[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

The Countess's face suddenly paled. "You... why do you think so?"

She immediately understood: "I shouldn't have asked you to draw that picture."

"Don't worry, I have not spoken about this to anyone else, and I have no intention of hindering any of the plans of the Count of Monte Cristo. This is the first time I have spoken to you today. I must say it, Madame— ―Please tell me, what is going on behind all this? Who are the enemies of the Count of Monte Cristo?"

"I can't say." Madame de Morcerf—no, Mercedes quickly calmed down, "forgive me, Corona. But..."

"Valentine is dead, Madame!"

When she suddenly raised her voice, Mercedes swallowed the second half of the sentence.

"You don't know that the Villefort family is also Edmond's enemy! You can guess who is behind the tragedies of the Villefort family, right? I don't know what happened back then, madam, if the Count's revenge is just , then I will not oppose him and expose him. Prosecutor Villefort is mad, because he revealed in court that he had murdered his illegitimate son with his own hands. Madame de Villefort is dead, because she poisoned four Personally. Then they deserved what they did. But what did Valentine do wrong? She wasn't even born when Edmond Dantès was imprisoned in [-]! Barov did wrong What? He's just an old servant, and I don't believe he ever took part in the murder of Edmond! And now, your son Albert, what has he done wrong? Madame, you know they are all innocent people, and if revenge In the end, when these people are implicated, righteous actions can become evil. Now, with my friendship with you for so many years, I swear to you that I will not take what I have heard today. Leak a few words in any form. Please tell me which companies are involved in the Earl's plan, please?"

Mercedes' lips trembled. "Please don't blame him!" she said, "If a person's own father is implicated because someone else framed him..."

"Does he have the right to implicate other innocent people and add his own pain to others?"

"Oh, no, it's not like that!" cried Mercedes, "I swear to you, dear Corona, that's not what Edmond is! He's a good, just man, I can see All these years have not worn away his character. If he is wrong, if he has done anything evil, blame me, Corona! It is the innocent disasters of those years that have made him like this, yes Instead of waiting for him, I pushed him to sink further into the abyss!"

"How can I blame you?" said Corona, calming down her sudden outburst of excitement. "It's not your fault. As for the count, I don't blame him so much as I don't either." I can't blame him. So don't worry - I am not and don't want to be his enemy. I just want you to tell me what is going on, and who are the count's enemies. In this way, We can at least try to prevent more innocent people from being implicated in this revenge, don't you think?"

Mercedes buried her face in her hands.She was silent for a long time, but still didn't say anything.

"Madame," Corona said, "The Count of Monte Cristo knows, and I have guessed his identity."

Mercedes looked up abruptly.

"Of course, I guess he'll talk to me about it eventually. But for now, at least, he's acquiescing. And I can tell you in a whisper, if the count hasn't lied to me, then Valentine should still be alive." Be at ease, there is one less unforgivable crime committed by your lover. Madame, I ask you to help me--not only for me, for Valentine's sake, but also for the Count of Monte Cristo himself. Would you Want your lover to become a murderer?"

Perhaps it was this passage that really convinced Mercedes.She brushed her wet sideburns behind her ears with trembling hands. "Don't call me Madame any more. From now on I will not be Countess de Morcerf. Call me Mercedes."

"In this way, does the count's enemies really include Count Morcerf himself?" Corona asked in great surprise.

"Yes. You probably already know that Edmond and I were caught in prison more than ten years ago at my wedding. One thing. I didn’t finally understand until tonight: it was my cousin Fernand, who wrote a report letter with Danglars, the escort on the Pharaoh. And I thought Fernand was My dear cousin who helped me when I was down, even married him—so, you see, it's not Edmund's fault. Even I can't forgive myself!"

This is indeed a fateful encounter, but Corona has no intention of feeling these things now. "So, the only remaining enemies of the count are Count Morcerf and M. Danglars?"

"Yes, he told me so."

"There won't be anyone else, will there?"

"I don't think so."

Corona felt relieved.She remembered that Rosie, Miss Danglars' piano teacher, had visited her a few days ago and asked about the things that single women need to pay attention to when they go out.According to her, she had asked the Count of Monte Cristo to open a letter of introduction to the managers of the theaters in Rome and Naples, and the Count of Monte Cristo had arranged for her a passport by the way.She recalled that Gavroche had come back last night and said that he had met two young women at the door of Danglars' house, one of whom was dressed as a man, but in a slightly rougher way than Coronne.They stopped him and asked him to help carry the bag to 36 Victor Road, after which he ducked around the corner and saw them get into a carriage and leave.

From this point of view, no matter what revenge the Count of Monte Cristo took against Danglars, Miss Danglars should not be implicated.As for Count Morcerf's family, Albert was the only one left to worry about. "Thank you for your answer—it puts my mind at ease," she said. "As for Albert..."

"I will tell him all the facts. He is a sensible boy, and I believe he can make the right choice."

"And after that, Madame...no, Mercedes. Since you asked me to call you that, it means you have decided to give up this identity, right?"

"Yes. Now that I know my mistake, I can't go on like this. If my prediction is correct, Albert will leave with me." Said Mercedes, her tone was so calm and firm, Corona felt that there was no way to persuade her, "Dear Corona, thank you for coming tonight. I didn't intend to say goodbye to anyone, and we are saying goodbye today."

Corona couldn't help reaching out to hold her hand.Only then did she realize that in this midsummer, the hands of both of them were cold. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"Go back to my hometown. Even though I can no longer weave nets and earn money from labor, I can still go back to that life of poverty. That's what I deserve."

"...you are just punishing yourself."

But Mercedes didn't even argue with her. "Please don't try to comfort me," she said quietly. "I want to thank you for my friendship over the years, Corona. You are a loyal friend."

Corona sighed softly. "Can you still bear that poverty?"

"I have to suffer."

"Then, in return for your friendship, please at least accept my small gift."

She reached into the hidden pocket of her skirt, took out the small lady's pistol/gun, and put it into Mercedes' hand.

"I know that if a gift of money or jewels is offered to you, you will not accept it, or will keep it quietly. But you must know that it is dangerous for a single woman to live in a place where poor people gather. Not to mention a beautiful lady like you. You have heard that I once shot three criminals with this gun and saved the life of Morrel's sister. What you may not have heard is that during the six years , the robbers I have repelled and scared off with this gun, and ten others. Albert can teach you how to switch the safety, how to aim and shoot, and if you don't want to learn, just give him this gun. It doesn't matter. I gave you this gun not to ask you to kill people, but to ask you to pay attention to safety and take care of yourself."

Mercedes looked surprised.She looked at the cold metal in her hand, and then at Corona's invisible skirt. "Dear Corona, why do you carry a gun with you?"

"Just in case. I sincerely hope this gun will not come in handy in your hands."

"But why did you learn how to shoot a gun?"

"It was my lover who taught me." Corona said, recalling the days when she was on the shooting range with Enjolras, a nostalgic smile appeared on the corners of her lips.

"I never knew you had a lover," said Mercedes.

"Because I, like you, thought he was dead."

"You use this description, so in other words, do you also look forward to the day when he will return from death?"

"I hope so," said Corona, standing up. "Now that you are sure about Albert, I shall take my leave, Madame—no, Mercedes. You have found your lover." , I hope I can get mine back too."

"No," said Mercedes, rising also, "I have lost my love. I hope you will not lose yours!"