Granville's estate

The old butler quietly walked over from the hall, and put the basket in his hand on the dining table where the host and the guests sat facing each other. Inside were sections of dry bread, the kind of bread that ordinary people in any outdoor province would eat ; while the old butler was placing the bread basket, the count said to him: "Leo, bring the candle!"

The old butler backed away without saying a word. Louis watched his figure disappear into the hall, and turned to look at the count, looking very confused.

"Even now, I still don't quite understand what you mean. Have you investigated me? Because of Alred? My lord, my doubts are getting more and more. You wrote to me that my friend is sick, because you are worried about his health. In good health, I followed your instructions to come here, but did not see him at his house, so what is he now?"

"I am very glad of your concern for him. In fact, I am not lying to you. Allred is in very good health, but he is indeed infected with a strange disease, which cannot be shaken off without the help of others. .That's why I wrote beforehand to your bishop to inquire about your character. I need a man of good character whom both Alrede and I can trust to help him."

"It doesn't sound like a physical disease, but a moral disease that doesn't please you," Louie said.

"You are indeed a very smart young man." The count took out a piece of bread from the bread basket. He stared at the piece of dry bread that was slightly black due to not adding enough alum, and did not rush to cut it: " Have you ever heard of a disease called the 'Paris disease'?"

"I haven't heard of it, and I'd be happy to listen to your advice."

"It is a disease more terrible than physical disease, capable of turning a good, thrifty, honest young man into a man of money and pleasure, dragging them into the abyss of degradation, and destroying them at the same time. property and family."

As the count spoke, he moved the bread in his hands so that the old butler could place a small brass candlestick on the other side of the dining table. The burning candles on the candlestick made up for the lack of firelight in the fireplace, making the whole dining table clearly visible .

At this moment, another figure appeared beside the hall.

"Ah, my lord! Today's dish is roasted cauliflower with shredded cheese, beef broth with thyme, fried chicken and veal stew."

The cook who came over with a plate showed a kind of triumphant joy, and she put the plate of roasted cauliflower with shredded cheese on the side close to Louis.

The originally stagnant atmosphere was swept away by the carefree cook's actions, and the earl smiled.

"It seems that Mrs. Sible likes you very much," he said to Louis. "You know, today's dishes are all her specialties. Even if Alred is at home, she can't often eat them."

Mrs. Sibb ignored the Earl completely, and she served them thick soup in a blue-rimmed white china bowl, fried chicken that looked extraordinarily beautiful on a thin white china plate, and veal stew on an old-fashioned plate. I probably felt that only three dishes and one soup were not enough, so I brought a beautiful four-fruit platter consisting of apples, citrus, pears and fresh grapes, as well as a bottle of champagne.

"Ah, Mrs. Sibb, you are going to empty out my kitchen and collection to entertain this beautiful guest!"

the Count complained half-truthfully.

"Why, sir, how can a visitor be neglected when he comes from such a distance! Besides, I don't have to worry about him any more than you do to write a letter."

The master, who was mercilessly refuted by his own cook, could only shrug his shoulders and said to the young guest: "In this case, let's talk about the matter of Allaide in detail later, and now we should not let Mrs. Sibley down. Be kind, enjoy your supper to-day—oh, my boy, don't worry too much, it will give you indigestion."

As he spoke, he picked up a knife, cut a piece of bread from the bread in hand, and handed it to the person opposite.

"Mrs. Seeb's beef bisque is excellent, you can break up the bread and put it in the soup; and the roasted cauliflower with shredded cheese, which is usually just dipped in the soup and baked, but I dare say, for You, Mrs. Seeb, definitely soaked it in the seasoning today."

Facing Mrs. Sibb's eagerly looking eyes, Louis who had just received the bread hesitated for a moment, put the bread on the plate first, then picked up the silver-handled spoon engraved with G and H patterns, scooped up a piece of roasted cauliflower and put it on the plate. own plate.

When the unremarkable cauliflower touched the taste buds, Louis' eyes lit up.

"What a rare delicacy!" he said, "I never thought roasted cauliflower could taste like this!"

Mrs. Sibb, who has won the invisible battle, is simply very proud.

Louie took a mouthful of shredded cheese roasted cauliflower, took another mouthful, and began to sip the thick soup, his movements were so graceful and delicate, even breaking dry bread seemed very gentle.

"There is also this fried chicken, try it." The earl pointed to the dish on the table, "I remember Mrs. Sibb said that if you want fried chicken to be delicious, you can't fry the egg yolk and egg white together. Whisk the egg whites until foamy, then add the yolks slowly, and be very careful about the heat when frying, and you can't use a pan—did I say that, Mrs. Sible?"

"Sounds like you could cook a fried chicken yourself, sir," said Mrs. Sibley.

Louis showed a kind of just right gratitude.

"I heard that beating egg whites is not an easy job, so please worry about it, Mrs. Sibley."

"Well, you see, sir, in all these years you have never asked me if beating egg-whites was a hard job! Now you can't blame me for having a preference for this delightful chap."

The portion of the dinner was very appropriate, neither causing the guests and hosts to fall into the sin of gluttony, nor would it be rude to show that there was not enough to eat.After the meal was ordered, Mrs. Seeb was clearing the cups and plates, while the old butler brought an account book that had been turned over.

On the other side of the fireplace is a card table with fine wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The chessboard pattern drawn on the table is somewhat unclear. Now this card table is used as a desk. Count Fernand sat in front of the card table, wearing a Putting on a pair of silver-rimmed agate glasses, he opened the ledger.

"We can now move on to the subject of the 'Paris disease' which Allred suffers from," he said. "Have you read the Lesson to All by Santa Clara?"

"I used to read it when I was in boarding school, but I have forgotten most of it after so many years. I still need your advice, my lord."

The count coughed, and his face showed a serious worry in the candlelight.

"I remember the passage in "Admonishment to Everyone" the most. Although it was criticized for ignorant women, it is also very suitable for describing Alred's current state." He thought about it, and said slowly, "Santa Clara says that when a farmer's daughter comes to town, she immediately puts on pointy shoes and red socks, and puts on a smart, fashionable blouse and lacy hair accessories, and puts on the most expensive skirts. In short , everything has to be replaced with new ones, everything is just for luxury and showing off, and it won't be long before she becomes unrecognizable, if you take the buckets, forks, shovels and brooms she used before, they will definitely not recognize them This fellow is now in a fashionable suit - the same logic applies to Al Laide, which is the 'Paris disease' he suffers from."

"I sent Alrede to study law in Paris, in the hope that after his studies he would get a chance to serve the King, and restore the glory of his ancestors—you have seen it, my boy, Grand. The Vill family is already on the verge of collapse, and can no longer stand the twists and turns. When Alred’s grandfather was alive, his cough could make the whole of Chablis uneasy, but now the Granville family has fallen to this point. Today I am going out of town Even an upstart who had planed the barrels dared to ride in front of my carriage and say aloud, 'It's an old horse out of shape, but it's not bad!'"

Perhaps remembering all the blank stares he had suffered since the family fell, the Earl became a little agitated.

"If it's just the behavior of such a scoundrel, I can ignore it, but I never thought that the child I had high hopes for would be assimilated by the bad atmosphere in Paris so quickly since he finished his studies last year. Because With the appearance of Napoleon, the noble order of inheritance has been destroyed, and the property relationship between people has changed. Because huge wealth has been transferred from the hands of people with high morals, there has been an obsession with pleasure that is not as good as animals. Those sudden violent The hearts of Parisians who have become rich have become like pigeons, their desires are nothing but greed and pleasure, their feelings are nothing but tricky demands, and Arlaide is about to become that kind of person, I can already Seeing this hopeless future."

Perhaps it was because there had been no one who could communicate with him on an equal footing for a long time. Earl Fernando had a very long speech, and Louis had to spend a little time sorting out his speech.

"You mean that Arlaide spends too much in Paris to displease you?"

"If he can spend the money on the right way, on his own future, then I will only be happy for him even if I empty the coffers of the Longville family." The earl gestured, "My child, don't I thought I was the kind of miser who couldn't afford to spend a franc. I knew that if you want to get ahead in Paris, you can't get ahead without financial support. Young people can't indulge in excessive pleasure, but they must also have neat and beautiful clothes, decent If he wants to obtain the basic qualifications to step into the noble mansion, a private carriage of his own is also indispensable. In fact, I transferred nearly half of the property of the Granville family to his Name, which includes the most important manor of the Granville family, the purpose is to allow him to have enough disposable money."

"For him, I even have to consider sacrificing the happiness of my lovely little daughter Madeleine, who is still alone in the Samuel Monastery in Rouen, and may never have the chance to marry in her life." Grand The Vail family sacrificed so much for him, but what did he give me in return?—He went mad for a woman who could do her best, a courtesan from a low class, and spent a lot of money to get her In order to get enough money for his squandering, he even wanted to sell the manor under his name, shaking the foundation of the entire Granville family."