Granville's estate

Twelve o'clock - this is the time for the residents of the provinces who are used to going to bed early, it is time for everyone to fall into a sweet dream, but the attendant Karbo told the Viscount that the Marquise de Simon would come out at such a late hour. Will appear at Count de Marce's ball, which confuses Louis on the side.

Not long ago, when Louis and Allred went to the ball at the invitation of the Viscountess de Bourgogne, they left home at seven o'clock, and at 09:30 all the guests had already left. Arrived; His Royal Highness Count Artois did not show up until after ten o'clock, and made everyone wait for him for a while, but considering His Royal Highness's status and his impromptu visit to the residence of Viscount de Bougogne Yes, this is not surprising; but besides this, Louis did not see the guests who arrived at the Bougonie palace at twelve o'clock in the middle of the night-the ball was already halfway through!

However, Louis was more concerned with another matter than exploring the strange timing of the Marquise de Simone.

"If your itinerary is very tight, maybe I shouldn't take up your precious time." He said to Callister, having learned the lesson just now, this time he cleverly omitted the title of viscount Lost.

Callister, who heard what he said, turned to look at him.

"If I remember correctly, according to the agreement between us, you cannot refuse my invitation." Callister said, "Are you planning to not abide by the agreement between us? If so, maybe I should Consider canceling all conditions."

"No, no, sir...Mr. Callister." Louis said a little panicked, his little thoughts were punctured at once, and he could only try his best to cover up: "I didn't intend to violate your conditions, but If you want to go to the count's ball, isn't now the most suitable time? The last time my friend and I went to the ball at the Mansion de Bougogne, it was around this time..."

Callister raised his eyebrows, but he didn't interrupt Louis's seemingly plausible excuse, but facing his eyes that seemed to have seen through his plan, Louis spoke unconsciously. Then it got smaller: "You..."

"At this time, His Highness should still be receiving the ambassador from Spain, and won't go to Count de Marce's mansion so early."

When Louis was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a crack in the ground, Callister finally spoke mercifully: "We can have ample time to enjoy a good dinner, let's go, Kabo has people ready gone."

It turned out that the real reason they mentioned the Marquise de Simon was Her Royal Highness the Count of Artois!Only then did Louis understand. At this moment, he saw that the Viscount had already left the desk, and he was about to come over to pull him, so he hurriedly stood up from the armchair.

"Sir, Monsieur Farentin, follow me."

Cabo, the attendant who had been standing there all the time, acted as if he hadn't heard the somewhat strange conversation between his master and Louis. He bowed slightly to the viscount, and then walked ahead to lead them the way.

When he left Callister's office, Louis realized that there were more lights in the corridor outside than when he first arrived, and the brightness was enough for the elderly with the poorest eyesight to see clearly what was under their feet. road; and when Cabo led them through a staircase hidden at the corner and down to the first floor, Louis found that there were not many employees in the Durand Bank at this time—even if there were occasional people facing them When I came across them, those people stepped back very quickly, then lowered their heads and took off their hats to Callister. Of course, the Viscount basically ignored them.

"I don't understand why the Marquise de Simon didn't go to Count de Marce's ball until twelve o'clock?"

It seemed too awkward for the two of them not to talk when they walked side by side in the corridor——Louis racked his brains and finally found such a topic: "Is there any special meaning to this time?"

Callister turned to look at him, and under the light of the wall lamp, his eyes looked more and more green, like the eyes of a wild wolf at first glance.

"The Marquis de Simone has recently been favored by His Highness the Count of Artois, and his wife is naturally proud."

Callister said slowly, but this answer sounded more like the meaningless common flattery among the nobles, and it couldn't answer Louis' doubts at all.

Just when Louis racked his brains to think about what the viscount said, Cabo, who was leading the way in front of them, turned around and explained to Louis with a smile: "Mr. At two o'clock, the dancers will always get tired, and the ladies will not be able to keep their makeup and accessories perfect because of dancing-at this time, if the brightest moon suddenly appears and shows everyone her light , that would of course be very amazing.”

If you understand it in a literal sense, what Kabo said is nothing more than a little thought of the ladies competing for beauty, but Louis has also read some history books about the French court, and knows that the kings of France are quite fond of keeping mistresses. Traditions—for example, the Marquise de Montespon and the Marquise de Maintenon, who were favored by the famous Sun King successively, and the Marquise de Pompadour, beloved by the great-grandson of the Sun King Louis XV (this lady was also was also the patron of the Rococo art that flourished for a while, and we can see traces of this art until now); these noble ladies all made their families flourish by relying on the king's favor, so that, Calis It was mentioned that His Royal Highness will also visit the residence of De Marce, and the meaning of the sentence "The Marquis de Simon has recently been favored by His Royal Highness the Count of Artois" is already very clear.

"If this is the case, will the Marquis de Simon appear at the count's ball tonight?" Louis asked, he couldn't believe his guess—His Royal Highness is 66 years old, and the Marquis de Simon Madam is still so young and beautiful!

"De Simon once declared in front of everyone that he was His Royal Highness's most loyal knight, and he would appear wherever His Highness went." Callister glanced at Louis, "But I think it's still the 'oldest knight'." The title of "Knight" is more suitable for him, although he is indeed a loyal lackey of His Highness."

"Oh, oh oh."

Louis responded in a low voice, and followed Callister's pace in a daze—for some reason, he suddenly remembered that when he was at the Comic Opera, Margaret once said to them, "Many people here I did the same thing as I did", he thought at the time that the girl was talking about those courtesans with the same status as her, who depended on the upper class to survive. Now it seems that maybe Margot Ritter wasn't just talking about their kind!

And when thinking of Marguerite and the Marchioness de Simon, Louis also thought of another beauty with amazing beauty and purple eyes.

"Monsieur, will the Baroness de Portanduel be at the ball you are going to tonight?"

As soon as this sentence was said, Louis himself was startled immediately - this is not something he should ask, Holy Virgin Mary!What's going on with him, he just said what he was thinking uncontrollably as if he was possessed by a devil!

Callister stopped in his footsteps, and at the same time he stopped in the footsteps of Karbo who was leading the way, but this well-trained attendant stood there like a stake, without turn around.

"Sir, I, uh, I'm not..."

Louis panicked and wanted to find a suitable reason, but when facing Callister's half-smiling gaze, he felt that his brain was more difficult to find than those balls of wool that were scratched by cats To the thread: "I..."

"I'm very curious, why are you so interested in women today?"

After appreciating enough of Louis' embarrassment, the Viscount spoke slowly: "Although the Marquise de Simon and the Baroness de Portandière are famous beauties, the whole of France admires these two ladies." There are as many young talents here as there are stars in the sky, if you want to show your courtship to them, it is impossible."

"You misunderstood, sir, I didn't mean that." Louis said, and he suddenly became a little angry: "With a noble, handsome and extremely rich gentleman like you here, the Baroness de Portanduel must Appreciate your talents even more, even if I have this thought, how dare I compare with you?"

"Although I agree with your compliment, you just called me 'sir' three times. This debt still needs to be paid." Callister said, when he said the word "debt", he pronounced It was as light and quick as Louis called him "Mr. Callister" when he was in the office, and it was not at all like his usual tone: "As for the Baroness de Portandier, you don't need to worry about it." Yes. Recently her husband, the Baron de Portanduer, fell ill, and the doctor told him to go to Savoy to soak in the hot springs for treatment. The baroness will accompany her husband, and she has no time to attend recently. Prom or something."

While saying these words, Callister stretched out his hand very naturally, grabbed Louis' wrist and led him to go on; and as if he had eyes behind his back, he kept silently close to him. When his master took another step, he continued to lead the way.

"Yu, so that's the case. This is really unfortunate. I hope the baron will recover from the illness sooner."

Calliste's move was beyond Louis' expectations-this was in the Bank of Durand, not in the crowded Misard Opera House!He looked around in a panic, fearing that others would see the Viscount's actions, and at the same time wanted to take his hand out of the opponent's hand, but Callister dispelled his thoughts with just one look and one sentence:

"I allow this to cancel the debt you just owed."