Granville's estate

After Louis went with his friends wherever he went, Mother Moreau, unable to revenge on Louis, quickly shifted her target to Callister. It caused a lot of trouble-at least during that time, rumors such as "that Duvas in the next class has caused trouble again" have become commonplace in Saint-Etienne; A large part of Lister's bad impression of "provoking trouble and fighting" was also left at this time.

However, such days did not last long. In January 1815 (that is, shortly after the Louis incident), Mr. Legrand was unable to continue to preside over the mathematics class because of a sudden neurasthenia. The doctor who diagnosed him thought that he must "let go of all his troubles and stay in the hot springs of Savoie for three months", so the action against Calliste also stopped: M. Legrand temporarily left Saint-Germain. Étienne, his graduating pupils are temporarily supervised by M. Nathan, the superintendent.The teacher returned to Saint-Étienne a year later, perhaps having been influenced by some virtuous people during his convalescence (this was a common thing in those days!), M. Legrand returned very differently. He became mild and friendly, and became a very devout Catholic, and he never troubled Louis again—by ​​this time both Callister and Mama Moreau had left Saint-Etienne.

Mama Moreau left St. Etienne with her husband in March, 1815, and Calliste left a little earlier, in February of that year—indeed He was said to have been driven out by Saint-Etienne, and to use a slightly more respectable term, he had "leaved early".It was only a month before Saint-Etienne's graduation ceremony, which is traditionally held in March, and as he later said to Louis, "Saint-Etienne has never appeared a month before the graduation ceremony" in advance. Leaving 'Students', which undoubtedly caused a great stir in Saint-Étienne at the time.

It was Monsieur Nathan, the superintendent, who had done much to instigate this, and though he had ordered that nothing be said of Callister, there was private speculation as to what had led to the temporary replacement of Monsieur Legrand. The proctor who manages the mathematics class - Mr. Nathan has always been respected and hated by the students for his seriousness, fairness and great respect for traditional institutions - can't even wait for the graduation ceremony in March, instead of doing it The decision to expel a student who was about to finish his studies; combined with the fact that Callister Duvas spent several days in solitary confinement before being evicted (rumours circulated that he was When Mr. Natang was in charge of the mathematics class, he was punished for fighting with his classmates many times), and finally everyone came to the conclusion that the serious supervisor must no longer be able to bear this troublesome student who refused to accept discipline That's why he made up his mind to let him get such a severe punishment.

If Calliste was really just the son of an ordinary businessman, such a punishment would indeed be extremely severe: after studying in Saint-Etienne for so many years, but finally leaving before the graduation ceremony, it would naturally not be Received letters of recommendation from the principal and proctors of the school (the letter of recommendation from Saint-Etienne played a very important role when Allaide entered the University of Paris); moreover, with the reputation of being kicked out, How many strange looks will Callister face after returning to his hometown!

It was precisely because he knew such serious consequences that Louis disobeyed the school rules and did something that directly led to him being locked up in the prayer room to copy the scriptures, thus missing the last chance to say goodbye to Callister—he was in the middle of the night Trying to sneak out of the dormitory to deliver some food to Callister who is still locked in the brig.The result can be imagined: the good student who had never done such a thing was discovered before he stepped out of the dormitory door, and Mr. Nathan, who was in a rage, immediately ordered Louis, who had violated the curfew, to be locked up in the attic He went to the small prayer room and ordered him to stay there and copy scriptures.By the time Louis was freed, Callister had been taken away by his family, and, according to the students who saw him leave in an unmarked carriage, "not even his father!"

Such a result is definitely not because Mr. Nathan and Mama Moreau had any connection, so he used his power as the school supervisor to avenge his personal revenge—yes, Louis once doubted this possibility, just like he doubted Mr. Legrand and Mrs. There is a shady relationship between Mother Moreau; but also after Calliste left Saint-Etienne, Mr. Nathan suggested to the principal that "there should not be too many women in Saint-Etienne. It will make the students weak and unmanly"-it is self-evident to whom these words are directed, so in March of that year, Mama Moreau and her impotent husband went from Saint-Etienne disappeared, and several other maids were dismissed by Saint-Etienne like her.Louis has no way of knowing whether other people have done the same thing as Mama Moreau, but Mr. Nathan's impartiality cannot be questioned: although he is rigid, stubborn and stubborn, and very authoritarian, he is not in character. A blameless superintendent indeed.

Although many people thought that Mr. Nathan's decision was too heartless at the time, when looking back at this matter now, things have become quite subtle: think about it, Callister's true identity-a The heir of an aristocratic family with a long history was forced to enter a boarding school that did not match his identity because of his family's royalist stance (after all, there are still students from civilians like Louis in St. After the dynasty resumed its rule and left there - he actually didn't need the so-called Saint-Etienne's approval and recommendation letter at all, because his family's loyalty to the royal family during the king's exile was already the best guarantee !

"So at that time, he would leave Saint-Etienne before graduation. It should be mostly due to his father's decision-ah, yes, Mr. de Durand's grandfather seemed to be seriously ill at that time. It must be part of the reason."

Allred, who reviewed the whole incident, also found this problem, and he said to Louis: "Mr. Nathan must want to drive him away, but just think about Mr. de Durand Jr. in Saint-Etty." Ann stayed there for so many years, and Saint-Etienne didn't say that he would expel him no matter how he caused trouble during this period... Therefore, it should be that the Durand family believed that the king's rule was stable at that time, and his grandfather was ill, so they would be in Nadang. After the husband proposed, he acquiesced in this decision, so that their heirs could return to Paris, the center of power, as soon as possible. However, the identity of Mr. De Durand Jr. cannot be revealed to the outside world, so the matter seems to be the arbitrary decision of Mr. Nadang alone. gone."

Reluctantly acknowledging Calliste's help to his friend, he addressed "the Jew" as "Monsieur de Durand", but Louis did not notice this change in Arred, and he Still immersed in the past, unable to break free easily.

"But not long after that, that Mr. Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the island of Elba." Louis said that the shock of this incident to everyone was no less than that of Mr. Napoleon in Russia. The rout: "Saint-Etienne hasn't heard a thing about him since and I was, thought I'd never see him again..."

"Ah, yes, yes!" said Alred, who seemed absent-minded for some reason: "Who knew that the gentleman would escape from Elba, and who could have known that he would escape so quickly? It failed again!"

While talking, he kept walking in the study room. After turning around several times, Alred finally stopped, as if he had made a very important decision.

"Louis, I'm sorry that I didn't know for so many years that such an unfortunate thing happened to you, I'm sorry." Allred said to Louis, "I am very grateful to Mr. de Durand for being brave in that situation." I have helped you a lot, but no matter what you say, I will not agree with you to stay in Paris-I am a nobleman myself, so I really know the behavior of the so-called nobles very well, especially in Paris In the city. If he had been the same Mr. Callister Duvas at that time, I might have believed him more, but I have no hope of the character of the current Mr. Viscount."

"Al!"

Louis didn't expect that even after knowing the things that Callister had helped him, Alred still insisted that Callister could not be trusted, rather than asking him to leave Paris: "You say that, it would be a disservice to De Viscount Durand is too unfair..."

"Ah, yes, yes, I admit that I have some prejudices against him," said Allred, but he obviously did not intend to correct: "Honestly, all these years in Paris, what I have heard about that The rumors of this gentleman are not very good. I don't want you to have anything to do with him. If it weren't for the Sologne Grostedt matter, there might be other tails. I would like to leave Paris with you , I’ve been staying with you for a while, after all, if I want to use the [-] francs deposit to repay that gentleman, my father will be furious and even drive me out of the house.”

"What nonsense are you talking about! That money can't be used casually!"

Alred made a very firm gesture.

"Since my father has given me both the money and the manor," he said to Louis, when both of them heard Joseph shouting "Sir! Sir" from downstairs: "Then what?" It is my business to dispose of them, and I am willing to use them for the things I think are most important."

After saying this, Alred walked over and opened the door of the study, and let Joseph come up to the second floor—because of the rules he made before the secret meeting, the poor little man could only wander around in a hurry on the first floor .

Joseph came up quickly, holding in his hand the passport that determined whether Louis could leave Paris.

"Have the visa procedures been completed?"

asked Alrede, who thought things must be infallible, but the valet's answer was beyond his expectations: "No, sir, I have been in the post office for so long, and I have not seen anyone who can get a ticket to leave Paris." license."

"That's all right—what did you say?"

Alrede almost thought that he had misheard what the servant said, and even Louis was stunned by this unexpected result, but obviously, Alrede, who had stayed in Paris for many years, reacted faster, and he immediately asked Manservant: "You mean the post office has suspended visa processing? Why?"

"No one knows what's going on, sir. The lobby of the post office is crowded with people who want to go out of town, but the clerks won't say anything about it." Joseph said, looking around, as if confirming The secret police, who were not listening, lowered their voices, and told the two gentlemen in the room the rumors he heard from others: "It is said that some Napoleonic party members sneaked into the city and wanted to attack His Majesty the king. It's not good for His Royal Highness—now the police are searching for those people everywhere, even the 'hound dogs' are dispatched!"