As his grandfather had hoped, Charles did stay at his house that night, or rather, in his grandfather's secretary's bed.

When he awoke from his sleep, it was already daylight, and the sun was falling through the window and sweeping over them.

Mary was still embracing him, lying in his arms, the traces of last night's pleasure abounded, and even on her body, there were some red marks, like some spots on a white paper, which was both distressing and heartwarming to look at.

It's possible to make a mistake I'm sorry Charlotte, but I feel good. After a moment of quiet thought, Charles thought to himself.

betrayed his pregnant wife, but he unexpectedly found that he didn't have much regret in his heart now.

Am I really a hopeless scumbag?

It seems that this does not need to be answered at all, isn't it an obvious fact? He smiled bitterly in his heart.

Since he is already a scumbag, why is there any need to pretend to be guilty? With this self-defeating thought, he reached out and gently stroked Mary's smooth back. The skin is smooth and soft, as if you were caressing a brocade.

Under his unconscious touch, Mary also opened her eyes slightly. The blurred gaze quickly converged on his face, and then the usual smile appeared on Mary's face.

"Looks like you had a good time last night."

"Wish I could give you the same feeling." Charles replied with a smile.

"Well, I'm very happy, too." Mary nodded solemnly, "I'm glad I successfully completed the task of paying the tribute. Fulfilled the duty of a vassal. In the process of giving ourselves, our virtues are also sublimated......"

"Enough. Don't say that, just say if I let you have a good time. Charles hurriedly stopped her deliberate tirade.

Mary did not answer. She just looked up at him with her smile that was a mixture of teasing and slightly mocking.

What a strange man is, she thought to herself. He asked himself if he was happy, essentially hoping for something like "I don't love your money and status, but the person who loves you." It seems that every man has this urge.

But Mary didn't want him to be so easily satisfied.

"I see. You must feel sorry that I didn't blush and say that I was happy to meet your conquest **......" Mary's smile slowly retracted, and then looked at him with a serious look, "So." Let me tell you, I'm so happy, I can't be comfortable staying with you, please, stay by my side all the time. ”

Although this answer was literally very satisfying, Charles could not be happier at this time.

"You seem to like teasing me?" After a moment of stunnedness, he sighed in despair.

Seeing his slightly lost look, Mary couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't you think it's funny?"

Then. She suddenly reached out and hugged Charles tightly, "Okay, I'm really happy. Mr. ”

I don't think it's funny...... Charles, of course, would not have replied like that.

I feel much better now, though. Wouldn't it be nice to say that earlier? Even acting!

He looked at the woman lying in his arms and looked at her. I couldn't help but reach out and pinch her face.

"What a kitten."

"Cats are smart, aren't they? The dog is too impulsive. Always like to be around the owner, although most of the time it makes people feel cute. But if it is always like this, it will always be annoying. But the cat knows that if it is about to leave, it always puts the distance in the right place, and never makes the owner feel embarrassed...... Don't you like cats? ”

"But if the cat is too smart, the owner is also very embarrassed, he doesn't know what the cat thinks." Charles clasped her face with both hands, then held it in front of him, and then he and Mary's eyes met, "Tell me, Mary, do cats like their masters?" ”

After all, it's a man, no matter what, he always wants to ask for an answer. Seeing Charles behave like this, Mary's smile deepened.

"If you had to get an answer...... Then I would say that of course cats like their owners. There was always some sneer flowing in her golden-brown pupils, "But would you accept such a simple answer?" ”

Charles froze.

Mary's answer was a little too light, and he always felt like he couldn't catch her—like a cat, indeed.

Still, whether she was sincere or out of a need to please herself, it was better for Charles to have this answer than to get a cruel one.

We do need to make a fool of ourselves sometimes, and he thought to himself, it won't make much difference anyway, so why not make everyone happy. Besides, who am I to understand the arrogance of asking others to be obsessed with themselves?

"I accept your answer." He lowered his face lightly and kissed Mary's forehead, "Thank you, Mary, I'll ......"

He just wanted to say, "I'll repay you," but suddenly found that it was really inappropriate to say such things at this time, so he changed his words, "I will...... Take good care of the cat until she doesn't want me to take care of it. ”

"The cat will thank you, sir." Mary kissed him on the cheek as well. "There's one thing you don't know, but cats are loyal."

"I hope it will always be that way." Charles smiled, then put her down and walked under the bed to change her clothes again.

"You didn't come home last night, is it okay on Madame's side?" Mary also got up gently.

"It should be fine." Charles replied as calmly as he could, "I have so much to do, it's common not to go home, besides...... I stayed overnight at my grandfather's house, what does it matter? ”

"I'm relieved when you say that." Mary nodded solemnly, "Although it sounds like you're still a little weak-hearted. ”

……

"I wish I could punish you again." After a moment of silence, Charles said helplessly.

Then he pulled his pocket watch out of his pocket pocket and checked the time. "It's a pity that I still have an appointment with someone today."

"Oh, that's a pity." Mary raised an eyebrow. "So, do you want me to go out and help you see before leaving? If you just go out like that. Wouldn't it be difficult to run into someone you didn't want to meet? ”

…………

"Well, thank you."

Mary was right. He stayed here tonight, grandpa must know, and he didn't care that grandpa knew, but he didn't want that person to know. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.

"Luckily, she's in the pantry right now, and she doesn't seem to know about last night." Mary went out for a while and came back. "Hurry up, I'll go there and find her, give her a hand."

"Thank you, thank you......" Charles himself didn't know what he was thanking for, just dodged and walked out,

His carriage had been sent back the previous night, and as soon as he had walked out of his house, he found a rental carriage and made his way to a fancy restaurant on Heping Street.

Because the status is very different today. So he deliberately kept a low profile, walked into the restaurant while reading a newspaper, and then walked upstairs all the way to the box he had agreed on.

The door didn't close, he pushed it open with a flick.

"Mr. Treville!" As soon as I saw his face. Andrei Bezukhov, a tall, thin, bearded, very polite-looking Russian, walked up to him. Then he kindly extended his hand to him. "I'm glad you saw it."

"I'm also happy to see my old friends again." Charles reached out and shook his hand. Then the two of them sat down at the table together.

André had asked to see him at the Foreign Office, but Charles was not there. So he had to leave a note with his secretary stating that he wanted to treat Charles to another meal. Although as an important person in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it seems that there is something wrong with eating with diplomats from other countries in private, but Charles agreed without thinking about it, after all, this Andrei Bezukhov and he still have some friendship.

He had met the Russian in this restaurant just a few years earlier, under the leadership of his friend Albert, who at the time had no status as a rebel and had sold a batch of forged antiques to Andrei Bezukhov in order to raise some money for himself. At that time, his dealings with Andrei Bezukhov always took with it a bit of a prodigal habit.

And now, he has become a big figure in the attention of all of France, and Andrei Bezukhov is only the third secretary of the Russian embassy in France to the second secretary, and the status of the two men is very different, so there is always a bit of charre's condescension in their dealings with each other.

Maybe it was Charles's delusion, maybe it was really Andrei who did it on purpose, but in short, he felt that the Russian was now somewhat respectful to him. And, it has to be said that Charles enjoyed it very much.

"I really didn't expect you to become our peer all of a sudden, and it seems that you are doing a really good job." As soon as he sat down, André diligently poured wine for both of them. "Last time, you made our ambassador so angry, and when he came back, he scolded you in front of everyone."

"Oh? Then I'm very happy about it. "You know, this man insulted my grandfather to his face, and I'm glad I was able to slap him before he left Paris." ”

"Puff hahahaha......" Seeing Charles' arrogant appearance, Andre laughed instead, "Charles, don't worry, I'm not here for you to ask for guilt, to be honest, I'm glad you can make him angry like that." The Earl has always been pretentious, and we are honestly glad that he suffered such a loss. But...... May I ask him why he is so angry? ”

"I can't tell you this, some things can only be classified as confidential." Charles shook his head regretfully, "Or, I should answer you in our jargon: I'm sorry, I have no comment." ”

"Oh! Look at that! How skillful you are......" Andrei didn't think he was at all, but continued to laugh, "Charles, you are a highly talented diplomat, you can make a career in this business. Come, let's toast to diplomacy! ”

"Cheers!" Charles didn't drag his feet either, but clinked glasses with him, and then drank a glass of brandy.

Spirits in the stomach. The two of them suddenly became closer.

"Charles, I'm really glad you were able to treat me with such an attitude." After pushing the cup and changing the lamp for a while. Andrei's face flushed slightly, "I thought it would be hard to see you now. After all......"

"Friendship can sometimes transcend status, not to mention that in this era, none of us can be said to have a solid position." Charles smiled and replied, "Rather than spending my mind on putting things on the table, I want to maintain as many friendships as possible with others, so that when I unfortunately lose my status, I will at least have friends to find." ”

"Hey, you're so right!" As if touching some resonance in his heart, Andrei shouted. "You know, I'm not young anymore, my father is getting old, and I don't have much capital and time to squander. But compared to you, I can say that I have achieved nothing, and I have squandered all my youth in the endless pleasures of this city......"

"How did you become like a poet today, Andrei?" Charles looked at the other man a little strangely, "I remember you're not usually like that, and you should have fun with it." ”

"That's right. I enjoyed it and will continue to indulge in it in the future...... However, I have to plan for myself, Charr. I think you know what I mean. My father is old and doesn't know when he will be called by God, and my brother won't be generous to me anymore when he inherits the family business. Andrei laughed a little slyly. I have to plan for the future, and you. You're in a good position to help me. ”

"Help?" Charles paused, then asked with some curiosity. "How can I help?"

"Helping my father...... to be exact," Andre's voice grew lower, "yes, Charles, my father has a favor he needs your help right now, and he's happy to pay for it. ”

"Pay...... Can I help? Charles was even more confused.

His father, Count Bezukhov, was a well-known landowner in Russia and one of the few wealthy people in Russia, and such a man wanted to ask for his help?

Could it be some smuggling or some other illegal activity?

Still is......

"I would be glad to help the honorable Count Bezukhov, but ......," Charles replied implicitly and reservedly, "André, as you know, my position does not allow me to disregard the interests of my country. ”

"No, no, sir, my father absolutely does not need you to betray the interests of the country." Seeing Charles' answer, Andre hurriedly waved his hand to deny, "He's just...... He just wants you to help him issue a few passports so that a few people can safely get from Russia to France. It's just a gesture for you, but a lifesaver for some, and ...... My father was also happy to pay a high price for it, and you only had to sign a few names with a pen to get a large sum of francs. ”

Charles understood something slightly.

"Some things aren't so easy to sign." Charles looked at the other calmly, "I need to know who they are, and if they will be detrimental to France." ”

"It will definitely not hurt France, on the contrary, they all like France very much, and want to make Russia like France." Andre smiled softly, "Charles, I'll just say it, and if you don't, please keep it a secret for us." They...... They were somewhat opposed to His Majesty's words and deeds, so they were wanted by the government, and my father needed to get them out safely. And you can rest assured that the passport is all pseudonym, and no one will be involved in you, you just need to sign and accept the franc. ”

Bribe me? Thought I was so easy to bribe?

But...... This seems very interesting, as a wealthy Russian landowner, Count Bezukhov, is obviously a vested interest, but he is still a supporter of the anti-government elements...... Interesting.

"How many francs?" He pretended to be very unusual.

"My father intends to give 150,000 francs to save them." Andrei replied without thinking.

It seems that the Count promised to pay at least two hundred thousand, and he must have withheld it. But Charles doesn't care.

"I'll consider it, if I'm really sure there's no problem...... I'll do my friend a favor. After a moment's silence, Charles replied.

"Thank you, Charles, what a friend!" André was elated, "Now my father will be very happy." ”

Then, the two of them continued to push and change glasses, just talking about interesting things, as if the deal didn't exist.

"By the way, my friend, I want to ask you a question." As he was about to leave, Charles suddenly asked. "You should be very professional in questioning."

"What? Just ask. ”

"If there's a girl who likes to tease you, ridicule you, and pretend to be serious and say she likes you......" Charles looked at the other with a confused expression, "so does she like you or not?" ”

"You must like it, if you hate me, which woman will say a few more words to me?" Andre looked confused, "Isn't this obvious?" Some girls just like to have a bad mouth, because they feel that they will appear vulnerable or embarrassed to confess themselves too much, so they want to tease you in all kinds of other ways, so as to remind you of their existence, although this kind of girl is rare, but I have met a few, and to be honest, sometimes it is quite fun to play with them...... Why, you've encountered this too? ”

Andre seemed to understand something, and looked at Charles playfully, "This kind of girl is usually very smart, you should be careful." ”

He didn't care that Charles had a wife.

"Thank you, my friend." Charles patted him on the shoulder. "I think you've solved one of my problems."

Even with that, I'll have to do you a favor, friend. (To be continued.) )