[Comprehensive Classics] Killing the Classics

Anya was worried that that thing would come out to make trouble, but after dinner was over, there was no movement from that thing.She relaxed a little.Reminiscent of the previous events, Anya speculated that it could not actively monitor the outside world, and even after being forced to shut down the detection of Anya's thinking, it could not even know what happened outside through Anya's channel.This is undoubtedly a favorable factor for Anya... Maybe she can use this to do something.

The dinner this time was extravagant, showing off the Earl's wealth everywhere, but at the same time it also made several people thrilled.M. de Villefort and Mme. Danglars were always restless, and their faces were pale and forced to laugh.Because of her experience when she first came to this world, Anya always paid special attention to Mr. Villefort's actions.Already fidgeting now, she wondered if he could still pretend to be calm after the scene that was waiting for a while started.

The conversation at the table had shifted from the delivery of food to the earl's house.Chateau-Renoir, a young count and friend of Albert and Morel, was the first to turn the conversation to this: "It is all very extraordinary. And what I admire most, I admit , that they can carry out your order so quickly. Didn't you just buy this house five or six days ago?"

The count replied: "It is a few days."

"I believe it has changed a lot in the past few days. I heard from your housekeeper that this Greek beauty of yours moved in just two days after you bought this house. And just It took a week, and it has been completely new. If I remember correctly, there should be another entrance here, and the front courtyard should have been empty. But today when we came, we found a beautiful road, It looks as if it has been renovated for a hundred years. It must be quite a job, my lord?"

"For the time it took, yes. But given the necessity of the project, I have to admit it's nothing."

"You have a group of quite loyal servants and capable men, Earl." Chateau Lenoir said, "But what I am curious about is that you put this princess-like beauty in this house, and it was still there before. It’s so gloomy, and then there’s such a big civil engineering project, how did your servant keep this delicate flower from being disturbed?”

Chateau-Renoir's words can be said to be bold and reckless, but most of the nobles in Paris now only regard Haidee as the count's mistress, and the count himself said that she is her slave girl.Considering this, Lenore's words and deeds can be forgiven.

But Anya was still very uncomfortable.She pretended to ask the count in Italian: "What is he talking about?"

A smile flashed in the eyes of the Count of Monte Cristo, and he also replied in Italian: "He is praising your beauty and frailty."

Anya answered him in Greek instead: "I really hope you entertained him in the toilet."

The earl laughed, his rare smile illuminated his pale and handsome face like light, and Anya couldn't help but blush a little.Madame de Villefort asked: "Why are you laughing, Monsieur Comte?"

"Haidee asked me what Count Renault was talking about, and I told her that he was worried about her body, so she answered me that she had grown up to the age of 19, and her body would be fine." The Count of Monte Cristo said calmly.There are people here who can understand Italian, but the one who understands Greek fidgets because of the familiar names, and when the party started, he sat at a distance, so he didn't hear what they were saying.

The people next to me also laughed.Madame de Villefort asked: "Her name is Haidee?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"It's a beautiful name. M. Renaud is right, she is like a princess."

"Having said this, I have to correct you on one thing--Haidee is not just like a princess, she is a real queen. But this matter can be explained later, because it is the most important thing for us at the moment. The most important thing is to have a harmonious dining environment.”

"Oh, you haven't said that yet, Earl!" Leno said, "How did you manage to do the construction without disturbing people?"

"Haidee's room is specially made, with upholstery, foam and layers of fabric to help dampen the noise. And, as you say, I have a good team of men who I'm sure will get things done That's right," said the Count.

"So you just took over the house on the day of my miraculous escape?" said Madame de Villefort. "I remember that the front door opened onto the street, and it looked ghastly."

Chateau-Renoir said: "It's normal for you to have that impression. The house hasn't been lived in for at least ten years. It's a bit of a dead exterior, with the shutters always closed and the door always locked. The grounds are overgrown with weeds. Indeed, if the house had not been owned by the prosecutor's father-in-law, one might think that some dreadful crime had been committed there."

Anya noticed that M. de Villefort seemed to shudder, and then took a glass of wine and drank it down.For those rare wines in front of him, it is impossible to feel the slightest beauty in such a rough way of drinking.It's a pity that these valuable wines are gone... Anya turned her head in pain.

But does a man like Villefort feel guilty?This kind of scene was also mentioned in the original book, but when Anya thought that he could strangle her own son to death without mercy, she shuddered.In the original book, Benedetto may have been given up because she did not show her vitality from the beginning, but she has clearly shown that she is still alive, and Mr. Villefort can still do that... Anya can't let go of this.

From a certain point of view, Anya is very similar to Mr. Grandet and even Mr. Danglars.As long as you have money and food, these two most basic things are enough to hold in your hands. Honor and face, what is that?Of course, Mr. Villefort's approach can also be understood as a way to avoid future troubles, but the Count of Morcerf... It is simply a pawn and a memorial archway.

A strong disgust and hatred rose from the bottom of her heart. Anya lowered her head slightly, looking at the back of her fair and beautiful hand.She knew that this was Haidee's emotion.She hated Fernando, hated the man who would betray his lord and his wife and daughter, and take his property in a grandiose way, and use it to gain a dignified foothold.

Don't wait long, Haidee.Anya said in her heart.She will soon have her revenge.

There was a moment of silence in the room because of Leno's description.The Count of Monte Cristo let the silence last for a while, and then said: "It is strange, I have had the same feeling when I first set foot in this house, it looks so gloomy, if it were not for my The steward has bought it for me, and I never want it. Maybe the fellow is bribed by a middleman."

"Maybe." Villefort said, trying to show a little smile on his face, but the pale face and unsteady tone made people have to detect something wrong with him, "but believe me, that bribe The case has nothing to do with me."

"You!" Madame de Villefort said in amazement, "what does this have to do with you?"

"This house can be said to be Valentine's dowry." M. de Villefort smiled more reluctantly.In fact, this house was the dowry given by the Saint-Meran couple to their daughter Renee, but he was here with Renee's friend...

Anya cut a piece of dessert and put it in her mouth, then continued to watch the play calmly.

The count observed the situation and struck while the iron was hot: "You must have not been here for a long time. Most of its gloom lies in its lack of popularity, and the whole house is actually not too scary."

"Too much!" cried Lenore with interest. "Have you found anything?"

"There is a room which, on the surface, looks very ordinary, with its red satin curtains, but which, I do not know why, strikes me as very interesting," replied the Count of Monte Cristo.

Debray's interest was piqued.The minister's secretary has a rather handsome face, otherwise it would be impossible for Madame Danglars to fall in love with him. "How come? How interesting?"

"Can we explain what we feel instinctively?" said Monte Cristo. "We seem to breathe depression in some places, don't we? But why? We can't tell. There is only a certain persistence." A recurring memory or a thought takes you back to another time, some other place, and that probably has nothing to do with our local scene. There is always something powerful in that room that makes I think of the Marchioness of Ginch [Marquis of Ginch ([-]-[-]), a French nobleman who was murdered by her husband's two brothers.—Annotation] or Desdemona [Shakespeare's tragedy " The heroine in "Othello" was strangled to death by her husband Othello.——Annotation] room. Come on! Since we have finished eating, let me show you, after we have seen it, we will go to Go drink coffee in the garden, and after dinner, you should go for a walk."

The Count of Monte Cristo looked at his guests inquiringly, and of course none of them would be unhappy.Madame de Villefort, who was always interested in everything about her stepdaughter, was the first to rise.The count also stood up, and everyone else also stood up one after another.

Anya stood up from her seat, walked to the earl without looking away, and took his arm.Her appearance does not look like a Greek, but she has the air of a French or English noble princess, which inexplicably reassures Count Morcerf.He whispered to the Countess beside him, "Have you heard of this lady's name?"

Countess Morcerf's lips trembled violently, and a sad expression appeared on her face: "No."

M. de Villefort and Madame Danglars, sitting next to him, were the slowest couple.They looked like they had taken root under their feet, hesitantly exchanged glances while sitting in their seats.The cold and dull eyes undoubtedly showed their mood.However, after a stalemate for a while, they still stood up.Madame Danglars took M. de Villefort's hand, and the two walked towards the count with the same stiff steps.