Miss Eugenie Grandet

"If you intend to involve me again in your troubles, then please dispel it at once," said Eugenie. "I am very satisfied with the present situation, and I do not want any change. Therefore, please leave me. farther away."

"status quo?"

Philip softly repeated the word that had come out of her mouth.

"Miss Grandet, I know that in this situation, what I should have done is to bow down to you. Because you have not only been kind to me in the past, but as you think, I have indeed been kind to you now." I beg you. But after hearing what you just said, I still can't help but want to ask you, the so-called "status quo" that you are satisfied with refers to everything around you that you already have, or what is happening on the land of France everything of?"

"Both." Eugenie said coldly, "I am very satisfied with my life. As for this country, sorry, I am not a political participant, nor a sage who cares about the country and the people. In my opinion, maintaining the status quo , Staying away from war is the greatest gospel for people living in this land of France.”

An extremely imperceptible smile flashed across Philip's lips, as if there was a bit of sarcasm.

"Miss Grandet, I fully understand your good wishes. But, in a country where the people once beheaded the king, you are not so naive as to think that the revolution will end here? Just now, You should have heard what's going on here. Yes, that's true. So you know where I stand. Let's just say, even if there wasn't a big change that followed due to the return of the emperor, this was Sooner or later, new riots will occur in the country ruled by the ghost of Bourbon crawling out of the grave. Your wishes are indeed kind, but unfortunately, the road to hell is often paved with good wishes. Do you agree with me? ?”

No need for the other party to say anything, Eugenie knew better than the young man standing opposite her at this moment what would happen in this country in the future.Overthrow, new dynasty, overthrow again, dynasty change again.From the day in 1793 when thousands of people witnessed the blood splattered on the king's head and neck, until the next nearly 100 years, all the factors about freedom and rebellion in the French nature seemed to be completely stimulated—but At least, if everything continues as usual, there will still be ten years between now and the next dynasty change.

From a selfish point of view, she doesn't want the world she was familiar with to be changed by this person who suddenly appeared in front of her and the power he represents—very unwilling!

"What if I approve, so what if I don't?" Eugenie raised her eyebrows, and returned it with a mocking expression, "Mr. Philippe Larner, I have no doubt that you and your emperor may build an empire for the third time. .But so what? Marching into Paris, driving out the unpopular current king, and retaking the Tuileries Palace may not be difficult for your emperor, but how to secure the throne is the most important thing Big problem. In my opinion, even if the empire does reappear, another Waterloo is just waiting for your final destination. So, at that time last year, I can help you, because you are just an ordinary person, to me , That was just a casual move. But now, no matter what you want to ask me to do next, I know it must be something that will affect the whole of France, and then my personal life. So sorry, I refuse to help. "

Philip looked serious.

"This is the only reason for your refusal, considering our final failure?"

Eugenie shrugged, "You may think I'm snobbish. I admit it. But stay away from bankrupt people. This is a rule in business."

Philip stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed.He took a step closer to her, lowered his head slightly, and looked into her eyes, "Miss, you are very rational and have a very long-term perspective. At first glance, you seem to have plausible words. But let me tell you, there are no absolutes in this world. Why are the people keen on revolution? For democracy, for freedom? Wrong, the so-called freedom and democracy are nothing but excuses glorified by sociologists. They are just dissatisfied with what they get and want more .Once the incumbent fulfills their wishes, the revolution will stop. Why is the emperor more popular than the Bourbon dynasty? Because the first ruler did not take anything from them, even if he became emperor, he only took away one of their sons Just go to war, and the restored Bourbon dynasty is trying to take away everything they took from the nobles and monks during the Great Revolution. So I tell you, whether it is between the country and the people, or the country and the country, the consideration of interests is always Take the first place. There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. This is my refutation of the prophecies you have made."

Eugenie paused and raised her chin even higher.

"Mr. Rana, all you say is just your own wishful thinking. Although I don't know the person you are loyal to, but to be honest, I don't think a dictator who is used to giving orders will easily give up his establishment of the United States of Europe. stubborn dream."

Philip stared at her in silence, saying nothing.

Eugenie was sensitively aware of the slight sadness that seemed to be inadvertently revealed in his eyes.

"Miss, will you come with me, please?"

After whispering something pleading, he turned around, opened the door of the prayer room, and walked out.

Eugenie couldn't refuse the imperative sentence expressed by the other party in this way.After a moment of hesitation, he also followed.

The food distribution ceremony was still going on in the lobby at the front of the church, and there was no one in the back hall.After walking out of the prayer room, he walked all the way to the end along the dark and narrow passage. He entered a room that looked like a storage room. After removing an old wooden cabinet, a low door was revealed against the wall.He stooped in, and Eugenie followed.

This is a small secret room, because of the lack of air circulation, it smells damp and mildew when breathing.There was already a lamp lit on the table in the corner of the room.With the dim light, she quickly saw the situation inside.

A man was lying on a wooden bed against the wall.

He seemed to have fallen asleep, with his eyes closed and motionless.The faint light cast on half of his face. Although this face looked vain and haggard, as if it had been soaked in sea water for days and nights, it was not very similar to the face with stern eyes cast on Napoleon gold coins. She recognized it quickly.

Napoleon Bonaparte!

Too surprised.She almost covered her mouth and let out an exclamation.Turning his head suddenly, he looked at Philip Larner who was standing aside.

Philip turned and came out, and moved the wooden cabinet back to its place, covering the entrance and exit.

"Yes, you are right, he is Napoleon Bonaparte." After finishing all this, he turned to Eugenie, "You must have been shocked by what he saw just now, right? It's actually not surprising. After the defeat of Waterloo four years ago, the emperor was shamelessly deceived by abdicating the throne on the condition of the succession of the Roman king - of course, the loser was not qualified to negotiate in the first place. A year after arriving in St. Helena, he was moved to Arrived at Changlin. Do you know what Changlin is? If you go there, the local islanders will tell you that this is the most uninhabitable cold flat land in the whole island. It stands alone against the wind and is wet all the year round, so they This place is also called the forest of death. The emperor's residence was converted from stables, cowsheds and laundry rooms, and it was filled with a lingering wet smell all year round. The reason why the British dealt with their enemies like this , I don’t need to say the purpose, you know it. They did achieve their purpose. The emperor’s followers who followed him in the past rebelled one by one and left him one after another. His body was also greatly damaged. Miss Grandet, if I To tell you that the emperor was still full of fighting spirit from the beginning to the end, it is not true. Napoleon Bonaparte has a will of iron, but he is also human. After I rescued him and escorted him out of captivity for four years He also hesitated when he was on the long-awaited island. He is already 50 years old. The era of dictatorship has passed, and the fanatical dream of the United States of Europe has also come to naught. In the alternating swing of persistence and giving up, he finally still Deciding to come back -- in my opinion, probably the bravest decision he's ever made."

He watched Eugenie with a calm expression.

"What's the worst result? It's just another failure and death. What's the best result? It can make up for the many mistakes he made before. When a person dies, the greatest sorrow is not what he didn't realize in time Dreams, but chance after opportunity lost through inadvertent mistakes. You must ask me, what does all this have to do with me? I tell you that when he led the army to victory at the great battle of Marengo, I was still just A kid who could just handle my father's gun. Apart from my ambition, Napoleon Bonaparte is a great symbol of this era in my mind. A soldier dies on the battlefield, and Napoleon Bonaparte must not die In the stables the enemy has assigned to him. As long as I live, I will not give up."

Eugenie looked at him, and he looked at her.

After a while of silence.

"what can I do?"

She sighed secretly and asked.

There was joy in his eyes, and he took another quick step, leaning against her, and said in a low voice, "It's like this. Our group originally arrived at Noi Island, and we waited for Ou Ren to come and join us." .Unfortunately, the emperor fell ill when he landed on the island. He was very ill. If he was left on the island to get a doctor, it would take too long to get back and forth, so we had to take the risk of landing. I can sneak to the priest to take shelter temporarily. But it is not safe here. Not only are there too many people, but the emperor can’t get a good rest. I think you are nearby, and I know that you have been staying here recently. I think you will be able to Help us."

"You mean, let me take him to my manor and hide him?" Eugenie gasped.

"Yes," he raised his eyebrows. "Your place is the best. First, the place is big and there are few people. Second, even the Bourbon policeman knows that your father hated the Emperor deeply."

"Your calculation is no less shrewd than my father." Eugenie sneered, then frowned, "but how to bring him there?"

"I have an idea……"

He leaned his head close to her ear.

"You are such a desperado," Eugenie snorted angrily after hearing this. "Have you ever thought that my family and I will be severely punished if things are revealed?"

"Under your protection, I am sure everything will be all right."

He smiled flatteringly at her.

Eugenie frowned, looked back at the entrance blocked by the big cabinet, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'll make arrangements."

"I'm very sorry, Mademoiselle Grandet," Philip said in a soft voice, staring at her suddenly before she left, "in fact, I would never have dragged you into the In this trouble..."

"But thank you very much. The emperor and I will remember what you did today."

The author has something to say: Philippe Senson said a lot, which sentence moved Eugenie?

I have always regretted Napoleon's final outcome. Although his failure was inevitable based on the fanatical Caesar-style dream of conquest at his peak, the Battle of Waterloo was not lacking in accidental factors. If he used the right people and listened Carnot's advice did not lead to the final decisive battle prematurely. If in the Battle of Waterloo, he sent the Guards to assist in time (wrong, it was the elite army that Philip was in~~), and if, after the defeat, he did not Choose to believe in Britain, but the tsar or the United States, everything may be different...

So... since this is a YY novel, let's make up for the regret ←←