Eugenie with money [Grandet]

For example, the current Riego, who was nailed by Eugenie to the role of righteousness and savior of the people, cannot get out. In order to achieve this goal, entering the constitutional cabinet as Eugenie said seems to be the most basic requirement.

If Riego can't enter the constitutional cabinet, he doesn't even have to give convenience to the office of the Nucingen Bank. It seems that he can't take the ten kilograms of gold in front of him.

In the end, Riego, who was full of righteousness, accepted donations from foreign countries and made a promise that once he entered the constitutional cabinet, he would try his best to facilitate the Madrid office of the Nucingen Bank in the future.

Then, he had to apologize to Eugenie and Mrs. Teigou ashamedly. Because of him, the two ladies could not make it to Madrid today. one time.

Out of a gentleman's instinct, the only two rooms are occupied by two ladies, and Riego himself will live in a tent with his mobile column.

Mrs. Taigou waited until Riego closed the door for the two of them from the outside, and paused for a while, then patted her chest and said: "Miss, you are too adventurous and too gullible." What did the man say he was Is that Riego?

What is given is ten kilograms of gold, not ten gold coins, does the lady know? !

Seeing that Eugenie didn't answer her own question, Mrs. Taigou could only think about the good, that is, the payment of ten kilograms of gold seemed to be effective, no matter whether that person was Riego or not, at least she and Eugenie, see It's safe for now.

Temporary safety is not completely safe. Mrs. Taigu asked cautiously: "Then we can go back to Paris now?" We have walked for four days on the way here, and we have to go back for four days, adding up to eight days of travel. After returning to Paris You have to find a way to make it believable.

Eugenie responded this time: "No, we will continue to Madrid tomorrow."

Mrs. Taigu is in a bad mood. Didn't she already negotiated terms with that Riego, so what are you going to do in Madrid?

Don't ask, the lady will not answer this question.Mrs. Taikoo could not find any remedy, except to resolve again not to go out with the young lady again.

Before the sun rose the next day, the carriage was already staggering forward. When I looked back, there was still a house without a fence, and I couldn't even see a single soldier.

I don't know when those people left.

Mrs. Taigu kept her mouth shut, silently resisting the fact that she had to go to Madrid.Eugenie was planning in her heart who she should meet when she came to Madrid, and what kind of conditions she should ask after meeting someone, and she didn't care to appease her petty emotions.

Such a small emotion is very easy to heal. After returning to Paris, I will give double the reward, or buy a bigger diamond, and it will be cured without medicine.

The Nucingen Bank office is located in a two-story building in the central square of Madrid. When the manager of the office heard Eugenie's name announced by the gatekeeper, he jumped up from his chair in surprise: "Did you make a mistake?" ?”

"That's what the lady said, and there was a serious lady following her, who looked very dignified." The gatekeeper couldn't describe Mrs. Taigu's awe-inspiring aura, but could only attribute it to majesty.

Whether it was true or not, the manager ran down the hall to greet him.

Eugenie handed Nucingen's handwritten letter to the manager, asking him to verify the authenticity, and then slowly went up the stairs under the manager's sincere smile.Looking along the way, although the office is not as grand as the Nucingen Bank in Paris, there are not many people who come to handle business.

"It seems that everyone is not affected by the current situation." Eugenie chuckled lightly.

Following Eugenie's gaze, the manager said in a low voice, "Miss, haven't you noticed that everyone wants to withdraw cash and exchange it directly into francs?" In your own hands, it is more at ease.

Eugenie nodded and asked: "Then is there a safe place to live in the city? Mrs. Taigou and I are going to stay in Madrid for a few days."

This is a partner of the bank. Even if the manager feels that it is not suitable to stay in Madrid, he can only nod: "Don't worry, miss. I will book a room for you in the largest hotel in Madrid. It is also where the Russian ambassador lives. The place, whether it is the royal family or the constitutional cabinet, will keep the hotel safe."

Russian ambassador.Eugenie thought to herself for a moment, remembering that people in later generations had guessed that there were shadows of Russians behind the Second Spanish Revolution.Staying in the same hotel as the Russian ambassador not only guarantees safety, but also does a little bit more.

After entering the manager's office, Eugenie asked, "Have the funds been in place?"

The manager nodded: "It was already in place the day before yesterday, and the bond market is closed on Sunday, so we haven't started buying yet." The two ladies came too early, the bank had just opened, and it was not yet time for bond market transactions.

"What were the prices of the bonds at the end of last week?" Eugenie was interested in that.

"23 pesos." The manager, who had been keeping an eye on the fluctuations in the public debt, answered quickly.Eugenie silently calculated the exchange rate between pesos and francs, and asked, "Is the demand for francs high now?"

Of course it is high.Compared with the turbulent Spain, the domestic situation in France is still stable, and the franc is also strong.The peso-to-franc ratio has dropped from six to one at the beginning of the year to eight to one.

Eugenie made a decision: "Now you will confess and convert the 200 million francs into pesos."

"Miss, this is too risky. Although the constitutional cabinet has the upper hand, the royal family still has its own authority. The two parties are now struggling. If the royal family has the upper hand, in order to pay for the suppression of the army, they will devalue the currency. If the constitutional cabinet gains the upper hand, maybe the currency will be reissued, and the old currency can only be recycled in proportion.” No matter how you look at it, it is better to hold the franc in hand, otherwise why do the people want to exchange it for francs?

Eugenie smiled: "Mr. Manager, I think you have forgotten one thing, and that is the final use of the 200 million francs shipped."

The Bank of Nucingen transported 200 million francs to Madrid at this time, not for the convenience of the Spanish people to exchange, the bankers are not so noble.The money will be used to invest in the Spanish public bond market, and the Spanish public bond market is settled in pesos.

The manager came to his senses, with a shameful expression on his face, and opened his mouth to apologize to Eugenie, but Eugenie stopped him: "Now is not the time to apologize to me, but to think about how to use the 200 million francs. , in exchange for more pesos."

Eight to one, this is just the price marked by the bank. People who really want to exchange for francs will be willing to pay a higher price to exchange for francs earlier.

"I hope, Mr. Manager, that the final transaction price of the 200 million francs can reach one to nine or even one to ten." Eugenie's eyes were firm, with indisputable determination.

The manager felt that the partner in front of him was more awe-inspiring than the Baron Nucingen, and after a repeated response, he sent Eugenie and Mrs. Taigou to the hotel where the Russian ambassador stayed, together with the office's account books.

"Hotel Royal Madrid", the spring is as resplendent as the name.What Eugenie needs most now is to take a good bath to relieve her exhaustion.Mrs. Taigu had the same needs as hers, but she had special requirements for the water in the bathtub.

"Miss wants to take a milk bath," Mrs. Taigu said seriously to the hotel manager: "Half an hour, can you get ready?"

"Ma'am," the hotel manager asked cautiously, "Forgive me for not hearing clearly, what you are talking about..." The milk bath I was thinking of?

Mrs. Taigu nodded affirmatively: "It would be good to put rose petals in my bathtub."

Rose petals are easier to collect than milk, so Eugenie had just stepped into the bath when Madame Taicourt emerged from the bathroom.This is good enough, out of home, couldn't ask for more.

But the hotel manager, wanting to know all the needs of rich French ladies, had better let him prepare in advance.Once the manager knows it, so will the purchasing staff of the hotel, and the waiter will know it even faster.

Naturally, the residents of the Royal Hotel in Madrid knew that there were two wealthy French ladies in the hotel, including a young lady.Why they chose to come to Madrid at this time, no one can guess, but it does not prevent everyone from getting acquainted with rich people.

The next day, after Madame Taigou made the same request, Eugenie received her first invitation to come to Madrid, for a ball in honor of the Russian ambassador at a hotel rented by the Spanish royal family.Because Eugenie is also a distinguished guest of the hotel, she received an invitation from the hotel manager herself.

A well-dressed Eugenie appeared at the door of the ballroom, and the doorman announced loudly: "Ms. Eugenie de Grandet is here." After the announcement, he bowed and invited Eugenie to enter.

The huge crystal chandelier is densely filled with white wax, reflecting the diamonds and gemstones on the heads and necks of the ladies, and the ruby ​​necklace of Eugenie is even more dazzling.

A lady walked towards Eugenie quickly and greeted her with a friendly smile: "Beautiful baroness, as the hostess of the ball, it is a pleasure to meet you." The waiter introduced to Eugenie in a low voice: "Antonio Countess of Ugarte."

Eugenie bowed her knees and saluted: "Dear Countess, it is a pleasure to attend your ball. Thank you for your invitation."

The Countess of Ugarte was a very thoughtful person, and she introduced to Eugenie all the guests she thought it necessary to introduce, of course not forgetting the protagonist of the ball, the Russian ambassador Tatishev.

This is a tall man, a strong man, and an ambitious man.Eugenie covered up the sarcasm in her eyes with just the right amount of shyness: "It's an honor to meet you, Monsieur Ambassador."