Granville's estate

After receiving the ball invitation from the Viscountess de Bourgogne, Louis and Arred stayed for a while before saying goodbye to the Viscountess de Bourgogne.

After stepping out of his wife's box, and walking in the corridor of the theater, Louis observed that there was no one in the corridor, and then complained to Alred in a low voice: "Al, why didn't you help me decline Madame de Bourgogne's appointment?" What about an invitation? Rather than going to a ball where I don't know anyone, I'd rather stay with you and have a quiet conversation."

"Don't worry, Louis!"

Allred was very optimistic.

"Didn't I tell you that you have come to Paris after all, so you have to have a good time. Madame is a very nice person, she will take care of you, even if you don't like dancing, go and see the pretty girls at the ball." Ladies and ladies, it would be nice to chat with elegant and funny gentlemen—maybe you can meet a beautiful, elegant lady at the ball who can bring you a dowry of 60 francs, It was love at first sight for you!"

"What nonsense are you talking about! If others hear this kind of talk, they should say that I am wishful thinking, and the toad wants to eat swan meat."

"Oh, this is the way of the world today! Even if everyone doesn't say it, which man doesn't think so? Although everyone says that marriage is God's will, everyone wants to marry a man with a dowry of 100 million francs. It would be better, wife, if you brought pounds, so that you could live in luxury in Paris on the annual interest alone."

"Isn't there a person in front of me who doesn't think like this?—Or, in fact, you also think like this? If that's the case, what you do is different from what you think."

"Oh, that's the source of my troubles, if only I knew what I think."

Facts have proved that at least for now, Allred does not intend to think about this issue.

Margaret's box is the fourth box from the opposite side on the left side of the second floor. According to what Alred told Louis, the most expensive box in the theater is the box with curtains on the left and right sides of the stage—— That is where Mrs. de Bourgogne and the Viscount de Durand are located, followed by the box seats at the front of the stage. Boxes in these positions can only be booked for a whole year; after that are other boxes, which can be booked for a whole year Reservations can also be made in pieces when there is space.

Louis pondered for a while, remembering that Alred said that a baron had paid for Margaret's box for a whole year, and he understood in his heart that if it was Margaret herself, could she pay for the reservation for a whole year? The year's money is another matter for the time being, maybe the theater is not very happy to let her book it.

Before going to see Marguerite, they went back to the candy shop set up inside the theater. Compared with buying candied fruit for Mrs. de Bourgogne neatly, Alred spent a lot of time this time. Picking left and right, it looks like you can't wait to buy the whole candy store.

"I said, Al," after Alred picked out three small bags of candied grapes, sour plums and citrus slices, and a bag of dried figs, Louis couldn't help reminding: "I want Margaret Miss and Mrs. Busha can't finish eating all these sweets and snacks."

Alred wanted to buy another bag of hazelnut nuts, but after hearing what Louis said, he hesitated and gave up.

"These are her favorites."

Probably because he felt that he had done too much, Alred explained to Louis in this way: "Margaret likes to put different snacks together and eat them at the same time."

Alrede was so stupid in saying this that Louis wanted to sigh, but he said nothing in the end.

There were no other visitors when they entered Marguerite's box, and Madame Bouchard greeted them with great pleasure when they saw them.

"Monsieur Alrede, Monsieur Louis, I see that you have called on the Vicomtesse de Bourgogne."

"Ah, it's just a ceremonial visit." Alrede said, looking at Margaret involuntarily.

"Oh! You are too modest, Mr. Allred. You can get camellia from the Viscountess, doesn't it mean that the Viscountess likes you very much! With the help of the Viscountess de Bourgogne, you will soon I can show my ambitions.”

"You praise me too much, madam."

Margaret didn't seem interested in the subject at all.

"Where's my candy?"

She asked Alrede that question in a manner that was impressive enough, as if her snubbing them that afternoon had never happened.

And Alred seems to be very aware of her changing style of behavior.

"I brought you candied grapes and citrus slices, and Louie bought you some sour plums and dried figs when he heard you liked sweets."

This time Marguerite finally took a look at Louis. Against the light of the gas lamps shining in from outside the box, she looked like a real spoiled and spoiled aristocratic lady, even if she always treats girls Louis, who was not very interested in them, was also confused by those beautiful brown eyes for a moment.

"I don't know what you like, so I just picked some at random. I hope you like them, Miss Margaret."

Louis did not expose Alred's little cunning, but said so to Margaret in a friendly manner.

"Then you should be glad you bought candy. If you step in here empty-handed, I'll kick you out."

Even so, Margaret reached out and took the paper bag from Louis' hand.

She wore a pair of off-white thin woven flower mittens on her hands, which made her fingers look long and elegant. According to Louis' life experience in Magon, such a pair of exquisite gloves was worth at least twenty francs. Madam will be very careful when wearing such a pair of gloves, but she will never let them get dirty casually, because it is very difficult to clean this kind of fabric.

But Margaret just used her slender fingers to take out the candies in the paper bag and put them on the handkerchief without any scruples, and then mixed different candies together, rather than saying that she wanted to eat them, it was more pure Take it to make yourself happy.During this process, the exquisite off-white gloves were obviously dyed with different colors of candy, and she didn't care about it.

"I heard that the Viscountess de Bourgogne plans to hold a grand ball recently to celebrate the official arrival of the social season. Gentlemen, have you received the invitation from the Viscountess?"

Mrs. Bouchard seemed to be used to Marguerite's behavior, and she chatted with Louis as Margaret fiddled with the candy with her fingertips.

"The Vicomtesse de Bourgogne did invite us to her ball, Madame, will you be there then?"

Louis originally wanted to ease the embarrassment when facing Margaret, but as soon as he said this sentence, Mrs. Busa's smile suddenly became a little embarrassed.

"what!"

Marguerite, who was taking out dried figs from the fourth paper bag, let out a sneer without looking up.

"The ball of a noble and long-established celebrity like Madame de Bourgogne is not something that people of our status can go to—we are only worthy of going to a variety brothel to participate in the so-called masquerade ball that is despised by the big men."

Louis suddenly realized that he might have led the topic in the wrong direction, and he felt his face burn.

"Miss Margaret, Mrs. Busha, if I have offended you two, I apologize to you two."

"There's no need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong, you just told the truth."

Margaret said so relentlessly.

"Oh, Marguerite, don't say that," Arred looked at Louis, and then at the woman he loved, "Louis didn't have a heart, he didn't know this, and he came to Paris!"

"Is there any difference between knowing and not knowing, Mr. Allred, anyway, in the minds of you people, it's a demeaning thing for us to sit on the same floor as you, isn't it? But to be honest, Who is more noble than whom? Isn't what they do and what I do are often the same thing?"

"Oh, Margaret, we came here to have a good time, didn't we! Why are you talking about such spoilers!"

In the end, Mrs. Bushar turned the topic to Miss Angel, who appeared again, and finally dissuaded Margaret temporarily.

In the following time, Louis really realized what Galbien said, "She has always been like this, she doesn't care about anything, and doesn't care whether others will embarrass her."

Therefore, when Margaret got tired of the boring drama and asked to leave early, Louis was greatly relieved.

They put Marguerite and Madame Bussard into the carriage, watched the elegant Karash coach disappear at the other end of the street, and boarded their own carriage to return to 79 St. George Street.

"Al, you look in a good mood."

When the carriage started to drive, Louis said this to Alred in a bit of bewilderment.

In his opinion, getting along with a girl like Miss Margaret who is like a thorn rose is almost impossible to breathe, at least with his character, he is afraid to avoid such a beauty.

And it was strange that Alrede, who was with him, could be in such a good mood.

"Ah, I'm fine." Alrede's mind was obviously still on Margaret, and he reluctantly looked through the car window in the direction where Margaret's carriage disappeared.Louis took a look unconsciously when he was leading him, but he didn't see the shadow of the carriage, but saw the beautiful "snail" carriage of Baroness Claudia de Portandière. The inner curtains of the windows of all the "snails" were pulled tightly, and it was impossible to see who was inside.

"Marguerite didn't follow anyone else today."

Alred said something sweet and distressed to Louis, which perfectly explained why he was in such a good mood.

Louis, who was choked by his words, didn't know what to say. In order not to hurt his friend, he had to pretend to yawn to cover up his sigh.

It was nearly one o'clock when they returned to 79 St. George Street, and Louis had never stayed up so late, except for the hectic period when he took over the family business after his father died.

So, after a hasty wash, Louis, who couldn't bear it any longer, fell down on Alred's bed and fell asleep.

I don't know if it was because he saw the carriage of Viscount Calliste de Durand when he came back, he had a dream about Saint-Etienne.