Granville's estate

When he saw Baroness Claudia de Portandière, Viscount Calliste de Durand and Galbien appearing in his spyglass, Louis was stunned for a while before finally Realized that his small telescope was probably aimed at the wrong target.

"Did you see it? The one with the black hair who is eating sugar-fried chestnuts is the Vicomtesse de Bourgogne." Alred didn't realize that Louis's small telescope was pointing to the wrong box, and after he took off his own small telescope , leaned over and whispered to Louis, and couldn't help laughing: "I dare say that in the whole of Paris, only Madame de Bougogne eats candied chestnuts in places like the theater. No, or even grapes are eaten by the grain. Her old man doesn't care what others think of her, but since she is rich and can go to the court, everyone will naturally think that what she does is right."

Louis quickly moved the small telescope to the side, looking for the Viscountess de Bougogne that Alred said.This time he found his target very easily. After all, as Alred said, there is probably only one person who would eat such unsightly snacks as sugar-fried chestnuts in the theater——in Claudie In the box next to Ya and the others, sitting in the front row is a noble lady who is eating snacks.

The Viscountess de Bourgogne has black hair and eyes, she looks like she is in her 40s, she is wearing a water blue silk skirt, with only a few very elegant lace sparsely on the skirt, which is completely out of character. Like some noble ladies, they can't wait to decorate the whole dress with lace and jewels.Perhaps because of her fondness for snacks, Mrs. de Bourgogne's figure is relatively plump, but this does not detract from her charm at all. Instead, it brings her a wonderful affinity, which makes people unable to bear it at first glance. Feel good about it.

And when Louis saw Mrs. de Bourgogne, she was holding a small bag of sugar-fried chestnuts in her hand, eating slowly while looking at the performance on the stage, and didn't care if there were many telescopes pointing at her The box——and on the shelf in front of her, there were several bags of unidentifiable snacks.

Now even Louis couldn't help laughing a little.

"It's the first time I've seen such a generous lady who doesn't hide her love for food at all!"

As Allred said, the ladies of Paris and the provinces, in order to maintain their slender waists and lustrous skin, each of them ate less than the other.Women always seem to think that gluttony is only for men, and that their own appetites are unspeakable, as if they are guilty of gluttony if they say they "want something" and need to go to the priest immediately Confession in front of the general.

"That's right, when we visit her later, we'll also buy some candy and take it with us."

"You can go when you think it's appropriate for us to go, and I'll listen to you."

Louis said in a low voice, but this time Alred didn't answer, he took away the small telescope and looked, Alred had already pointed the telescope at Marguerite's box.

For some unknown reason, Louis picked up the small binoculars again, and this time he aimed directly at the box where Claudia was.

In the box sat the Baroness Claudia de Portandière, even more beautiful than in the daytime, in a white dress, with a white camellia in her golden hair, and on the shelf There are two bouquets of flowers; the expression of this beautiful lady shows that she is fully aware that she is the focus of attention of the whole theater, but there is no trace of arrogance on her face, but she is watching the stage with a little innocent curiosity , while dangling the little spice box attached to the ring quite casually, showing a subtle sense of boredom.

The Viscount Calliste de Durand, who was sitting next to her, was wearing a very fitted white folded shirt and a black coat. He was wearing a pair of light yellow gloves and holding a golden cane.Anyone can tell at a glance that there must be a close blood relationship between this Viscount de Durand and Galbien de Durand, but his eyes are more green than Galbien's, and the outline of his face is also different. He was more severe than Galbien, and under the light of the gas lamp, he showed a kind of arrogance and sternness that would naturally come from being in a high position for a long time.

At this moment, Viscount Calliste de Durand was talking to the standing Galbien with his head tilted. The latter lowered his head slightly, not daring to refute a word, and looked rather dejected.While observing this old classmate who last met seven or eight years ago, Louis tried to recall the appearance of Callister Duvas he met in school, but he couldn't get rid of the "love" in school. The troublesome son of a bankrupt merchant" connected with this completely aristocratic man in front of him.

Just when Louis was thinking, as if he felt the gaze that had been watching him, Calliste de Durand suddenly turned his head and looked directly at this side, frowning.

His eyes were so intimidating, almost aggressive, the unsuspecting Louis was startled, almost thought that this old classmate was standing in front of him at this moment, so he immediately took down the binoculars.

"Ah, the Viscount de Durand on the second floor seems to be angry. I don't know which kid who doesn't understand the rules offended him."

The man sitting next to Louis seemed to be talking to himself.

"It's okay to look at it, but it's rude to keep staring at the same person all the time, so please restrain yourself, really!"

The man said so, but he didn't even turn his head, let alone look at Louis and Alred, as if he just sighed casually.

Louis could only feel his face burning hotly, and only then did he realize that people in Paris came to the theater not only to relax, but also to have quite a lot of social etiquette and unspoken rules here.

Alred also heard this sentence, he didn't connect this matter with his friends at all, but it reminded him of one thing.

"Louis, we are going to visit the Viscountess de Bougogne later, I have something to tell you." Alred turned his head and whispered to Louis, "Madame de Bougogne is a kind and enthusiastic woman. But when we visit, if Madam asks you to sit in the first row of her box, you must not really listen to her."

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Louis replied obediently, the heat in his ears hadn't subsided, but he couldn't help asking: "Is there any trick here? If you can't sit in the first row of the box , then why did Madam let others sit there?"

"There is no way, that is, the first row of the box can be seen by everyone in the theater, and they will judge the people sitting there. ridiculed, and even be ostracized from the social world." Alred said to Louis, "You certainly don't like being talked about - in fact, Madam is also kind and enthusiastic, but people of her status probably can't understand It’s annoying for people of our status. Even if there’s nothing wrong with it, what’s the point of only appearing in the front row of the box once? It’s better not to show off too much before you’re fully prepared.”

Hearing this explanation, Louis was rather happy for Alred.

"It sounds like you know the rules here, and I'm glad you're being sensible," he said.

"That's natural!"

At the end of the second act of the play, Arled gave Louis a hand, and they went out by the side door.

Alred first recruited a footman who specialized in running errands and gave him a ten centimes copper coin. The footman quickly returned from Madame de Bourgogne's box on the second floor and said: "Madame said I am very glad that you and your If a friend is visiting her, it would be better if he could bring her some candied fruit along the way."

"That would be great!" Alred said so, and gave the footman another ten centimes copper coin as a tip, and then walked out with Louis.

They first went to the candy shop in the aisle of the theater, bought two bags of candied fruit, and then went to the independent Sura flower shop outside the theater.

The hostess of the flower shop, Mrs. Sulla, is a very elegant and beautiful woman in her 30s. She sits among bunches of precious tropical flowers and watches the beautiful young maids in the shop flying among the flowers like butterflies. Fly away and take care of the exotic flowers and plants that are cultivated by glass greenhouses and are quite precious in this season.

When Alred asked her for a bouquet of red and white camellias, Mrs. Sulla squinted at Alred and Louis, and suddenly smiled: "There is a rule in my shop: never sell flowers to A banker in love."

"Of course I know this rule," Alred said, and handed two gold louis to Madame Sulla: "But I am not Mr. Viscount de Durand, even if he is Mr. Viscount de Durand, I think he is still the same. Those who are qualified to buy flowers from you, after all, the word 'passionate' doesn't fit him no matter how you look at it."

Mrs. Sulla looked at Alred, then looked at the Louis behind him who was marveling at the dazzling array of flowers in winter, smiled slightly, accepted the two gold Louis, and then gave him two five Franc silver coins.

Arlaide handed the bouquet of camellias that were in full bloom to Louis, and was satisfied to see that his friend was holding the bouquet in a manner that was not inferior to any prince in Paris.

"Come on Louis, we are going to visit Madame de Bourgogne."