." He just said briefly, "Sister Rosa was struggling when she heard about this. She doesn't know why you adopted Corona—maybe you are her biological father, Or maybe you really have an old friend with Ramona. So she is not sure if you would like to adopt Fantine. Please understand that for ten years no one has known that the two of them are actually half-sisters, and the local convent The abbot has always been strict. Once this matter is revealed, Sister Rosa has violated the regulations, and she will be punished at least, or expelled from the monastery at worst. For her, there is no greater humiliation than this. In the end she chose It’s not right to be silent, but we must know that she did it out of a heart of compassion that day. Over the years, she has also suffered from the torment of her conscience, and finally she chose to tell me everything at the last moment, asking for my help She came to you to see if you would likewise help Fantine."

Caton's face, if possible, became whiter, and that face was completely bloodless, like the face of a ghost.Darney reached out his hand, shook his hand firmly, and asked the bishop, "Apart from what you said, is there any other evidence besides the statement of Sister Rosa?"

"No."

"Then why are you so sure?"

"I have never doubted the repentance of a brother or sister on his deathbed," said the bishop kindly.

After a pause, he added: "Besides, I wrote to the Montreuil Orphanage before I sent a letter to the two of you. They wrote back that there was indeed a child like Fantine, and the birth time was correct. And Sister Rosa once said the two children were alike, and both had blond hair."

This time indeed coincided with the previous investigation by Carton and Dane.The two were speechless for a while.The bishop looked at the two pale faces in front of him calmly and with concern, as if thinking about something.

"The things I have been entrusted to have been completed here, but my responsibilities are far from being fulfilled." He said, "Now, if you two don't think I'm too busy, what are your plans? If I can contribute , please speak."

"We'll go to Fantine," Carton said at last, his voice hoarse, with irrefutable determination, "and try to make it up to her."

"Then, according to the information I have received, Fantine is no longer in Montreuil," Bishop Bienferu said. "Aunt Cassandra, who corresponded with me at the monastery, said that she went to the big city with some other girls, perhaps Paris, but not sure."

"Let's split up." Darne and Caton looked at each other and said.Carton was just silent, and the chaotic thoughts in his mind had already crowded out all his thoughts, so he handed over the command to Dane.

"I can also write to my brothers in other dioceses to ask if they have any clues," said the bishop. "If I have any information, how will I inform you two?"

"Please send your letter here."

Dane left his home address.The two of them didn't want to wait any longer, so they immediately got up and said goodbye.

"But the post car in the afternoon can't start. There's something wrong with the car." The bishop reminded the two of them when he arrived at the door.

"And does Digne have any cars or horses to hire?"

"Yes, Maestro Scophone. Come with me."

The Bishop led them all the way to Master Scophone's door, which was not far away, just turn a street.The old master was already 50 years old and was sitting in the yard doing carpentry work. When he saw the bishop, he immediately put down his work and stood up respectfully.

"Master Scovogne," Bishop Bienvenu said, "these two friends from afar want to rent a car."

"Two for rent," Dane added.

"No problem. Do you want it now?"

"Yes, now."

"where to?"

"One for Paris and one for Montreuil."

"Hey! That's not close," said the old man, looking back and forth between the two men. "Aren't you gentlemen French?"

"No, what does that matter?" Darnay replied.

"The gentleman asked me what mattered! It mattered a great deal. From here to Paris or to Montreuil, both go north, and hundreds of leagues of the road are to be taken together. The two cars, It costs money and horsepower, and there is really no need for it. Are the two gentlemen together?"

"Yes."

"It stands to reason that if Mr. Bishop's friend came to rent a car, I absolutely dare not have any reason not to do business." Master Scophone said, looking at the bishop respectfully, and the bishop nodded to him with a smile, "but go to Paris It's too far away, my cart and horses are like my own son, I don't feel comfortable going so far, and it's inconvenient for the two gentlemen to turn back. As I say, it's better to go to Paris by postcoach , and it will be more convenient to go to Montreuil from Paris."

Darnay nodded, but Bienvenu shook his head.

"In that case, I would not have introduced them, Master Scophone. The post-coach cannot leave this afternoon."

"how!"

"The axle is all broken, and one wheel has two broken spokes, and I hear the shaft is a little cracked. It won't be fixed until tomorrow."

"What a coincidence!" said the master grimly, but the bishop went on: "If the three of you allow me, I have a compromise."

"You say."

"The two of you rent a carriage from here and go to the next station first. When you reach the next stage where you can change coaches, maybe Taral, maybe Asplemont, you will change there for a stage coach. This one You can hire someone locally to bring the car back. In this way, the two gentlemen don’t have to wait all night, and Master Scophone doesn’t have to worry about his car and horses every day.”

This method is very appropriate, so the two sides did it this way.The rent for carriages and horses was ten francs a day, and two days' rent was paid in advance.When Caton and Darney left Digne in the car, it was already evening, the red soil plain was illuminated by the setting sun as red as blood, and the carriage cast long shadows on the road.Carton and Darney, one on each side, sat on the side of the car shaft, their gray hair was also dyed red by the red sun.Neither of them spoke, except for the sound of the wind, only the sound of horseshoes and wheels.It was a monotonous sound that could lull you to sleep or lull you into inner meditation.

In the silence, the sun went down.The fiery light dimmed, the plains faded from red to sepia, and the sky gradually turned blue-purple and then a darker dark blue.There was a desolate tone in the wasteland.

Suddenly the monotony was interrupted.Both Caton and Dane woke up suddenly from their minds, listened attentively, and heard the cry of a child with the wind.

"It's so late! Why don't you go home?" Dane murmured in a low voice.

The cries got closer and louder, and soon they saw a small black figure walking along the road ahead, Darnay reined in the horse, and the two jumped out of the cart.The black shadow was getting closer and closer, and when he got closer, he saw that it was a child about ten years old, with shabby clothes, a violin on his waist, and a vole cage on his back. He was crying while running, and the plaster on the back of his hand His face was full of spots.Caton walked up to the child slowly and bent down.

"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.

The child, who had obviously been crying for a long time, was out of breath.He was sobbing, and gasped for almost one word: "Yes, someone has robbed me of my money!"

"How much was snatched?" Caton asked.

"Forty sous!" replied the child with great injustice.

Caton reached into his pocket and took out a five-franc piece.He put the shiny silver coin in the child's palm, "This is for you."

The child looked at the coin and then at him, with tears in his eyes, gasping for breath, too surprised to speak.He held the coin upright in front of his eyes and looked at it carefully. Because it was already dark, he got very close, almost touching the tip of his nose.All of a sudden, the miserable and pitiful look disappeared, and a childish cuteness appeared instead.

"You, really give it to me?" He asked suspiciously.

"It's for you."

"No, me, what are you doing?"

"No, take it, it's for you."

The child opened his eyes bigger than the coin, and opened his mouth slightly to look at the two old gentlemen in front of him.Suddenly he jumped up and cheered, clutching the coin tightly in his hand, and ran away quickly, jumping up from time to time.Both heard him blow his nose very loudly.After running a few steps, he suddenly turned around again, and shouted while jumping backwards: "My name is Little Ruierwei!"

He ran again.Dane watched the child run away with a slight smile, and the two got into the car again and rode forward.However, before he had gone far, he suddenly heard a hoarse cry from the gloomy road ahead: "Little Ruierwei! Little Ruierwei!"