Granville's estate

"What happened to that pocket watch and franc case you brought back?"

Alred's harsh interrogation struck Louis's heart like a thunderstorm before the rainy moon, almost making him jump up.

"What, what franc box?"

Although he had a premonition, when he really heard Alred's questioning, Louis still felt dizzy in his head; The girl whose actions led to his current situation: "I, I don't know what you're talking about, Al."

Alred was almost laughed at by his friend's behavior. He took out a thin gold chain from his pocket, and the two ends of the chain were tied with the two gifts that Louis received yesterday—— A gold flat pocket watch shaped like a leaf and a sapphire franc box inlaid with a feather crown pattern, even in a dimly lit room, these two delicate ornaments shine because of their own materials.

"This is what Mary found in the pockets of your clothes this morning when she was sorting your clothes. She was very confused and showed them to me." Allred said, and Louis subconsciously wanted to reach for the two pieces. It was a small thing, but it was dodged by Al at once; he raised the two small ornaments a little higher, and asked sharply: "What is this? I have seen such jewel boxes, and there is no way without two thousand francs." Where did you get them? The silver pocket watch I gave you, and your own franc case?"

"This, this, I..."

Louis couldn't answer this question at all. He hesitated and wanted to blur the matter, but Alrede didn't give him this chance: "Who gave you these? Is it De Durand? Why did he give it to you?" Your stuff?"

When it comes to the surname "De Durand", Alrede looks like he wants to throw the two extravagant gadgets in his hand directly into the Seine: "Answer me, Louis!"

"I... what's the matter with your gold pocket watch, and what's the matter with mine."

This is simply a question that cannot be answered but has to be answered. Under the pressure of Allred—perhaps as a doctor once pointed out, people will make some decisions under great pressure. An incredible thing happened—in a word, at that moment, Louis suddenly thought of the old Breguet pocket watch with the Granville family crest that was said to be "sent to the watch shop to be repaired". And the new gold pocket watch he was using now, thinking it was an excuse to try, and the words just came out.

Of course, after saying this, Louis regretted it almost immediately when he saw Alred's face immediately sinking, and he explained in a panic: "Al, I have no other intentions, I, I only……"

"My gold pocket watch was changed when I was having fun with those Parisian dandies and thought the original silver pocket watch was too bulky and not decent."

Alrede frankly admitted his fault, but this does not mean that Louis can easily get away with it this time, he stared into Louis' eyes, not letting go of the slightest change in his expression: "I admit that I was caught by those False and meaningless enjoyment dazzled the mind, and was blinded by Sologne's lies to do such a thing, but now you say that the origin of these things is the same as the origin of my pocket watch? Louis, are you Blinded by what? You should know that some things are absolutely untouchable, which is not only a crime in the sense of the law, but also makes people’s souls fall into the bottomless abyss.”

Had a stranger come in at this moment to hear these words, he would probably have thought it a frank conversation between friends, and would not have noticed the stormy sea underlying Alrede's last words; The pointed words fell into Louis' ears, and it was enough to make him feel terrified.

"Al, I swear to the Virgin Mary that I have never done anything that you say, whether it is beyond the limits of the law or against the teachings."

Louis naturally understood what Alred meant by "letting the soul fall into the bottomless abyss", and he also knew what the consequences would be if the words Callister said to him yesterday were spread—whether it was The Catholicism they believe in, or the Puritanism that Catholics regard as heretics, regards things between the same sex as an absolute taboo that should go to Hell, unless it is as noble as the Sun King's younger brother, otherwise However, subject to the conditions he had agreed to Callister, he could only assure his friend: "I swear to you, I I have never had any such thoughts before, and I will never do anything beyond the limits of doctrine, morality and law in the future."

"Of course I know that you didn't really do such a thing. I can tell this clearly. Otherwise, even if my family's reputation is at stake, I would have let that De Durand go to hell yesterday."

Alred gritted his teeth inelegantly when he said this, and it seemed that if the original owners of the two trinkets in his hands were standing in front of him, he would not hesitate to give Callister's A heavy punch came to the face: "With your personality, you can only think that such an idea is a kind of blasphemy, but you haven't stayed in Paris for a long time, so you don't know that those Jews will do it to achieve their goals. What despicable means! They can do anything - I shouldn't have sent you to see that Durand alone yesterday!"

"Al, what are you talking about, Mr. Viscount de Durand is not a Jew!"

"But in my opinion, there is no difference between a banker who hoards money and a Jew who lends money at usury. Both of them will use any means to achieve their ends, and they will throw all beliefs and morals behind them."

"Al," Louis said, it was disrespectful to compare a pure-blood nobleman with a Jew who has always been regarded as a greedy vampire. He felt that his friend was a little too irrational: "You shouldn't say that about De Durand Sir, I can't even imagine the horrors that would have happened to us if he hadn't reached out yesterday."

"Ah, yes! He really helped me a lot, otherwise the capital that my family relied on the most would have fallen into the hands of that greedy tea merchant." Alred said, staring at him Looking into Louis' eyes: "For people like them, selfless help is impossible. What they give, they have to earn back doubled—so, Louis, I should be grateful for that Calliste de What is the price of Mr. Durand's help?"

This time, Louis pursed his lips and did not speak - not only because he had never reached a similar agreement with Calliste de Durand and could not answer this question, but also because he found that he seemed to be The more you speak well for the Viscount, the angrier Alred will be.

"What am I going to pay for his help, Louis?" asked Allred, grabbing Louis by the shoulders and looking him straight in the eyes: "I don't care what agreement you have with de Durand." , I will pay him back his money, even if he wants gold coins of the same price as my manor, I will spend my whole life repaying the debt and I will accompany him to the end; but you must remember that you have nothing to do with this matter ——You must never get involved, let alone do anything you shouldn’t do, understand? So you go back to Magon obediently, stay at home, read, pray, and take care of your home land, or find a beautiful girl to be your bride—whatever it is, forget all about Paris, and make it a nightmare."

When Alred said these words, it was easy to feel the real concern and concern, which made Louis both moved and ashamed: how would he tell his friends about Callister and What about those agreements between him?He found himself in an embarrassing situation. He was unwilling to deceive his friends, and he could not break his promise. In the end, facing Alred's concern, Louis could only turn his head away: "Al, I don't want to leave Paris just yet."

Allred looked as if someone had punched him hard in the chest.

"why?"

"No reason, Al, I just don't want to leave yet," Louis said, and he mustered up his courage: "You can't arrange what I should do according to your wishes, Al, I am an adult, and my father does not want to leave." Already dead, I have the right to do as I wish."