[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

r029

After leaving Wu Ji's tent, Renee has been depressed.

Noticing her serious expression, Mei Tess asked worriedly, "Renee, are you okay?"

"It's okay." Renee gently took the hand of her companion, trying to smile, "I'm just worried that we're going back late."

"It's still early," Matilda took out her exquisite Breguet enamel pocket watch and glanced at it. "Renee, I wish you had oysters."

"How could I forget?" Renee blinked. "There are also fresh lemons from Menton. I know you love oysters topped with lemon juice."

Plum Tess could see that Renee was only forcing a smile. She wanted to comfort her, but she didn't dare to ask rashly.Although I couldn't hear it clearly, it was clear from Renee's expression that Wu Ji must have said something bad to her.

The mysterious witch gave them three prophecies, one brought laughter, the other brought sorrow, leaving Mei Tess a mystery.She was eager to know when Edmund would come out of the Château d'If, but she couldn't understand anything Wu Ji said.

Maybe all of that is Wu Ji's way of making money, which is not to be believed.She shouldn't have bothered about it, and neither should Renee.

It wasn't until the carriage stopped in front of a grand aristocratic mansion opposite the Medusa fountain that Mei Tess came back to her senses.

This mansion is much larger than the mansion of Prosecutor Villefort. The Doric gateposts are decorated with exquisite angel statues. Inside the gate is a large garden full of various plants with Mediterranean characteristics. Several pomegranate trees are dotted among them, trimmed into a regular circle.

The housekeeper and servants were already waiting at the door, and a young servant stepped forward to help them off the carriage one by one.

"Is Dr. Avrini here?" Renee asked the butler.After getting an affirmative answer, she ordered, "Take us to the reception room."

Plum Tess knew why Renee had invited Dr. Avrini.Like her, Renee admired the doctor's research, especially after seeing the doctor completely cured old Dantès' illness in a few days.

Prior to this, Plum Tess had invited several famous doctors from Marseilles for Old Dantes, but none of them worked.

However, people's acceptance of this method of treatment is not great. Many people equate herbs with medieval witchcraft, which is why Dr. Avrini is in trouble.Renee invited the doctor this time because she hoped to introduce him to her father, the Marquis de Saint-Méran.

The Marquis is very influential in Marseille. If he is willing to make a move, the doctor's plight may be solved satisfactorily.If one day the doctor's research is successful and can help more people, it would be a good thing.

But now that Renee is clearly flustered and distraught, it can't help but make people feel a little worried.Therefore, when the maid asked what was needed, Mei Tess thought for a while and said, "If it's convenient, please prepare a pot of hot tea for us." She only hoped that a cup of warm tea would help Renee dispel the disturbance in her heart.

"Yes, and a little snack," Matilda added in good time, "with a plate of lavender honey."

Only then did Renee realize that she hadn't taken care of the guests, and quickly apologized.Under the strong comfort of the two female companions, a smile broke out on her slightly pale face.

Immediately afterwards, the servants led them through the antechamber to the reception room of the Saint-Meran couple.The interior decoration of this mansion is more complicated, with Renaissance oil paintings on the walls, royal porcelain from Meissen in Germany or Royal Copenhagen in Denmark on the shelves, and a large teak wood pendulum on the wall, which is quite fluffy. A legacy from Madame Pidou's time.

Plum Tess caught her curious gaze just in time before reaching the reception room.Looking at everything familiar in front of her eyes, Renee's heart was filled with complicated emotions.She grew up here, but now she has to leave because of her marriage, and when she comes back occasionally, she feels like a guest.

Dr. Avrigini was already waiting there, and when he saw them coming, he immediately got up from the sofa chair.

The girls greeted him slightly.

Mrs. Saint-Meran immediately got up to greet her.She is a proud lady, with wrinkled eyes and sagging skin on her chin, but she can vaguely see the beauty of her youth.

The servants quickly brought Dutch black tea served in a Mason cup.Renee took a sip, and the rich and mellow tea aroma made her feel a little at ease.She looked at Madame Saint-Meran, her mother's eyes were as strict as ever, but she felt very warm.

But this majestic gaze was not so friendly to the guests, especially Mei Tess who was born as a commoner.Perhaps it was for this reason that the atmosphere in the living room was a bit cold, but Mrs. Saint-Méran had been questioning the two female guests, and Maisy Tess was her focus.

"Miss Maisette, I heard that your fiancé is a captain. How much does he earn every time he goes to sea?"

"Ma'am, his income varies from time to time, which is related to the type of cargo, the length of the voyage and other factors." This is the best answer that Mei Tess can find in a hurry.

Plum Tess exchanged a look with Renee, and she knew very well in her heart that Madam invited her over in Renee's name this time, obviously not just to thank her.

She remembered that Renee had emphasized in the letter that Mrs. Saint-Meran was a staunch royalist.Renee was apparently going to lie to her mother about Edmund.

Renee knew how much her mother hated the Napoleonic party, but she herself sympathized with these poor people who were just on the wrong side, not to mention that Edmund was only carrying out the old captain's last wish, and there was no fault at all.

But Mrs. Saint-Meran would not think so.

Therefore, when answering questions, Mei Tess can only be vague.She couldn't reveal any information about Edmund, not even a clue.There are only a few shipowners in Marseilles, and as long as Mrs. Saint-Meran is willing, she can find out.

"Then your fiancé is the owner of a smuggling boat," said the lady, taking a sip of her tea, as if it were a trivial matter.

"That's not the case..." Mei Tess quickly denied, "He is a very upright person, and he will never do illegal things."

"Don't be so nervous," Madam giggled, "Of course it's a good thing he obeys the rules, but if he smuggles, I'd like to ask him to buy some spices from the East."

Just when the Marquis of Saint-Méran came back from the study, Renee quickly changed the subject and helped Mei Tess, "Mother, I heard that my father has been suffering from gout recently, and now we have an excellent doctor in front of us. Dr. Avrini treated Meiser Tess's father before, and the old man recovered completely after taking the medicine he prepared for a few days."

"Doctor Avrigini, what are the ingredients in the medicine you prepared for that old man?" Mrs. Saint-Méran was obviously interested.

"A small part of cinchona, used for anti-inflammatory. Most of it is taken from a plant from North America, I persuaded the Royal Botanical Institute in Marseille to grow some", explains Dr. Avrini.

"What kind of plant is it? It actually has such a magical effect."

"This plant has not been officially named, but its flowers are like a water bottle, and the Indians used the liquid stored in it to treat colds." The doctor said to Madame Saint-Méran, but his eyes looked at Lei. Ni, "Its Indian name means lover's pitcher...but trust me, the water tastes bitter."

This scene was watched carefully by Mei Tess, and she couldn't help worrying whether the doctor still had some feelings for Renee.But Renee didn't pay attention, she just listened to it as something interesting.

Mrs. Saint-Meran, who asked the question, did not know much about the medical field, so she just nodded symbolically.

"As my daughter said, I have been suffering from gout recently." Probably thinking that the doctor's words sounded very professional, the Marquis of Saint-Méran asked immediately, "Do you have any suggestions?"

After carefully inquiring about the condition, Dr. Avrini said confidently, "I sincerely suggest that you reduce your meat intake, and with some medicine, I can guarantee that you will no longer suffer from illness."

"This is really great," said the Marquis de Saint-Méran happily.

"I don't understand." Mei Tess intentionally brought the topic to the plight of doctors. "This technology can help many people. Why are there so few people doing research in this direction?"

"Because herbs belong to the category of witchcraft in the eyes of many nobles," Dr. Avrini smiled helplessly. The medicinal value of plants. I also came into contact with herbalism from the East by accident, and then I started to study medicinal plants.”

"I heard you couldn't find a patron?" Renee asked duly.

"I managed to convince the curator of the Royal Botanical Garden of Marseille to rent me a few plots of land in a glass greenhouse to grow medicinal plants from all over the world. But my patron died two months ago, and all his property It was all inherited by his nephew, and that heir did not want to support me anymore..." The doctor said sadly, "I couldn't pay the rent, so the people in the botanical garden threatened to pull out all the weeds I planted. "

"It's unfortunate..." Mei Tess couldn't help sighing.

Seeing the time was right, Renee begged her father to help Dr. Avrini.The Marquis of Saint-Méran couldn't hold back his daughter, so he immediately agreed to go to the curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens to negotiate in person, and to subsidize the doctor for some research funds.

However, Mr. Marquis made a condition.