Granville's estate

No. 79, St. George's Street, could not be without a hostess, especially at this particular time, so they could not go to the Durand Bank together - which is a very good reason. Mr. Dumont.

"If other people come to visit when I go to Durand Bank, you can entertain the guests well, but wait until I come back to talk about everything."

Before leaving, Allred told Louis that, of course, if it was Sologne Grostedt who came, it would not be polite: "I also asked Father Tongsal to prepare the shotgun and Bullet, I also greeted the patrolman, although I don't think he dared to appear during the day, but it's better to be careful."

So after Allred took Joseph—he would have liked to have kept the footman at home too, but a gentleman cannot be disrespectfully left without a footman—to the Bank of Durand, Louis took a pictorial from the study , sitting in the first-floor living room watching Marie and Moina sitting by the window sewing, while trying to pick out the traces of Sologne Grostedt from the enigmatic woman.

"Sologne, he will carry his money bag with him wherever he goes, and he won't take it off even when he sleeps."

Moina definitely knew what Louis was thinking, she was casually enjoying the rare warm sunshine in winter, and at the same time she didn't mind betraying a little secret about Sologne: "As for how much money is in it, no one knows but surely he has more than French currency in his purse."

"How did you know him?" Louis asked. This should be considered a rare moment between them to talk calmly. Even though he hated that cunning criminal very much, he had to admit that Sologne's thoughts on crime were indeed eye-opening. ; but it is such a cold-blooded and ruthless conspirator who only cares about profit, who actually takes in a lowly prostitute by his side, which really makes people wonder: "You said that he only does everything for money, but I I can’t think of any benefits you can bring him.”

"I don't like to hear your words. Why, couldn't he be overwhelmed by my beauty and charm?"

There should be some inside story that Mary can't listen to, at least after Moina glanced at the girl beside her, she gave Louis a wink, and then giggled rather impertinently: "I used to be in France When the dukes and earls are charmed at the opera, and made to spend my money on my bankrupt, you probably still have your little head buried in the bible! My dear Monsieur Louis."

"But according to Al, that was already ten years ago." Louis said, the passage of time is undoubtedly the cruelest for a woman's appearance: "You can't possibly know him ten years ago, right?"

Moina ignored him this time, and hummed to herself, while her needlework was swift, while Marie handed Louis a veil she had finished.

"Monsieur," said Marie, who, perhaps because the affairs of her beloved Villiers had been satisfactorily settled, had been very happy all day: "you see how pretty the lilies are here! It was accidentally scratched by scissors, and I thought it would definitely lose money. As a result, sister Moina not only patched it up, but also embroidered a whole branch of flowers. If you don’t look carefully, you can’t see it at all. Woolen cloth."

The handkerchief that Mary handed to Louis was made of fine silk, soft and embroidered with a lily with flowers and leaves--the stitching is exquisite, and the pattern can be faked. To put it bluntly, if this handkerchief is placed in that In a high-end handkerchief shop, at least five francs can be sold.

"I used to work as an embroiderer, although it was a long time ago." Moina said casually. Although she didn't seem to care, she must have liked Mary's compliments on her craftsmanship: "Then Sometimes I have to embroider patterns on two bolts of cloth a day, and if I can’t do it quickly and well, I won’t even be able to eat.”

"It's one of the best embroidery work I've ever seen."

Even Louis had to admit this: "Since you have such a good craftsmanship, you shouldn't have a particularly difficult life... Why, how did you go to the Opera House?"

Although work is something that nobles both despise and avoid, but for the bourgeoisie and people like Louis, self-reliant female workers are slightly better than frivolous actresses in terms of reputation; Moralists have long condemned the latter as people who are driven into that kind of vanity fair by vanity and materialism.

For this, Moina just glanced at Louis, her eyes seemed to be looking at a naive, innocent little boy.

"Monsieur, do you think that you can earn enough water, potatoes, rent, firewood, and clothes in Paris with these things? There is money, but it belongs to the cloth merchants and has nothing to do with the women workers. In that case, you Don’t blame others for doing anything to survive.”

This sentence made Louis speechless. When he was in embarrassment, the janitor walked in with a person, and he didn't even notify him first.

"Mr. Louis, someone is looking for you." Father Tonsal said, and he took a step aside to let out the people who followed him: "He said he came on the orders of his master."

"Who... my God, Carbo! Why are you?"

After seeing clearly who was coming, Louis stood up at once—that’s right, behind Papa Tonsar was Callister’s personal valet, Carbo, and he didn’t wear the valet with the badge of the Durand family today. It looks like an ordinary servant; what is strange is that he is holding a large black velvet cloak with a light blue silk base in his hands. Because it is thick and long, even if it is folded, the bottom of the cloak It was almost down to Carbo's knees.

"Ah, Mr. Louis, long time no see, I greet you on behalf of my master."

The personal servant greeted Louis with a smile, and just nodded to the two girls sitting by the window; this servant was not handsome, but when he smiled, his brows and eyes were curved, very pleasing: "Sir, we Monsieur is just outside in the carriage, and he has come to invite you to come with him to Lady Maurice Srpon's club."

"He...he's outside?"

It was the first time that Callister had come directly to 79 St. George Street, and anyway, it would be too bold if it happened to be run into by Alred—Louis thought of this subconsciously, but he suddenly remembered The Viscount once said that he had placed an eyeliner here, that is to say, he must have known the fact that Alred was not there: "Why doesn't he come in?"

For this question from Louis, Carbo just winked at him, and avoided answering positively: "Do you need me to change clothes for you? Just ordinary comfortable clothes, in Mrs. Morislpon You don’t need to dress formally in the club, it’s a place for gentlemen to relax. Ah, by the way, this is the cloak that sir asked me to bring, so that you won’t catch cold when you go out.”

"But I can't leave the house alone..."

Alred had said before he went out that he should stay at home—Louis hesitated, but in fact he thought more: promises, Moina, Sologne, Marie, a home without a master, and... he The franc box and gold pocket watch from before!They're still in Al's hands!

"If that's the case you don't have to worry about it, I assure you that what your home is now when you leave it will be what it will be when you come back tonight," said Carbo, who gave Louis a sly look: " Every master has times when he is away, and that's the duty of a loyal servant, isn't it?"

"Ah, yes, yes, sir, you may go at ease, and I promise you that the house will be taken care of."

The janitor rushed to answer, and he kept hinting with his eyes to Louis that he could take on the responsibility of monitoring Moina—and judging from his active performance, Karbo probably gave him a lot of tips before he came in.

In this way, Louis had to change his clothes under Cabo's urging, but Cabo didn't even let him put on his own coat, but directly shook off the cloak he brought and put it on Louis—— The cloak was lined with Lyon silk and the outside was the finest black velvet. It was very thick and almost reached Louis' ankles in length, and it was much warmer than a fur coat when worn.

"You don't need such a thing as a coat, I promise, it's not rude at all."

The attendant assured Louis that this was actually a very strange request, because according to the default social rules, coats and corresponding accessories are indispensable for formal attire, which made Louis always feel very uncomfortable; but Card Bo refused to tell him the reason. When Louis asked again, he smiled and asked Louis to ask his husband.

And when Louis walked out of No. 79 St. George Street in his cloak, he saw the unmarked, seemingly ordinary Durand family carriage he had seen before parked on the steps in front of the door. Lister put on a big black cloak like him, and seemed a little impatient to wait.

"You're too slow, Louie."