[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

Corona fell in love with Paris almost at first sight.

Strange to say, the girl did not know that Paris was her native place.But maybe the entanglement in the blood cannot be cut off. She saw this city for the first time when she was 14 years old, and she still fell in love with it at first sight.The three people who got off the train hired a carriage to go to the house that Carton had bought earlier. Corona almost pressed her face against the narrow window of the carriage, staring out of the window intently.She looked at the stone-paved road, neat or dilapidated buildings on both sides of the road, gardens full of roses and roses, and all kinds of people on the street.She was fascinated to see neatly dressed gentlemen and ladies walking slowly arm in arm on the street, as well as naked children galloping through the crowd.The day they arrived was sunny, and Paris was showing her beauty in the early autumn sunshine, and Corona couldn't bear to take her eyes off for a second.If she could, she would almost sit next to the coachman and enjoy the exotic scenery to her heart's content.

Across from her, Basil Howard and Sidney Carton sat side by side.They all looked at Corona, Basil looked at his beloved student with an admiring smile, but Carton was full of sorrow in his heart.Over the past 14 years, he had watched Corona grow up, and he had long since believed that she would become a murderous person like Madame Defarge. It was because of this that Corona's love for Paris made him feel guilty.He couldn't help wondering in his heart: They hadn't told Coronna her real life experience all these years, and never brought her to France, had they been too suspicious?Did they deprive her of the legitimate right to grow up in her hometown because of their own fear?Such worries couldn't help but gave birth to another layer of fear in his heart: if Coronna knew the truth one day, would she hate him for it?

This idea has been planted since the first day Caton adopted Corona.He always thought he was indebted to her mother, Ramona, so the happier he was with Corona, the more disturbed Caton's conscience was.He always felt that this happiness should not belong to him. One day Coronna knew what happened to his mother, and all his happiness would be returned.When Corona returned to Paris, he felt that he was one step closer to the end.

Corona was unaware of her father's emotional changes for the first time.She liked the city so much and was so happy that it filled her with joy.As soon as the carriage stopped, she jumped down briskly and looked around.Soon her eyes caught the house in front of them: "Father, is this our home?"

"This is just a temporary residence," Carton said. "Do you like it here?"

"I like it." Corona replied happily.

"If you like it, you can live here for a long time in the future."

This is 55 Rue Plumet.What they saw was a small two-story building. In front of the whole house was a garden with an iron gate facing the street. The garden covered an area of ​​about one hectare.There is a small courtyard behind the small building, and there are two bungalows with cellars in the courtyard.There is even a disguised secret door at the back of the bungalow, leading to a long and narrow alley: paved with stone slabs below, open above, twists and turns, sandwiched between two high walls; the alley is very cleverly designed , along the fences of some gardens and vegetable plots on either side of the wall, twists and turns, stretches forward, is covered all the way, and can hardly be seen from the outside, and thus continues for half a quarter of a league. There is another secret door outside, and when you open the door, you will find a lonely section of Babylon Street, which almost belongs to another urban area.

Even the house seller didn't know about it, and Caton only accidentally discovered this secret passage when he was inspecting the house and preparing for renovation, which was a surprise.The fleeing experience during the Great Revolution had left an indelible mark on him and the Darney family. Although he didn't feel it, having such a secret passage unconsciously increased the bargaining chip in his heart.After moving in, he pointed out the secret passage to Corona once Basil Howard left to live in his own studio.

Corona has always been a bold and curious girl, and this secret passage only adds to the mystery of the house in her eyes.She walked around the street with great interest for a few days, and she had already drawn a map of the terrain, roads, and the corresponding positions of the two exits of the house in her mind, and immediately found the use of this secret passage for her: once In the future, if she needs to dress up as a man to go out, she can sneak into Babylon Street through the secret passage behind the house and then go out. In this way, people will not associate her men's clothes with her real face so easily.

However, before this secret passage could be used, Caton ended his busy work.One day he took Coronna to a tailor shop and specially tailored a suit of clothes for her. He originally planned to use brocade, but the elderly tailor said, "What about a young girl who is not yet married?" Can wear damask!" Instead, she made a dress out of blue velvet, trimmed with ribbons and lace.When paying the deposit, the figure reported by the tailor made Corona feel dizzy, but Caton paid without blinking and took her out.

"Father, why did you spend so much money to buy a dress for me?" Corona asked as soon as she went out, "I don't need those gorgeous decorations, let alone such an expensive dress. Isn't this dress on me very beautiful?" okay?"

She was wearing a crimson cotton dress. Although Carton was not short of money, let alone treat Corona badly, most of his money was spent on Corona's education, and their family's life had always been simple. Wuhua, this skirt is not much better than the dresses worn by ordinary girls.Carton replied calmly: "In a few days, we may go to a dinner party."

"A dinner party?"

"An evening party at a noble's house."

"Are we going?" Corona was even more surprised, "But, father, we are not nobles."

Carton was silent for a moment, "I will explain it to you in detail in a few days."

Corona stopped asking any more questions.

Three days later, her clothes were ready and delivered to her door.Corona took apart the skirt and spread it on the bed, staring dumbfounded.The dress was made of rich blue velvet, with layers of ribbons, lace, and bows adorning the bosom, cuffs, and hem, woven with gold and silver threads like stars in the sky.Corona had never seen such a luxurious dress before, she carefully stroked the soft velvet surface with her fingertips, almost daring not to put it on.

Caton had explained the whole thing to her.He briefly mentioned the matter of Jean Valjean before, and then said that he was once a nobleman, and now he has spent a lot of effort looking for witnesses and evidences, and finally proved his noble status and inherited his father's title.It's just that he still needs to plead for a pardon from the king, so he has to join the social circle of nobles.He seemed a little reluctant, but Corona was full of curiosity, so Caton didn't stop her.

After looking at the skirt over and over for a long time, she put it on carefully and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling astonished.Dark blue velvet framed her white arms and neck, and her blonde hair was woven like gold.Her bright blue eyes, light golden eyelashes, fresh lips and full cheeks all reveal the beauty of a woman, but she is not yet fully developed, so she is light and exquisite.Corona always knew that she was born beautiful, but she never really felt this beauty.Now being set off by this luxurious dress, it was the first time that she realized that she was so glamorous when dressed up.

She looked at herself happily for a while, then ran downstairs with her skirt, and wanted to show Caton again.When she went downstairs, she realized that there was an extra person sitting in the living room, and she couldn't help yelling in surprise: "Basil!"

She had always been steady, and rarely showed such a happy look, the two gentlemen waiting downstairs couldn't help but smile. "Our little girl has grown up." Basil praised without hesitation, "You must be a model for me in this dress some other day, Corona."

"Isn't it enough for me to be a model for you? You can draw as you like!" Corona happily turned around in front of him, and then turned to Caton.Carton didn't say anything, just smiled and stroked a strand of hair beside her ear.

The author has something to say: Again, all the inheritance rights, aristocratic life, etc. are basically made up by the author, don’t take it seriously, thank you everyone...

A small part of the text description in this chapter comes from the original work of "Les Miserables".