His Excellency the Count of Grandet

The doorway of Grandet's house was as dark as ever, and the living room was as dilapidated as ever.The biggest difference is probably that the only window is closed tightly, and only a few rays of skylight leak through the gaps in the blinds; the brazier for heating is placed on the side, but there are no sparks in it; the whole living room is the same during the day and at night It was dark, and Eugenie and Madame Grandet were nowhere to be seen.

Charles thought to himself that the old miser must have been thinking about something alone in the living room just now, so he didn't open the window or light the fire.But the question is... "Dear uncle, can you tell me where my aunt and cousin are?" Why did he feel more and more ominous looking at this situation?Under normal circumstances, the mother and daughter should be sewing in the living room every day, right?

Grandet led Charles into the living room, and now he was standing by the fireplace, looking at Charles with half of his foot slightly raised.Even in dim light, his gaze is too intense to ignore.And hearing Charles' question, he groaned from his throat, as if dissatisfied: "You have come at an untimely time," he said, "Madame is ill, and Eugenie is upstairs attending to her. If you don't mind, You can carry your luggage up to the third floor, and then you can see them along the way."

"Sick?" Charles didn't bother with his uncle about the luggage.In any case, he did not really expect Grandet to give him a warm welcome.So now, he is more concerned about what he doesn't know: "What disease? Have you seen a doctor?"

This time Grandet's answer seemed to be sniffed out. "You are so naive: don't you know that doctors are cheating money? As long as they speak first, they will definitely make things as serious as dying! Madam just has a cold, sleep more, and soon It'll be all right." Then he muttered again, like "one and two make such a fuss," but Ciel wasn't so sure.

"In my imagination, I thought I could see my aunt and cousin in the living room." Xia Er said, and started to walk upstairs at the same time. "If you don't mind, I'll go up and see how my aunt is doing."

Grandet seemed unhappy again.But he didn't object directly, he just felt like he was trying to control his urge to say something mean. "Yes, you ought to go up and see her; if I'm not mistaken, you're a good medicine yourself, ha!"

The voice at the end of these words became so small that Charles didn't bother to identify it.Anyway, with Grandet's stinginess, it is estimated that he will not go to the doctor until Mrs. Grandet is dying.It was too late then, I hope he still has time...

Stairs are more crumbling than last year and full of wormholes.As a result, Charles had to carefully pick the good places on the side to avoid letting himself step on the ground.At the same time, he was still thinking that although he and Eugenie had not written many letters, the other party's latest letter did not mention Madame Grandet's illness at all.With Eugenie's close relationship with her mother, this was impossible.

So, that is, the past three months?What did Grandet discover during these three months?

After thinking about it, Xia Ersi finally had to admit that he was probably the fuse.Grandet probably discovered Eugenie's obsession with him, and then went into a rage (necessary, considering that his uncle didn't want to pay the dowry at all); Poor mother.Excessive worry will aggravate the condition, especially Mrs. Grandet is very afraid of her husband...

If that's the case, then Grandet let him in?What's wrong?

"You are here, dear cousin." A voice came from above the stairs. "I heard your voice when you were at the door; excuse me for being unable to leave to welcome you."

Charles looked up, and a slightly thin face came into view.Even so, Eugenie's brown pupils were still bright.Fortunately, it looks like things are not at their worst...

"You are too polite, dear cousin." He took back his wandering thoughts, "Of course I can understand; at the same time, I would like to ask, how is your aunt doing?"

"Oh, just look at it." Eugenie watched Charles ascend the last few steps, and turned slightly to make room for him.For some reason, after seeing Shire with her own eyes, all her nervousness and uncertainty suddenly disappeared. "Do you want me to help you carry your luggage up to the attic?"

"No, no," Charles put the suitcase on the side, "I'm not in a hurry about the room; please show me the way, okay?" Although he was a little anxious, he couldn't be the first to rush. go in?

They didn't know that Grandet downstairs was quietly sticking to the side of the stairs, in order to better eavesdrop on the conversation upstairs.At this moment, he heard footsteps entering the room, and he walked back to the table, feeling a little resentful.

He could see that Eugenie was in unrequited love at all!I'm afraid his good nephew really doesn't have any other ideas!

Charles was right in guessing that all the anomalies in Grandet's mansion were due to Grandet's discovery of his daughter's love for his nephew at first sight.

When Grandet first found out, he was furious.It's not about Shire, it's about his daughter having a crush.The thought of possibly giving some of the gold as a dowry to someone else along with his daughter cut through his heart like a blunt knife and kept him awake night and day.

Then comes the anger towards Ciel.Although Grandet is very satisfied with the gift he received, it doesn't mean that he can pay the same amount or even more money in exchange——

Considering the way Charles showed in the purchase of wine last year, Grandet had to think darkly: Maybe this kid did it on purpose!Eugenie's infatuation must have been planned by the other party!

Because of this, Grandet, who has always been indifferent to his brothers in Paris, began to steal the words from Notary Cruchot and Mr. Grassin, trying to find an effective and two-pronged plan. While Eugenie was thinking, Charles retreated...

Want to marry Eugenie?It's impossible for anyone!

Then, unexpectedly, Father Grandet was shocked.

"Even if you don't ask, I have to tell you—your brother has been making a big splash in Paris recently!" Notary Cruchot told the old cooper, "remember what I told you last time? , has your nephew gone to England? He has returned to Paris, and it is said that M. Lafitte, a well-known Parisian, invited him to go."

Grandet has always been indifferent to other things. When he listened to it before, it was completely in the left ear and out in the right ear. "It's not that you don't know that I'm a countryman! Can't you make it easier to understand?"

"Tsk tsk," the notary Cruchot said while shaking his head, completely unable to suppress the jealousy in his tone, "I don't know how much your family property is, but everyone agrees that the funds handled by the Lafitte family are at least several thousand. Ten thousand francs."

"Tens of millions of francs?"

"There is no less, only more." The notary affirmed.

Father Grandet was overwhelmed by these words.If he calculated correctly, after 30 to [-] years of accumulation, his assets are now in the tens of millions of francs.And his nephew, at a young age, has already started a business of tens of millions of francs...?

The notary thought that he just couldn't accept it for a while, and continued to throw bombs: "Your nephew got such an investment, so he went to England to observe it; the latest news is that his factories have opened up, and I heard that At Épernay and Chalons! If I say so, your brother is doing a great favor by having such a son!"

"Charles will definitely make money?" Grandet asked back.In terms of conservatism, he is even more conservative than Guillaume; he even tries not to buy too much government bonds because of the risk.

"Do you know how much money textiles make now?" The notary spread his hands exaggeratedly. "Everyone is saying that after three years, your nephew will earn at least twice as much gold as his capital, and he is guaranteed to become the richest man in Paris!"

It cannot but be said that Grandet was genuinely attracted by at least twice as much gold.He quickly calculated an account in his mind-investing 1000 million francs this year will become 3000 million francs in three years; earning an average of 700 million francs a year?

God!You can fly just thinking about it!

But Grandet has always been cautious.In order to prevent the notary from hearing the news from hearsay, he specially asked Mr. Grassin to verify the matter when he went to Paris.

"You don't know, the Grandet's house in Paris has become a hot spot recently!" After returning, Mr. Grassin told Grandet, "I sent a message and wanted to visit, but your brother and your nephew didn't At home! In previous years, they would never miss a birthday party!"

Grandet was not at all interested in his nephew's birthday party. "not at home?"

"I heard that he is setting up a factory in another place, so he is too busy to go back to Paris!" Mr. Grassin replied sourly, obviously grieving at him when he was shut down. "And I also heard that Mr. Lafitte also took the time to watch it. You must know that any business that Lafitte wins must be profitable! This law has not changed for decades!"

At this time, the old cooper had already learned about Victor's many titles, so he didn't ask any further.But he didn't know that both Cruchot and Grassin had actually heard about Charles' situation at the French Academy of Sciences; but they didn't understand the meaning of it at all, and naturally they wouldn't tell him specifically.

We have to say that the reason why Cruchot and Grassin dared to tell Grandet so much is because they firmly believed that even if Grandet knew, he would never leave Saumur with his temper.Furthermore, Grandet has always worked alone and never partnered with others.The last part of the reason is that the two families have been fighting openly and secretly for so many years, always afraid that the other party will establish a good relationship with Grandet before themselves, and seize the opportunity to marry Eugenie, so they know everything without saying anything.

But if Grassin and Cruchot knew that Grandet had indeed changed his original mind after hearing the news they had inquired about—letting Charles go as far as he could—then they would regret it to the core.

What is Papa Grandet thinking now?

gold!gold!gold!