[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

r045

Renee was devastated to hear of Colonel Nargona's death.

The sailboat caught fire accidentally on the way back from England, and three people disappeared in the accident.Because it involved a secret letter from the British regent, this matter had been suppressed for a long time, and she only heard about it from her father, the Marquis of Saint-Méran, when she returned to Marseilles recently.

Colonel Nargona is Matilda's brother and Ermini's husband. Now her two best friends have lost their relatives, which makes Renee very worried.

But her most worried friend was Plum Tess.

Since Mei Tess disappeared, Renee has been looking for her. She searched the streets and alleys of Paris. Later, she even drew a portrait of Mei Tess from her memory and hired detectives to explore the dirtiest corners. But there is still no trace of Plum Tess, she seems to have evaporated from the world.

For this reason, Renee has always felt guilty, after all, it was Paris that she wanted to invite Mae Tess to.What she felt more sorry for was old Dantes, after losing his son, and then losing Mei Tess who was like a daughter, how should he live.

She was determined to do something to make amends, but Villefort seemed a different man whenever she mentioned Edmund.He told Renee Edmund was a heinous criminal and warned her not to mention the man's name again.

So she can only travel between Paris and Marseilles to visit old Dantes and send him some money or supplies.

At first, the old man firmly rejected her offer.Later, Renee thought of a way and lied that Edmond had been released and was currently joining the army in Paris.Mei Tess, on the other hand, helped look after Valentine at her house, and she only sent her wages regularly.

The old man finally accepted.He begged her to take care of Mei Tess, and to take care of his son Edmund.

Renee nodded and agreed, she knew that for this frail old man, his son and Maisettes were everything to him, and a lie was always more beautiful than the truth, although every time she told a lie, she would suffer a torment in her heart.

After visiting old Mr. Dantès in Merlin Lane, Renee happened to meet Mr. Morel at the mouth of the lane.The owner of the ship knew the truth all along, and deeply regretted the unfortunate lovers.

This time, he told Renee a lot about Edmund, which made Renee doubt Villefort's words.If it is said that old Dantès and Mei Tess were deceived because of family affection and love, why is this captain?

Renee decides to find out the truth.

At her home in Marseilles, she found the seal of Villefort when he was a prosecutor in Marseilles, and retrieved Edmund's archives in the Marseilles court.There are not many things in the document, only a whistleblower letter, a judgment, a petition from M. Morel, and a note from Villefort.

Renee first opened the informant letter, and the text on it became more and more familiar.It occurred to her that this letter had been delivered to the wedding party on the very evening of her engagement to Villefort, and that she had pleaded for the poor defendant without knowing Edmund.Villefort also agreed to her at that time, but she didn't expect it to turn out like this now.

Then she found a note in the file, and saw that it said——Edmond Dantès, a member of the Napoleonic party, was responsible for assisting the rebels to return from the island of Elba, and should be strictly guarded and vigilant .Those were Villefort's notes, yes.

Under this line, there is another person's handwriting, "read, no need to review." It should be added by an inspector.

Renee frowned, then opened the petition, remembering Morrel's regret at mentioning it.In order to get Edmund to come out, Morel so kindly exaggerated Edmund's service to the Empire that the petition ended up being a terrible incrimination.But the above date is clearly April [-], [-], which is still far from the end of the Hundred Days Dynasty. If it can be sent to the Minister of Police in time, Edmund can be rescued.

This shows that the petition was maliciously withheld.

Renee was unwilling to doubt Villefort, but when she saw Villefort's notes on the petition, her hands trembled.Why he did it, Edmund would have had a chance to let it out.

Renée walked out of the courthouse restlessly, knowing that if she confronted Villefort, he would say nothing.

She knows what she has to do.

She's going to the Château d'If!

If it was in the past, she would never have stepped into that place. It was a place for those vicious prisoners. It was dirty, dark, and damp. People like her should not come here.

Yet she came anyway.

The warden received her graciously.Of course he knew Renee. After all, she was born in a noble family in Marseilles. Her husband once served as the deputy prosecutor of Marseilles, and now he was promoted to serve in Versailles.

"Mr. Warden, I'm here because of a case my husband tried before, about a Napoleon partisan delivering a message for Napoleon," Renee explained, "The prisoner's name is Edmond Dantès."

"Yes," said the warden flatteringly, "that's a very wicked prisoner, and he's been well kept in the dungeon."

"Please take me to see him," Renee said in an uncompromising tone, "I have something to ask him personally."

The warden personally led Renee into the Chateau d'If, where it was as dark and terrifying as she had imagined.

In fact, even the warden was very surprised. In the past few years, two noble women came here one after another, all wanting to see this prisoner.Although the previous female officer disappeared after coming once, it is understandable, after all, she belonged to Napoleon, and the emperor who lost his crown could never stand up again.

And why is the prosecutor's wife here?

He couldn't figure it out, but he didn't have to.He just needs to entertain her well, please her, and then pretend that this unruly thing never happened. This is the experience he has summed up over the years.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Renee finally saw the prisoner in the underground dungeon. His face was covered with vicissitudes of beard, but his eyes were as bright as sapphires.

"I want to talk to him alone," Renee ordered.

"But it's against the rules," said the warden, grimacing. "Oh, no...I mean, I'm afraid he'll hurt you."

"He won't," insisted Renee, "and there are bars here."

"Then you must stay away from him, ma'am," the warden repeatedly warned, and left helplessly.

After hearing the warden's footsteps walking away, Renee broke the silence. She knew that the man in front of her was as curious about her as she was, "Mr. Dantès, hello."

"May I ask what you want from me," the other party said in a low and hoarse voice.

"My fiancée Mei Tess's friend is also the wife of prosecutor Villefort," Renee said slowly, "I'm here to ask you something."

"You are Plum Tess's friend..." Edmund suddenly became agitated, "Is she okay now?"

"She's fine," Renee lied again. "Your father is also very well. I just visited him before I came."

"Thank God," Edmund grabbed the railing, "I thank you, Madame. It seems that M. de Villefort has finally remembered me. He promised to let me out..."

Renee's eyes widened in surprise.She still remembered Villefort's extremely disgusted expression when she mentioned Edmond's name, as if it touched a thorn in his heart.In the judgment, Villefort described Edmund as a vicious Napoleon party member, so how could he agree to Edmund to let him go out.

"Are you sure he said that?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Edmund, "the prosecutor was very kind to me. He said I was innocent and would let me go if there was a second trial. He also burned the letter from Napoleon for me. ...oh, that letter, he made me swear not to mention it...”

"It's okay, you can tell me," Renee said quickly, "When the warden was here, you already knew my identity, so you can trust me."

Edmund hesitated for a few seconds before speaking, "I don't know the content of the letter, ma'am. I only know that the letter is going to a general in Paris."

"Which general?" Renee asked suspiciously.

"General Noirtier, he lives in the Rue Cauhiron in Paris, do you know him?" asked Edmund.

"What are you talking about... General Noirtier", Renee took two steps back in disbelief, and barely stood still while leaning on the wall.

Nothing surprised her more than this answer.She never expected the truth of the matter to be like this, and she finally understood why Villefort was inconsistent with his words and deeds and locked Edmund here.

Hasn't her husband always been fair, why did he do such despicable and dirty things?Why?

"Madame de Villefort? Madame de Villefort!"

Edmund's voice grew further and further away.

Renee just remembered her feet wanting to get out of there.When she ran out of the dark Château d'If in a daze, she couldn't open her eyes because of the momentary sunshine, as if she herself was a sinner.

"Madame de Villefort, are you all right? Did that nasty prisoner frighten you?" The warden rushed over panting, "I said earlier..."

"No, Warden, you misunderstood." Renee barely suppressed the tears that came up, "I just... felt a little uncomfortable, by the way, can you take me back to the dock?"

"Happy to serve you," the warden hurried forward to lead the way.

Renee took one last look back at the hellish Château d'If.

The seabird that just flew by made a mournful long cry. Is she singing the dirge of the soul, or is she warning the coming of the storm?