Granville's estate

"Madame, if you are talking about the boarding school of Saint-Etienne, it has been almost ten years since I left there. You cannot ask a person to remember everyone who was around him ten years ago, especially when he left I haven’t met anyone since then.”

Hearing what Viscount Calliste de Durand said in a very arrogant tone, Louis pursed his lips slightly and lowered his eyes.

"Holy Virgin Mary, I can't believe that there are times when you don't remember. After all, I didn't remember the price of my manor in Alençon last time. It was you who told me that I bought that manor. How much is the land price in that year!"

Regarding what the Viscount said, Viscountess de Bourgogne was both surprised and disappointed.

"Such young, handsome and handsome gentlemen, and especially M. Farentin, by the Virgin Mary, if I had had such a beautiful child, or had seen such a beautiful child, I am sure I would not forget him for a long time. of!"

Viscount Calliste de Durand followed Madame de Bourgogne's gaze at Louis.

"Ma'am, there are so many people and things in the world, not everyone or everything is worth remembering by me."

"Ahem, Madam." The arrogant tone and attitude of Viscount Calliste de Durand was really unpleasant. Seeing that Alred had already started to frown, Louis hurriedly smoothed things over without showing any signs Withdrew his hand from the lady's hand: "It has been almost seven years since Alred and I left the St. Etienne boarding school, and Mr. Viscount left there two years earlier than us. In nearly ten years We have neither met nor passed letters, so it is normal for Mr. Viscount not to remember us."

He entered St. Etienne's boarding school in the same year as Allred, and naturally graduated and left in the same year.Counting from the time they left the school in [-] to the present, the classmates at that time, except for the brotherly brother Alred and a few other fairly close partners, the others were scattered in all directions, and some of them were in a changing situation. Some of them fled the Old Continent in the storm of the storm; some exchanged addresses with each other when they graduated, but they cut off communication without knowing it; some even returned to the embrace of God at a young age because of illness.

Calliste and them are not in the same class, and they entered and left Saint-Etienne two years earlier than them. Although Louis had a certain intersection with him when he was in school, whether it Callister Duvas's temper was still in the powerful position of the Viscount Calliste de Durand in front of him. Louis didn't think it was strange that the other party had forgotten the two students in the next class.

"So you didn't exchange correspondence addresses with them when you graduated?" Madame de Bourgogne looked at Alred, then at Louis, and said to Viscount de Durand: "Look, this is It is obvious that M. Louis du Farentin and M. Arred de Granville remember you, but you do not remember them."

The Viscount let out a mocking snort from his chest.

"It's normal for them to remember. I dare say that those who graduated in Saint-Etienne in those years will remember me. After all, they themselves said that there has never been a time in Saint-Etienne's history that was one month before the graduation ceremony. Students who 'leave early'."

As soon as these words were said, Louis immediately pursed his lips, and even Alrede's smile became a little forced. Only the Viscountess de Bourgogne was completely ignorant of the turmoil hidden behind these words. look.

"Because you left school early and didn't attend the graduation ceremony, so you didn't have time to leave the mailing address for the school classmates?" Viscountess de Bourgogne expressed her feelings innocently, "So , your father was too anxious to bring you back at the time. If only he did the same with Galbien, that child wouldn’t have been infected with so many bad habits of the British, making you have to spend money now Do your best to discipline him.”

"Speaking of Galbien, he's really been a little too ridiculous recently." The Viscount switched his cane to the other hand, looking a little impatient with this inexplicable meeting of old classmates: "Madam, if you can , I would like to ask you to help me keep an eye on Galbien—I am not opposed to young people having fun, but you still need to pay attention to proportion, and it would be even better if you can persuade him to understand the art of balance."

Viscountess de Bourgogne thought for a while, picked up the snack bag on the shelf, took out a candied fruit from it, and put it in her mouth.

"This task is really difficult. I have to think about it and ask you what reward you want." The lady said while eating the candied fruit, and handed the bag of candied fruit to Louis, motioning him to take one too: "Ah , I remembered, the beautiful American green parrot you gave me last time, I like it very much, but two days ago, a maid in my house accidentally forgot to close the door of the cage, and the neighbor's cat ran over and put It took it away."

"It's just a parrot. If you can do me this favor, I'll prepare two more for you." said the Viscount.

"Then it's settled." Madam looked at Louis who rejected the candied fruit with some regret, and remembered something again: "Ah, by the way, I'm going to hold a dance in two days. Are you free?"

"If I have the honor to receive your invitation letter."

"That would be wonderful, and I bet many beautiful ladies and ladies are looking forward to seeing you at the ball."

"Then it's settled. If there's nothing else, I'll go back first."

"Well, you're always so busy," Madame de Bourgogne said regretfully.

"Yes, then, good-bye, ma'am. And gentlemen."

Viscount de Durand still spoke in that arrogant tone to Louis and Alred.

"I look forward to the honor of seeing you again next time, Monsieur Vicomte de Durand."

Alred said a little perfunctorily.

"Goodbye, Mr. Viscount, I look forward to seeing you again next time."

Although Louis felt that he might not have the chance to see the Viscount de Durand until he left Paris, but out of politeness, he still followed Alred's words, and after a while, he still couldn't help adding said a word.

"Perhaps you have forgotten, but I always remember how you helped me at Saint-Etienne."

Viscount Calliste de Durand, who had turned to leave, looked back at him.

"The meaningless so-called thanks are of no value to me."

It was the same kind of arrogance that made the teeth tickle, just like Callister Duvas many years ago, and for a moment, Allred looked like he wanted to go over and punch him.

"Ah, the Viscount has such a temper, Mr. Farentin, don't pay attention to him."

Madame de Bourgogne said this to Louis after the Vicomte de Durand left.

"You can call me Louis, ma'am." Louis said to his wife politely, "My father warned me that nobility and arrogance are the inherent rights of nobility, so I think Mr. Viscount's temper It's normal, after all, a gentle and kind noble lady like you, madam, is as rare as pearls in the sea!"

The Vicomtesse de Bourgogne giggled at his amusement.

"Holy Virgin Mary! You are so lovely, Mr. Louis." The lady said, holding him with one hand, and pointing to the first row of seats in the box with the other: "This is your first time here Come to the Opera Comique? Come and sit here. You can see every corner of the whole theater and the whole stage clearly. Ah, two handsome young men can watch with me tonight Miss Angel's performance, this is really bliss!"

Louis immediately remembered what Alred had warned him never to sit in the first row, and quickly turned to Alred for help.

"This is the honor we wish for, madam, but we can just sit behind you in the second row." Arred said before Mrs. de Bourgogne pulled Louis to sit in the first row. , "In this way, when we need to leave later, it won't disturb your good mood of watching the play."

"Oh! It seems that you are also ready to leave, why don't you stay with me for a while?"

Madame de Bourgogne pursed her lips and asked somewhat displeasedly.

"Ah, ma'am! How many people dream of being in your box!" said Alred. "We are honored to have this opportunity, but if we stay here all the time, others want your favor." Young people who are young may not dare to let the servants ask 'can I come to visit you', how can we do such a shameful thing! Don't you think so, Louis?"

Louis on the side never expected to have such an excuse. He could only nod obediently in agreement when he heard Alred's question knowingly.

"My God, your slick tone," Madame de Bourgogne laughed at Alred's exaggerated tone, "it's really becoming more and more like Sologne, and you can tell you the black ones White!"

"I will definitely convey your compliment to Sologne, I believe he will be very happy with your evaluation of him."

Alred said so solemnly.

"Well, I know you young people love to play more than the other. It is impossible for you to stay in one place honestly." Viscountess de Bourgogne looked at Louis, and then looked again Alred, gracefully took out two camellias in full bloom, one red and one white, from the bouquet on the shelf, and handed them to Alred: "But I really like this child, in a few days You must bring him to my dance party."

Before Louis said the words of refusal, Alred had already taken the camellia from his wife's hand, and smoothly inserted the white one into the top buttonhole of Louis' coat.

"It is our greatest honor to have your invitation, ma'am."