His Excellency the Count of Grandet

The so-called ball is the norm in the upper social circles of Paris.A great company of nobles and men and women of merchants, lawyers, bankers, and so on, always looking for something to do to pass the time.For example, go hunting in the forest of the Marquis of Pomponne’s manor, go to Mrs. Sollova’s newly built garden to appreciate the heather brought back from the Cape of Good Hope, or prepare exquisite leather whips and pistols for trivial duels... …

In a word, there is nothing to worry about when you have money.

We must honestly say that among these idlers, except for the rich wives whose husbands do everything, the others are basically greenhouse flowers supported by their parents. Shire is a typical example.He looks good, and his parents spoiled him, and he has always been a treasure in the social circle.So it is really impossible for anyone to have a dance party to forget such a person.No, Madame Grandet passed away for three months, and as soon as he could stop wearing black veil, someone came to his door.

Circles are something that some people hate, while others enjoy it.Although Charles was very unimpressed with the ball, it was the fashion now.And entertainment is also necessary, otherwise, how can one person achieve great things?Even as awesome as Napoleon, he failed.So after weighing, he still arrived at the Nucingen mansion on time.

Mr. Nucingen, like many other Parisians, strives to appear up-to-date.So his family's house has been repaired, and two majestic horse stone sculptures were added on both sides of the gate a few years ago, and now it is showing an architectural style called "imperial classicism".

"Yo, Charles! You finally appeared!"

Charles poked his head out of his carriage and heard the greeting just as he saw the half-vacant hoof of the stone sculpture.He looked up and smiled. "Alphonse," he said, jumping lightly out of the car, "long time no see."

Alphonse Campan, Charles' close friend, was three years older than Charles.His father, Jacques, has some relationship with the general of the National Guard, but unlike Guillaume, he is mainly in charge of military supplies.If one had to compete in terms of status, Guillaume obviously had the advantage.

Now the blond young man jumped down the steps and gave Charles a passionate hug. "Three months! Do you know how worried I am about you? I visited you when you were sick, but your father said that the doctor didn't allow anyone to get close to you! Then I was driven to Ireland and only returned to Paris in the last few days!" He Slightly opened the distance between them, and carefully looked Shire up and down: "Are you okay?"

"You've said so much, can I be okay?" Charles knew that Jacques wanted to train Alphonse to be a qualified heir, so Alphonse would go abroad from time to time to run errands for the family's business.

This sounded like it was on purpose, and Alphonse slapped Charles on the shoulder. "You're entertaining me again!" He complained angrily, but the corners of his mouth curled up. "Your complexion looks better than before. Are you not sick, but you just want to shut me up on purpose?"

The two knew each other too well, and everyone knew that this was just a joke.Charles didn't say anything, but he thought in his heart that if there was nothing wrong, he wouldn't be the one standing here now. "It's not a funny joke." He deliberately grimaced.

But Shire's appearance inherited more from his mother's, delicate and delicate, and he didn't look threatening at all at this time.Alphonse didn't take it seriously, and deliberately laughed a few times. "I know," he said as he led Charles inside, "Come on, everyone is waiting for you!"

Charles followed him through the not-too-long quarter-vaulted corridor of the Nucingen mansion.Every few steps, there are gilded chandeliers on the top, and the candlelight casts the figures of the two on the smooth gray marble floor.

This made Charles couldn't help noticing that Alphonse had inherited his father's tall figure, with a face with sharp edges and corners, handsome and wild.This type is undoubtedly popular in the social circle, but he himself prefers the appearance of Alphonse, which is more masculine.Thinking of this, he couldn't help but stare at his hands - slender and tender, well maintained like a woman, really unlucky.

Alphonse didn't notice what Charles was thinking, because he was still talking, obviously he hadn't seen Charles for a long time, and he was suffocated. "Nucingen was lucky today, and the time was chosen just right. You must know that you are everyone's treasure! I heard that after Nucingen received your reply letter, he was immediately invited to send out many more invitations!" Because there were only the two of them, he omitted the titles that should be used.

"Not necessarily," said Charles.The original has already entered the social circle, and beautiful newcomers always attract people's attention.Apart from his face, there are also reasons such as flattery and wooing.Just imagine, if Guillaume goes bankrupt, who else will surround him?Even the original body is not so naive.

Alphonse was not used to hearing this. "Are you kidding me? This is the truth!" He emphasized, and turned his head to look at Charles again, "Don't tell me that you suddenly have the virtue of humility?"

"I've always had that kind of virtue, it's just that your eyes are too bad to notice." Charles said deliberately.

"What a mouth you have!" Alphonse said helplessly.But he was down for two seconds, and immediately thought of the correct way to fight back: "You only dare to say that to me, right? If it were your Annette, I don't believe that your mouth is not full of honey! "

This Annette is the lover of the original body.In private, Charles called her Ana darling, but people used to call her Madame de Sanchez.

Yes, Annette was a married woman.Even more obvious, she already has a daughter who is nearly seven years old.But she got married early and is only 25-[-] now.In addition, she is well maintained, she doesn't look old, but she has the best mature rose-like aroma that a woman of this age can have.

But no matter how good she is, Charles doesn't catch a cold.From what he knew, there was absolutely no reason for him to be entangled with such a woman.Taking a step back, even if he married a noble lady according to his father's idea, it would be much better than other people's wives, wouldn't he?

It's a pity that such is the way of the upper class in Paris today.Not to mention 100% of the map guns, at least [-] to [-]% of the people have affairs.Everyone is used to this, and it is tacit understanding.As long as you don't go too far in public, no matter who finds out, it will be ignored.Because everyone is a respectable person, no one will look good if you tear up your face, and you have to be wary of someone turning into a black hand in anger, and of course you won't meddle in other people's business.

Therefore, Charles and Annette made this matter secretly, and it is certain that not many people know about it.Alphonse is one of them, which shows the friendship between them.

"Don't say such things again in the future." Charles' expression was serious.

"It's not..." Alphonse just wanted to say, isn't it just the two of us, and then belatedly noticed Ciel's unusual expression. "Are you serious?" The original relaxed smile on his face disappeared.Because he knew Shire very well, he knew that Shire was not just asking him not to mention it in the future.

"Really." Charles nodded, and before they reached the entrance of the banquet hall, he pulled Alphonse behind a large stone pillar. "But don't talk about it."

"Of course not." Alphonse nodded reflexively. "But why did you suddenly..." He was very puzzled, "You and her have been together for three years, and you suddenly told me that...?"

In fact, Annette took a fancy to Charles as soon as he entered the social circle.At that time, Charles knew nothing about the world and human affairs, and Annette taught him many things.The most typical example is how to treat Lupocks.This man is not honest, and Charles doesn't like him, so his attitude is naturally contemptuous.But Annette taught him that even if he really hates it, he should wait until Lüpox has no power and power before stepping on it.

So we can now know that this kind of woman is very shrewd and will not let her prey escape easily.

These Charles also knew very clearly, because he flipped through the letters left by the original body.It was because he knew this that he found it troublesome - no one could figure out what a woman would do when she was in a hurry. "I just told you," he said, "Mommy's dead, and Daddy's going to be pissed if he finds out I'm messing around. So..."

Alphonse understood immediately.Because in his eyes, Charles has always been a very well-behaved child, and it is not surprising to make this choice under such circumstances. "I understand," he patted Charles on the shoulder, "I will help you! With your terms, where is the lady who doesn't like you?"

Charles knew at a glance that his best friend hadn't figured out what kind of woman Annette was.But Alphonse has at least one advantage, that is, he treats him sincerely, not for other purposes. "Thank you," he said sincerely, "I knew you would support me because you are the only friend I have."

Alphonse was already tainted with some military habits. Hearing what Charles said at this time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of arrogance rushing into his chest. "Do you still need to say that?" He patted his chest and assured, "I will always be on your side!"

Because of the delay in the middle, when the two entered the banquet hall, they had to go together to make a ceremonial apology to the host of the ball, Mr. Nucingen.The latter didn't mind of course, and pushed them together towards a bunch of ladies. "Dance with them one by one, and I'll forgive you!"

I have to say that it is really a technical job to deal with women, especially in the case of large quantities.After the three slow dances, Charles felt dizzy—not because of the dance, but because of the smell of perfume and powder on the women.What's worse, he also knew that most people in this era didn't like to take a bath, so they sprinkled a lot of perfume - just imagine fainting!

Because of this, Charles quickly found an excuse to go out to breathe.Although he felt that his body should have adapted to this environment, he couldn't stand it mentally.

But it is impossible for him to be pure.Within half a minute, a woman walked over slowly with a long skirt. "Dear Charles," she called softly, with the sweetness peculiar to a lover hidden in her voice, "can you have a glass of champagne with me?"