The death of the Duke of Treville, although a sensation in social circles at the time, soon disappeared with the Duke's burial, and became only the occasional talk of a few, and most people had indifferently buried it in the deepest recesses of memory.

After all, this world is for the living.

In the afterglow of summer, several carriages drove from different directions at the same time to the mansion where Charles de Treville lived.

They were all French ministers to several major European countries, and they had been summoned together by Charles after he took office. At that time, in order to leave them enough time to prepare, he also deliberately set the time to today, a few months later.

And these ministers were also quite intrigued, and after receiving his information, they all arranged their own affairs, and then rushed back to France.

As soon as they returned to China, they held a meeting with His Excellency Minister de Tourgo and His Excellency de Treville in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they introduced each other to each other.

Then he invited the ministers to a dinner at his residence, and the ambassadors agreed with understanding, knowing in their hearts that what they had heard from Monsieur de Treville would not be a mere nonsense, and that they had no right to refuse such an invitation.

As soon as they got out of the car, they were respectfully guided by the servants to the center of the grand mansion.

Some of the ministers had been in the government a few years earlier when the July Dynasty was still alive, and many had come to the mansion that had once belonged to the Prince of Juwerville, but they were all knowingly not showing it. Instead, they all pretended to be here for the first time, and let the servants lead the way.

They were soon led to the garden at the back of the mansion.

The garden is already huge. And then since the Trevilles moved in, they renovated it. A glass pergola was built between the two rows of trees at the back door, and some tables and chairs were placed here casually, as a place for summer pastime and chat.

In the evening, the heat in the air has gradually disappeared, and the cool breeze begins to blow in all directions, passing through the trees, making it even more refreshing under the pergola.

The Trévilles, dressed in formal attire, held hands and greeted each guest with a friendly smile.

It's been a few months. Not only has the season changed from early spring to late summer, but the mansion has also swept away the gloom of the Duke's death and regained its former cheerful atmosphere - with one difference, that is, in honor of her grandfather, the hostess Charlotte still wears a black dress.

But this is not a problem, the black dress only sets off her more sophisticated.

She spoke to each of the ministers with a gentle smile, cold, calm, but polite. Exactly like the wife of a high-ranking diplomat. No, it should be said, like the ladies of the highest status in the social world.

Like the rest of the well-dressed ministers, de Treville wore an embroidered gown. With a red ribbon of the Legion of Honor on his shoulders and a medal on his chest, he looks like a typical important person in the diplomatic community.

I have to say. He is indeed very handsome and upright in such a dress. It shows the kind of high-spirited spirit of the young man.

While they were laughing and talking, the servants brought up a glass.

This black mass surprised the guests. A closer look reveals that it is a layer of chocolate sauce, and underneath the chocolate sauce is a pile of crushed ice. There was white smoke coming out of the cup because of the moisture.

"It's a bit hot today, and I feel uncomfortable wearing so many clothes. But it can't be helped, we are diplomats, no matter how hot it is, we can't lose our demeanor......" Charles smiled quite funny, and then took a glass from the table himself, "This is a cold snack that my wife made for me recently, and it feels good to eat something in such weather, so I specially took it out to entertain you today, everyone please taste it together, right?" ”

With that, he picked up the small spoon and put the crushed ice cubes and chocolate sauce directly into his mouth.

The other ministers followed suit, and ate the spoon directly, and after tasting it, they unanimously praised Madame Treville for being excellent.

In this era, chocolate is not easy to prepare and preserve, so refined chocolate is still a relatively luxurious dessert, and with ice cubes, this cold snack itself can be regarded as an act of showing off wealth in the hot summer.

However, as a big celebrity in front of the Bonaparte family, there is no need for de Treville to show off in this way, he is just hospitable to his guests.

And so, in the twilight of the sunset, a group of well-dressed and serious men in fancy dresses and medals, under the watchful eye of Madame Treville, enjoyed the cold spot offered by their master, and at the same time talked to each other, and talked and laughed with each other.

Charlotte listened to their compliments with a smile, and was still very happy, even though she knew that they were deliberately complimenting her because of her husband's status.

That's right, this dessert is indeed made by her own hands for her husband, and it can be regarded as a spice for the couple's life.

"Speaking of which, I'm really sorry, because I'm in my new position, I really bother you so much, I really don't want to go......" After tasting a few bites of shaved ice, Charles, who was refreshed, raised his head in high spirits, "I will apologize to everyone for gathering you today." ”

He apologized, but who of the people here dared to take it seriously? Of course, they all said that it didn't matter, and they had long wanted to go back to Paris to see.

"Thank you for your magnanimity......," Charles bowed to them slightly, then continued with a smile on his face, "Of course, I'm doing this to do my job better. As you know, I have been involved in the government for several years, but I have never been engaged in diplomatic work, so it would be great for me to get to know you as soon as possible and establish a basic understanding of my country's diplomatic work......

His eyes swept over, and although he was full of smiles, no one dared not take it seriously, and they all expressed their willingness to help Mr. Tréville master the method of work as soon as possible.

To be honest, these people have such a good attitude towards him, on the one hand, naturally because of his current popularity; On the other hand, it was also because he came from a famous family like Treville that he was able to win their approval.

Compared with other government departments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now the most aristocratic department in the French government for reasons left over from history and for practical reasons, and in particular, almost everyone is of aristocratic origin - otherwise, how can it gain basic respect in the capitals on the European continent?

Among a group of nobles, if Charles had not been surnamed Treville, I am afraid that even if all other conditions were equal, it would have been difficult for them to get such an enthusiastic response.

"Everyone has worked hard today, we have prepared a good dinner, and we will enjoy it together when we are rested." Charles made a gesture, "I hope to be able to compensate for the wrongs I have done to you." ”

After finishing speaking, he frowned again and sighed slightly, "Of course, at such a moment, it is indeed a pity that His Excellency our Minister cannot come to the banquet together......

Everyone paused uneasily, and the atmosphere instantly cooled.

Didn't you invite Your Excellency the Minister yourself? Everyone asked in their hearts, but not one asked.

"However, after I thought about it carefully, our minister, although he is a very good diplomat, he is old after all...... Sometimes I don't have that much energy, and I can't bother him with my little things," Charles continued quietly, "So, considering this, I didn't invite him over, which is a pity to think about it......"

"............" everyone looked at each other in unison.

A deputy, openly speaking to other subordinates that His Excellency the Minister is now too old and infirm to serve the council, is obviously a very serious act that has always been very serious, or rather, he is already planning to do things on his own.

However, since everyone is here, they are all mentally prepared for Tréville to express such an expression.

It's just a little early.

Some were lukewarm and did not want to participate in the struggle for power between Tréville and His Excellency the Minister, while others were eager to use the dispute between Charles and the Minister to their own advantage.

"Charles, look at how you talk!" While they were still thinking, Charlotte calmly reproached her husband, "Look at it, everyone is not having fun!" ”

Then, she turned to look at the ambassadors, "I'm sorry, everyone. Charles is still young and vigorous, so many times he doesn't speak properly, and if there is anything offended, please don't take it seriously. Please speak up and don't be influenced by him! ”

The Trévilles' cooperation soon left them with no room for delay. Since the hostess has declared that she wants everyone to speak freely, then everyone has little time to stop expressing their opinions.

Everyone stood up and spoke, but they were all very unbounded, for fear of being taken as a party to which party.

Charles looked at them with a smile at first, then at a less conspicuous person.

"Mr. de Radney?"

The focus of his gaze was on a thoughtful-looking middle-aged man, who was none other than the ambassador to the Kingdom of Sardinia, Monsieur de Radney.

In the present day, of course, the Kingdom of Sardinia does not have the status of the former unification of Italy, and the ministers stationed in it are naturally not the most valued, so Monsieur de Radney is also very consciously accompanied by the last seat, and even the words are always echoed by others.

"Huh?" Apparently he was also surprised to be the first to be called to himself. (To be continued.) )