Granville's estate

"With my people around, she won't be in any danger."

After Viscount Calliste de Durand made such a guarantee, Louis could only choose to believe his words-in fact, except for this compromise method, Louis had no other way to get a woman who was unwilling to cooperate The props room, and the Viscount would never allow him to stay in the Misard Opera House.

They walked out of the dimly lit prop room under the leadership of their attendants, instead of returning to the hall with thousands of fanatical dancers, they turned out through an inconspicuous small door and passed a long turn Then I saw a brightly lit corridor big enough for three or four people to walk side by side.

At the entrance of the corridor was a man from the Misar Opera House. Before Callister and his party came to him, the man couldn't wait to extend his hand to them.

"Gentlemen, two francs each for going out from here."

This unexpected request made Louis a little startled. Only then did he realize that the "passage that is only open to some people" that Karbo said refers to this corridor that needs to be paid to pass through!

The price of two francs is not a small amount for ordinary people. In this way, those dancers who are cash-strapped are blocked outside, and this passage is reserved for people who want to avoid being caught after having fun. Respectable people who leave masquerade balls carefully - it can only be said that Mr. Missal, who can become a conductor of the opera house at a young age, is indeed a brilliant business genius, and he puts his talents to the music. The money-making aspect of the theater is on full display.

The attendant who led the way gave the watchman a five-franc gold coin and a one-franc silver coin. The watchman put the gold coin in his mouth and bit it. After confirming that it was a real gold coin, he gave way happily: " Please, gentlemen!"

At this time, Louis stopped in his tracks.

"Sir," Louis said to the Viscount in embarrassment, he felt his face was burning hot: "I have a servant, and I'm still in the hall on the first floor..."

He wanted to ask Callister to help him find Joseph, just like Margaret and the others, but the words of this request were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say it.

Callister raised his eyebrows. He must have understood what Louie meant, but he didn't even need to think about it before declining the request.

"I won't let my people risk being discovered just to find a servant in this kind of place." The viscount said coldly, obviously he didn't care about a servant's condition, if it wasn't for Louis , he won’t even appear in this Missal opera house: “But you don’t have to worry too much, that kind of inferior people know how to play tricks best, he should play here until late at night, and then return with a sad face. Where you live and go on business. You just need to go home and get a good night's sleep, and when you wake up, you'll see him again."

"He won't do that." Louis said that the Viscount's refusal made him a little disappointed, but he also knew that he was very lucky to have the Viscount's help and let them find Margaret in the chaotic masquerade. Without each other's help, he and Alred might still be searching in vain on the dance floor on the first floor!

He took a look at his pocket watch from his pocket and decided to go back to Papa Peter who was waiting for them near the vaudeville theater—Alred had agreed with him before that he had to go back to the carriage at 11:30, maybe Joseph was clever enough to leave the Opera House and go there after being separated from him; if Joseph had not left the Opera House, the masquerade would always be over, and he could have waited for the boy at Papa Peter's.

Callister looked sideways at Louis, as if he was a little surprised that the people around him didn't continue to ask him to help find the servant.

"You'd better not come up with the idea of ​​sneaking back to find someone after going out." Callister said, he even threatened Louis: "Otherwise, everyone will know tomorrow that your friend came to this kind of place." If it is not a decent place, then it is impossible for him to gain a foothold in Paris."

"Sir, you are standing in this disgraceful place right now!" Louis retorted helplessly, but this way of handling it was very familiar, reminding him of the time when he was at the boarding school in Saint-Etienne, This gentleman seemed to have "threatened" him in this way before - this made him feel lighter unconsciously.

By this time they had come to the end of the corridor, and when they passed through the side door of the opera house carved with honeysuckle patterns and saw the old streets and houses illuminated by pale street lamps, they happened to see Alred and Mary Margaret's cab was speeding past, and Margaret in the carriage seemed to be trying to break free from Alred's control very unhappy.

And beside the side door, Callister's valet, Carbo, was instructing the coachman to park a Berlino box-carriage drawn by two horses in front of the opera house, so that his master would not have to set foot in that situation. Bad streets can board the carriage: "Sir, please wait a moment, the carriage will be ready soon."

"Why did they go away in a taxi?" Louis asked, and there was an extra fee for taking a taxi. He thought Alred would take Margaret to Papa Peter—there were two The carriage is waiting!

Regarding his question, Karbo just shrugged his shoulders: "I think this is something that can't be helped. Miss Mary has been fighting with that gentleman, and they almost quarreled just now."

Louis' heart suddenly rose: "Did they quarrel? Did Miss Mary say something?"

"You can ask that gentleman yourself when the time comes." Carbo said vaguely. After the coachman calmed down the horses, he reached out and lowered the steps of the carriage: "It's not a big deal, you don't have to worry about it."

The Bellino box carriage is obviously Callister's own personal carriage. Even if the family coat of arms and decorations on the outside are removed, it still looks elegant and luxurious. Its owner stepped on the steps after it stopped. After entering the carriage, he stretched out his hand to Louis: "Come up."

Louis, who was looking at the situation in the block, was stunned for a moment.

"Sir, my carriage is waiting near the Vaudeville Theater." Louis said, trying hard to figure out how to get back to Papa Peter from the unfamiliar buildings around him: "I can walk there , you just need to ask your servant to tell me the direction."

"Of course I know you have a carriage over there." Callister said impatiently, "That place is a bit far from here, when are you going to go? Come up, my carriage can take you there."

It sounds like the Viscount not only knew that he came in a carriage, but also knew where his carriage was parked. When Louis was stunned, Karbo also urged him: "Sir, please hurry up, the carriage cannot stop here Too long, or it will block the way of other carriages."

As a result, Louis had no choice but to board the viscount's carriage, Cabo closed the door of the carriage for them, and then got on the back of the carriage. After everything was settled, the coachman sitting on the high driver's seat in front shouted: With a sound, two vigorous horses slowly pulled the carriage to drive.

This Bellino carriage can be said to be the most luxurious carriage that Louis has ever ridden. It has a beautiful body line, and any young man will never forget it. The inner lining of the car window is off-white silk from the Orient, decorated with beautiful folds of fine linen; tassels strung with ribbons and small pearls; the interior space of the carriage is more than enough for four people to sit in pairs, the seats are covered with soft velvet, and there is even a small footstove under the seat to warm your feet.

But even though the carriage was very comfortable to ride, Louis still felt a little restless.

"Actually, I can walk over by myself. The road should not be too far away."

After the carriage started to drive, Louis whispered something to the Viscount.

For residents of the provinces, even if they have a carriage at home, walking is not an uncommon option. Only the most self-confessed nobles will wish, like the people in Paris, that their shoes will never get dirty. soil.

The Viscount glanced at him, obviously not impressed by his thoughts.

"The streets here are terrible, and if you get your shoes wet, you're probably going to get sick again."