His Excellency the Count of Grandet

Mr. de Sanchez is overseas all the year round, because most of his family's business is spices from India or wood from South America.This kind of occupation is not slippery in the upper class of Paris. It is not particularly brilliant, but it is more convenient-everyone with some status in the family needs spices and perfumes.Moreover, this kind of business can always bring back some novelties that Parisians have never seen before, which is very popular, because it greatly satisfies people's curiosity and show-off psychology.

As the spice merchant's wife, Annette naturally has the best resources.In order to get in touch with the most fashionable things at the first time, everyone is very polite to her.Annette herself is quite pretty, good at dressing up, coupled with her sophistication and tact, she seems to have a certain status in the circle - otherwise, how could the fresh and tender flower of the original body be given to her in the first place? Picked?

But of course, Charles would not say this kind of thought.On the contrary, he took two steps forward, properly supporting the outstretched snow-white arm. "My pleasure, my dear lady."

His tone was courteous at best, but Annette didn't catch the problem.After all, it's a public place now, so it's right to be restrained. "Seeing you today at last," she said, making no secret of her apprehension. "Three months. . . I hope you are well, Charles."

This is similar to what Alphonse said when he first saw Charles.But Alphonse is much more straightforward than she is, and more sincere.

Charles led her to the side window of the banquet hall, took two glasses of champagne from the passing waiter's tray, and turned back. "Just like what you see," he said, handing her one of the glasses and touching it lightly. "Here I am."

The words were so tactful that Annette couldn't help but glance at him more. "You are light," she said angrily in a low voice, "do you know how many tears I secretly shed for you? I was so worried about you that I couldn't sleep well every night. But it's just like what you said, now Seeing you, all those pains turned into honey."

Oh help!Charles had a headache when he heard these lingering tones and words.Of course he knows that their relationship is so entangled, but let him talk about "your love, the tenderest and most loyal love that makes a man's heart unprecedentedly noble", or let him die first never mind!

It's just that it's the best situation to deal with now - in full view of the public.If he couldn't even deal with this, what would he do in private?

Charles made up his mind. "Of course I know," he said in an overly gentle tone, also lowering his voice, "I know you'll be waiting for me, Annette. But..." He opened his mouth slightly, his eyes wandering, as if he wanted to say I don't know what to say when I go down.

"Is there something else going on that I don't know about?" Annette asked.She considers herself gentle and considerate, and will definitely give a step down when others hesitate. "Do we still need secrets between us?"

The bad thing is there are no secrets!Charles groaned. "I..." He continued to pretend to hesitate.If it wasn't for the buffer of three months, how could he guarantee that this woman would not see his flaws?

Annette looked around.Everyone was talking in a small circle, and the dance floor was halfway through the music, and no one paid any attention to their side.So she boldly gave Charles a hand, so that their figures were shrouded in the shadow cast by the tall curtain. "Speak, Charles, and no one else will hear."

Because of the close distance, the aroma was strong, and Charles almost coughed again.This is really a good negotiating posture, first put the opponent down or something. "I... have to start learning something," he said hesitantly, "Dad told Mr. Logan and Mr. Su Xie that he would let me go to the exchange with him in the future."

Half-truth, half-false, this is the correct way to express it!Based on Annette's impression, it is [-]% impossible to guess that he is actually very happy!

Sure enough, Annette thought of something else. "It's already started, isn't it?" she asked concerned. "So that's why you haven't written to me in a while?"

"Yes." Charles frowned slightly, making a look of embarrassment. "You know, Dad has always loved me, and I can't bear to disappoint him." He let out a breath slowly, and his eyelashes drooped. "If Mr. Nucingen's invitation hadn't been delivered to the door, I wouldn't even have the chance to come out to see you..."

"Don't be like this, Charles." Seeing his depressed appearance, Annette couldn't bear it. "You are the sole heir of the Grandet family, and this will happen sooner or later."

"But, I don't have time..." Charles hesitated to speak.

"I understand, Charles," said Annette. "I've known for a long time that I can't monopolize all of your time. In more than a month, you will have your coming-of-age ceremony. I am very happy to see that you have grown into a responsible man before then."

"But..." Charles wanted to argue.

"Listen, dear," interrupted Annette, "that's what you're called for, and that's what you deserve. If that's the reason, I can live with your neglect—of course, She stretched out a finger and placed it on Charles's lips, preventing him from speaking, "It's enough to let me know that you didn't do it on purpose, I'm very happy."

Charles stared at her, as if moved, and sighed heavily. "Dear Anna, I..."

"If you want to say sorry, then save it." Annette saw that her words were effective, and retracted her hand, with a smile on her face. "You've just started studying, so you must be busy. But I think, if I ask you to change the original semi-monthly letter to a monthly letter, you should have time, right? Tell me, you will write for me?"

ah?Are those messy letters still unfinished?Although Charles was wailing in his heart, what he said was: "Of course! It's just that I've wronged you, Annette."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Annette smiled, with some satisfaction, "For our future, you must behave well."

Although Shire's back was aroused by these words, he could only pretend to be moved. "Of course I know……"

Before he finished speaking, a third voice interrupted. "Oh, Charles, why are you here? I've been looking for you for a long time!"

As soon as Charles turned his head, he saw Alphonse who was talking lightly touched the wall of the wine glass with his finger, and he understood it all at once.Alphonse must have seen Annette staying with him for too long, so he came to disrupt the situation halfway.As an affirmative answer, he also moved his finger slightly.

"Ah, long time no see, dear madam!" Alphonse walked over to Charles, and gave Annette a hug and a ceremonial kiss on the cheek. "The clever words of yours last time were great. I really want to hear them again, but I don't seem to have much time today." He pointed to Charles, "Can I borrow him from you? If I don't take him, then A group of people are going to get me drunk!"

Annette looked in the direction he was pointing - a large group of smiling gentlemen - and nodded immediately. "Of course," she said with a smile, "men's affairs are always more important."

"You're complaining about me," continued Alphonse at once, "but don't worry, there's no one more likable than Charles!"

Having been punctured, Annette's face turned a little red.If there were all women there, she couldn't be so happy. "I never heard before that the Irish are good at witticism too!"

The two exchanged a few more polite words, and Alphonse succeeded in pulling Charles away from that dark corner.After making sure that Annette could no longer hear them, Alphonse asked nervously, "Is there anything wrong with you? Am I late?"

"No, you came just in time." Charles expressed full affirmation.As soon as he finished his reasoning, he could only say some unappetizing sweet words, and the arrival of Alphonse successfully saved him. "You're right, and you can't just break it off, first alienate."

Just as he had guessed, this woman was soft but not strong, and liked the feeling of being in control - now, she must think that he did things honestly because of her request!In fact, he induced her to say those words, and made her think it was her own decision!

Therefore, the smart way is not to be tough, but to retreat.Who would have thought that the always well-behaved Charnery had changed?

"As long as you know how to do it." Alphonse breathed a sigh of relief.His kind of rectum is not good at dealing with women, so he didn't ask any more questions after hearing that it was all right. "Speaking of which, I really have something to do with you."

"What?" Because a big trouble was preliminarily settled, Charles was casually drinking the champagne in his glass, his eyes still wandering around.

"Mr. Grassin, who studied law just now, said that he has something to do with you. I heard that he came from the city of Saumur and knew Mr. Grandet there." Alphonse mentioned it in a very disgusted tone, "as usual I said, that has nothing to do with you at all, and he doesn't even look at himself! A mainlander is a mainlander!"

Mainlander is a popular term. Parisians can collectively refer to everyone except Paris as Mainlander, with an indescribable sense of superiority.

Charles shook his hand.Guillaume had a brother in Saumur, and those who should know knew it.But this is not an honorable birth, so Guillaume has always avoided mentioning it, to the same extent as Guillaume is enthusiastic about the nobility.Smart people know not to mention Saumur's Grandet in front of Grandet in Paris, because such a relationship will have the opposite effect, and this Mr. Grassin is obviously not smart enough.

But then again, Guillaume thought his brother was a poor relation, but he really wasn't.Saumur's Grandet, known as Grandet's father, has at least five times the assets of Guillaume.It's just that Grandet's father kept a low profile and kept a low profile, so no one knew how much money his family had.

"Then," murmured Charles, thoughtfully, "I've never been to Saumur."