Granville's estate

"My lord, what did you see Arred do in Paris that made you so angry?"

"If you're talking about what he did, it was too much!"

When talking about the experience of unannounced visits to Alred's residence in Paris, Earl Fernand stood up from the card table and paced back and forth by the fireplace because he was so excited that he couldn't suppress it.

As a result, Louis had no choice but to stand up. After all, Alrede said more than once in the letter that he would never sit down when Count Fernand was standing, whether it was out of etiquette or to calm the count down a little. Angry, Louis felt that it was better for him to stand.

But this time the earl didn't notice Louis' actions at all, he was completely immersed in the anger of being betrayed by his son who had high hopes.

"It may not occur to you at all that when Alrede first received the property I gifted him, the address he wrote to me was still a house with a rent of 50 francs a month. It’s not luxurious, but it’s not too embarrassing, which is in line with his current income and status; but can you imagine? After only one year, although the address on the letter from home is still the same, he actually moved to To the Rue Saint-Georges, where the rent is 150 francs a month—you see, what absurdity it is!"

"Holy Virgin Mary!" Even though he had been mentally prepared, Louis was still taken aback by the amount the count said, "Is what you said true? Oh my god, in this way, he will only be paid every year The lodging will cost you 1800 francs!"

Even in the best years, Louis's annual net income is only 3500 francs, which is the amount after deducting various expenses, which is considered a figure that can lead a decent life in other provinces; for comparison, a The income of young women workers who work hard all year round is only between 300 and 400 francs-not counting expenses.

"I have sent to inquire of the neighbors, and I am quite sure that, even on the lowest standard, Alrede pays fifteen hundred francs a year; carriage, and two horses, one thoroughbred and one pony, this is another expenditure that requires at least 1500 francs a year-my child, can you imagine? Even if it is already so extravagant He was not satisfied with his own private carriage. It is said that in order to win the favor of Miss Marguerite, he once planned to rent a covered two-wheeled carriage for a long time at a price of 2400 francs per month, just for the purpose of I usually take that lady for a drive around."

Even people who are not proficient in mathematics can see at a glance what such terrible expenses mean to a young man with an income of only 6500 francs a year, let alone start to take care of the family business before his father died, knowing that every day The franc profit was hard-earned for Louis, and he understood Count Fernand's anger almost immediately.

"Such expenses are simply horrible, Holy Virgin Mary, how could it be possible for Allaide to become like this! Didn't he have a long-term friend in Paris to advise him? Such a rate of spending does not even need to last a year, He will have to use the deposit principal."

"This is not a vision that may appear in the future, but something that is about to happen. My old friend has already warned me that if I just let Alred's absurdity go on like this, it won't be long before the Granville family finally accumulates He will completely ruin the little foundation of his life, and may even bring about even greater disasters. My child, since you manage the family business by yourself, you should know how difficult it is to save a little money. But it is very easy to lose a family property."

Louis looked around the mansion he was in. The glory of the old age and the traces of the sudden lonely years were recorded here. There was still a wall clock with an enamel case on the wall, but he could not hear it because he had no money to repair it. The sound of the pendulum; the material of the mantelpiece is roughly carved stone, and the color of the bright curtains has begun to fade. In the flickering fire of the fireplace, this old-age building reveals a feeling of struggling to sustain itself in the storm of history. The sense of sadness comes.

In order to re-support the precarious family since the Revolution, Count Fernand de Granville lowered his standard of living to the same level as that of a small landowner like Louis du Farentin who had not made a fortune for many years .As an earl, he has only an old housekeeper who takes care of his daily life and a cook who takes care of his meals, a Coop-style carriage and an old horse for transportation, and even wood for the fire and three meals a day. All have to be carefully calculated - although he didn't say it, Louis still knew that no matter which family it was, it was a bit rude to have "just right" meals for entertaining guests.

But when the earl was so embarrassed and stubbornly running around for the glory of the family, the child he had high hopes for squandered the money he had accumulated through hard work in Paris, squandering it at the speed he spent money, the earl's years of hard work And the expectations would have evaporated.

"Allaide has gone too far. He has forgotten the principles of restraint and frugality that the school taught us. Maybe it's not just Miss Margaret who made him make such a crazy move, but the whole The pomp and pomp of Paris has corrupted him. He is not living the life of a man who earns 6500 francs a year, but a man who earns [-] francs a year, and something will happen."

Earl Fernand sighed a long time. This old man in his fifties is no longer young, but he must continue to support him before his heir finds his way back.

"My child, if Alred was half sober as you, he wouldn't rent out a house that doesn't fit his status." The earl said, "If he wanted to make friends with noble nobles And it’s okay to do so, but besides that Miss Margaret, there are only some idle, idle playboys and some morally corrupt women around him. I didn’t find any powerful nobles, The judge, or the president of the commercial court, sees only a group of libertines driven by the impetuosity of Paris."

"But since you already know that Alrede has gone astray, and you don't want to see the consequences of his going on like this, why don't you take advantage of that time to go to Paris to talk to him directly? To my son Said, father's authority is supreme, and Alred fears you as God, otherwise he would not have kept the matter of the change of residence from you. If you went directly to his place to scold him, maybe this It's settled."

For this question, Louis was very puzzled.

"It's not surprising. Alrede is a legally grown man with his own property and status. If his father suddenly came into his mansion and scolded him head-on and face-to-face, his What would the friends and the ladies of Paris say about him? 'Ah, that poor wretch whose father is in charge of everything', I don't want Alrede to go on like that, but neither do I. His reputation suffers the slightest possible disgrace."

The muscles on the earl's face twitched like spasms, even though he was very dissatisfied with his son's actions, but the deep and complicated fatherly love in his words, as long as anyone who has experienced the affection between father and son will know empathy.

"In addition to considering his reputation, I also have to consider the reputation of the Granville family. In this world, how can a nobleman or a father condescend to visit his son's residence? In this world There has never been a reason in the world for a son to greet his father at his father's house, but not for a father to greet his son at his house—never!"

"I understand your meaning and concerns," Louis took a step forward, "so that's why you want me to come forward instead of you."

"Yes, my child, forgive a helpless old father for involving you in this matter, but after all things considered, I can't think of a more suitable person than you." The count said, staring straight at the fireplace The flames jumping in the middle, as if there was something unfinished stuck in his heart, which made him unwilling to say it, but he had to say it.

Louis quietly waited for the count's unfinished words, until Count Fernand sighed again.

"Alred is my only son, but he is not my only child, Mr. Farentin." He tremblingly said the painful words like a knife: "I have a little daughter, although in I have never considered putting all my future hopes on her before. You understand what I mean? Although I am very unwilling, but if he is really hopeless, for the continuation of the family, even if I don’t want to, I will We can only drive him out of the house and sever the relationship between father and son."

"By the Virgin Mary, my lord, such a terrible situation will not arise!"

"I can only pray that doesn't happen."

As the count spoke, he held out his hand to Louis.

"My child, I believe in your character, and I hope that you can persuade Alred to leave that Miss Margaret, change his way of life, get rid of that meaningless extravagant comparison, and start afresh. Return to the right path of modesty and prudence; I hope he recognizes his responsibility to protect the property that the Granville family has finally accumulated, especially the manor that must never change hands; I hope he restrains and moderates to live in Paris as long as possible, to seek a respectable position, and to win the favor of a lady of high standing or of sufficient dowry."

"His deeds will determine the future of the Granville family. Don't forget that besides his old father, his poor sister can only look to him for a chance of marriage. The child was sent to a convent at the age of six, Now that she is 14 years old, I will soon have to decide whether to dedicate her life to God in a monastery or to enjoy the joy of being married with a wreath of oranges. All of this , may all depend on Alred's decision and your words."

"Your wish is also mine, and I swear to the Virgin Mary that I will do my best to achieve it, my lord."