Granville's estate

It was already a headache for Louis to explain to Alred that his original franc box and pocket watch were missing - after all, one of those two ornaments was a valuable enamel passed down to him by his grandmother The box, a very meaningful graduation present from Al, seems inconceivable to say that it was lost together in Durand Bank; The request of "how to explain to Al" has become an even more confusing task. In this way, Alred will definitely see these gadgets that he has never seen before, and Louis not only Need to tell his friend where the previous accessories went, and explain why he received all these expensive new gadgets!

Callister must have known how much trouble his gift would cause Louis, but he seemed very happy to see Louis troubled by it, and even when he had reached the door of the small dining room, he seemed like Suddenly remembered something, turned around and walked back.

"And this," Callister said to Louis, and he reached out his hand to lift the basket full of all kinds of candies from the dining table under the latter's puzzled eyes, and brought it to Louis, indicating that he should reach out and catch it: "I almost forgot, you should take this back with you."

"But I don't need so many candies." Louis said, even though he said so, he couldn't help but glance at the exquisite marzipan basket in front of him: "Only children want to run around with candy." , I am no longer a child.” Besides, the small gold pocket watch and franc box can be fooled by putting them in the coat pocket first, but how can he walk in such a half-foot-long candy basket? How about hiding it before 79 St. George Street?

"That's not allowed, you can't just accept the gift, but throw the gift box aside in front of the owner." Callister said, he tilted his head slightly: "This is very impolite, Isn't it? Of course, after you walk out of my bank, you can do whatever you want with it, even if you want to give it to the homeless on the street, that's your freedom."

"This...is there nothing in this basket other than candies?"

It was a little strange that he should suddenly accept a basket full of sweets, Louis had to ask very cautiously—in view of the fact that the gentleman in front of him could put an expensive gold pocket watch and a franc box inlaid with precious stones. Stuffing it so casually into a candy basket without fear of being lost by the servants, Louis was really worried that there might be something else hidden under the various colored fudge.

"There is nothing else in it. If you don't believe it, you can eat all the candy and have a look." Callister said, he seemed very dissatisfied with Louis' hesitation: "I said What are you worried about?"

These words sounded not credible at all, Louis thought to himself, he had the intention to refuse Callister's request, but seeing Karbo behind the viscount looking anxiously at the pocket watch, he decided to put the The candy basket was taken over, in case the Viscount was really rudely late at Count de Marce's ball: "I didn't mean that, then, thank you for your kindness, these candies I will... eh?"

Because Callister held the candy basket higher, and he was still holding the gold pocket watch and the franc box, Louis had to hold the bottom of the candy basket with both hands to take it from Callister— —That is to say, during this period of time, he had no spare hands to do other things; He achieved another purpose that he hadn't achieved just now: After loosening the handle of the candy basket, he naturally ruffles a handful of Louis's soft black hair, which made Louis's hair a little messy all of a sudden. .

"I'm glad you liked all the presents I gave you."

After messing with Louis's hair, the Viscount also cheekily told those who were stunned by his actions that his nonchalant appearance would definitely make even the most open-eyed and nonsense Jews bow down: "Very It's a pity that I have to leave now, and I can't take you to Marcel's ball. However, you can write me a detailed letter after you go back, and then ask your servant to send it to me tomorrow morning Come here, I'd love to know all about how you're feeling with me today."

"you you……"

Before Louis realized that he should protest Callister's behavior that was not a gentleman at all, the Viscount had already said this to him, and then turned around and strode away from the small restaurant that belonged to him; as soon as he walked out , the other attendants who had been waiting outside the door for a long time followed immediately. They surrounded their master and walked outside the bank, leaving behind Louis, who had not yet recovered, and Cabo, the valet named by the viscount. In the diner.

"Ahem, Mr. Farentin."

After the viscount and other attendants disappeared outside the small dining room, Karbo pretended to cough twice, his expression looked very serious, even though he strictly abided by the rules that the attendants should follow, Louis could still feel the viscount's closeness The valet was actually trying his best to restrain his smile: "Mr. Farentin, please wait a moment, I will ask someone to bring you the coat right away."

"Ma, I'm sorry to trouble you, Carbo." Louis said, facing the valet who had witnessed the whole process, he almost wanted to find a place to sneak in.

Another attendant—judging from the texture and decoration of his livery, he must be lower in rank than Cabo—quickly brought over the coat that Louis had taken off earlier, and while they were eating, this coat The coat has been ironed warmly, and sprinkled with a little rose water; and just like serving his master, Carbo personally served Louis to put on the coat, and then adjusted the collar and buttoned the cuff buttons for him At the same time, he fastened the gold watch chain sent by Callister to the buttonhole of Louis' coat, and put the gold pocket watch and the franc box at both ends of the watch chain into the pockets on both sides of the coat.

"Can I leave that candy basket here?" Louis asked, pointing to the candy basket he put on the dining table, and then looked down at the gold watch chain with the gold pocket watch and the franc box, feeling a bit distressed Frowning: "You just have to ask someone to take these candies away, and then don't tell him."

"Mr. Farentin, since the adults have said that you should take it, you'd better not go against his wishes." Carbo replied, and he suggested very tactfully: "If you don't want to eat so many candies, you can Hand them out to bums on the roadside on the way home, or leave a basket of sweets in front of some poor man's house as they pass by, and those people will be delighted to receive such a gift."

This seemed like a good way to deal with it, and Louis was immediately convinced.

"That sounds like a good idea."

The carriage Cabo prepared for Louis was a light two-seater four-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses. The body of the carriage had elegant lines, the curtains and the interior decoration of the carriage were all made of gray satin, and there were small rugs under the seats. A small copper foot warmer.Surprisingly, the body of this carriage is not decorated with the coat of arms of the Durand family like any carriage used by nobles, which made Louis think at first that the one that his valet ordered for him was the one commonly seen on the streets of Paris. It was not until another real cab came to them that he noticed the difference between the two.

"Mr. Farentin, please don't be surprised. The carriage you want to take belongs to the De Durand family. Although there is no badge on the body, riding this carriage will definitely not damage your identity."

Cabo must have seen Louis' doubts. In order to prevent him from being angry because of misunderstanding and being neglected, the valet explained to Louis: "For any nobleman, a carriage that will not attract the attention of others is also a must. Rarely, when our adults want to travel unobtrusively, he will use the carriage in front of you."

"But, didn't your husband just take another carriage to attend the ball at Count de Marce's house?" Louis asked in confusion. He really couldn't figure out why another carriage appeared here at Durand Bank. The carriage of the Durand family—could there always be two or more carriages on call at Callister's place?If the carriage that the Viscount took to go to the de Marce residence today was not the Berlino carriage he saw at the Misard Opera House last time, then this one is the fourth one he has seen that belongs to Karen. Lister's carriage, it's too extravagant, you know, even just owning the simplest Koop's carriage and the corresponding horses is a lot of money!

"Ah, Monsieur Farentin, these are nothing to a decent nobleman!" Carbo said, and he went over to lower the steps of the carriage for Louis himself, and opened the door of the carriage: "This is all necessary , among other things, it is Count de Marce who is holding the ball tonight. He has six or seven carriages of different specifications and different purposes, and he has more than 30 horses! But you are right , this carriage should not have appeared here in the first place. Before you and Mr. Dumont came here, your lord sent someone back to the old mansion to fetch the sapphire box you are carrying with you now, and at the same time let this carriage The carriage has come here from the old mansion."

The speaker didn't mean it, but the listener meant it. When he heard that the sapphire box was specially taken from the old mansion of the Durand family, Louis couldn't help but reached out and touched the franc box in his pocket, hesitating.

"Is there any special origin for this sapphire box?" Louis asked, he thought it was just a precious gemstone box.

"The franc box you saw today was left when your grandfather passed away. Your Excellency has always cherished it very much." Carbo said, he gracefully motioned for Louis to get into the carriage first, so as not to suffer from the cold air. Liao Han: "As for the other reasons behind this, you can ask yourself at that time, I think the adults will be happy to tell you in person."

The franc box inlaid with precious sapphires had been left by Calliste's grandfather—this information alone was enough to startle Louis; He unfastened his gold watch chain, and took a close look at the franc box at one end of the watch chain. Under the not-so-bright light, the beautiful azure gem feather crown seemed to be radiant, and it was definitely not ordinary. jewelry.

"This is too expensive." Louis thought to himself, he wanted to know more about the things behind this jewel box, so he poked his head out of the car window, hoping to let the viscount's personal servant come to him, But he found that Cabo had already boarded the hired carriage: "Cabo, why don't you take this carriage with me? I still have some questions to ask you."

"Ah, I'm sorry, Mr. Farentin." Carbo poked his head out of another carriage and smiled apologetically at Louis: "Please forgive me, it's a bit windy and cold tonight, I'm worried that I'll catch a cold sitting on the back shelf of the carriage - just let me be lazy, but please don't tell Lord Viscount!"

"But I didn't let you sit on the back of the carriage." Louis said, he was very puzzled: "You can sit next to me, so we can also talk."

"That's impossible, Mr. Farentin, that carriage is not something we servants can sit in."