The spring days are not long, and from five o'clock in the afternoon the sky is already dark, and when it is time for dinner, the night covers the whole land, and everything is dark and silent again.

In the castle where the Duke of Wellington lived, a few visitors gathered on schedule, bringing a rare buzz to the otherwise dreary castle – although they were technically fond of quieters.

"Mr. Treville, I heard you have a sister?"

In the sound of the clash of dishes, the old lady Patterson looked at Charles with just the right amount of curiosity, and there was no sign of old man's fatigue in her expression.

"Yes, that's right." Charles replied in the affirmative, while cutting the steak with a knife. "I don't have a brother, just this one sister, a few years younger than me."

"Oh, it's not easy for you, you've been taking good care of her for so many years...... Lady Patterson blinked sympathetically, showing that she had heard of Charles's family situation, "I've heard that your sister is very beautiful, well-bred, and artistically gifted, and you must have put a lot of thought into her training, right?" ”

"It's not very hard, I'm afraid you're going to laugh a little...... I have been taking care of her for many years, and as a result, I seem to be her father, and watching her grow up little by little, from an ignorant child, I will have a sense of accomplishment in my heart. This sense of accomplishment makes me feel that everything I put in is worth it, and it even makes me happy. "Because he drank a little bit of wine before, Charles's originally heavy heart defense was slightly removed. When I recalled the past when I took care of my sister when I was a child and tried my best to fulfill all her wishes, I had a feeling of mixed feelings.

It would be nice if it could go on like that.

With this helpless sigh. He suddenly changed his words, "But." The child will eventually grow up, and one day I will suddenly find that she has grown into an adult like me and no longer needs my care...... When this is discovered, everything is difficult to accept, but it has to be accepted. ”

Although he was unable to talk to people about the occasion; Although a long time has passed, he still feels a faint pain in his heart when he recalls his sister's secret transformation and everything he has secretly done to him.

"Oh? You...... That's what you said. It's really like a father's confession! It's really hard to imagine your age from these words! Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Charles in astonishment, "Do you know what your words make me think?" Thinking of myself, I had exhausted myself for my son, you know, he had a very irresponsible father who abandoned us all so cruelly - so you can imagine how much I had to spend and how much I had to endure to raise him......"

"Understandable, ma'am," Charles replied rather respectfully. While wondering why the old woman had suddenly mentioned this issue.

"I've heard that your sister is very beautiful, and I'd love to see you if I have the chance. It's just a pity that I can't go to France right now...... It's a pity. As if to sigh something, the woman sighed.

After all, they still want me to help......

"You don't have to regret that, because my sister is also in England. Coming on a personal basis, of course. Although, Charles still rejected the other party's request in a hint way. If you meet him, you'll be fine here. No need to wait until France. ”

In other words, even if my grandson is called back to France. Will you not let me set foot on French soil?

As Charles watched, Ms. Patterson's eyes shrank slightly. Apparently annoyed that Charles still wouldn't let go.

However, with good concentration, she finally regained her composure quickly.

It doesn't matter, sooner or later my grandson will do everything.

"That would be wonderful, sir, that you always have all sorts of preparations, and I am very grateful to you. Oh, I wish I could see her sooner, such a young and beautiful and attractive child must remind me of my youth......" At this point, Ms. Patterson bowed to Charles slightly apologetically, "I beg your pardon, I lost my temper, an old man like me will always find a way to get closer to the younger." ”

"If you want to, you can always have the chance, and she'll be in London until the end of the World's Fair." Charles spread his hands very kindly, "I'm sure you're going to visit the expo too, right?" Then you can go back to London and see her, I just hope you won't be disappointed. ”

"How so? The children of the Treville family, I believe, are excellent and charismatic - are you and your wife not the best proof of that? Ms. Patterson replied with a smile on her face, in a very relaxed tone.

Not to mention that the young lady has long been rumored to be talented and beautiful, even if she is ugly, so what?

As long as Jérôme holds this young lady in his hands, the Tréville family is not afraid to serve him wholeheartedly...... As she drank the contents of her glass, Ms. Patterson sneered inwardly.

Undoubtedly, they are not yet "the right person", so this lady has no intention of coming up with her own idea.

However, out of the blind faith that the old man usually has for his grandson, the lady absolutely believes that her grandson is capable of fulfilling his grandmother's wishes.

Jérôme is so handsome and so talented, and who wouldn't love it?

With this reverie, Ms. Patterson's face couldn't help but smile slightly, and her face flushed slightly from the alcohol.

"There is one thing I do not understand, Mr. Treville—how do you combine lofty goals with the reality that you sometimes have to bow your head to? I mean, you're going to have some very difficult colleagues who you have to be respectful, right? They are usually resentful of you, as if there is nothing else to do but get in your way......" As if to change the subject, she suddenly looked up at Charles again, "You have to bend down, work with these people, and then be able to do so with their involvement...... It's really admirable. ”

However, before her compliments could make Charles happy, another person was brought out.

"It's all too common for a man to do something and have to whip his men and his empty-headed colleagues." The Duke, who had been eating silently beside him, suddenly interjected, "Enduring the mediocrity and incompetence of others is a necessary skill that a wise man has to learn. The more a person accomplishes great things, the more he will be bored with the mediocre people around him. ”

"I guess that's how you were back then." Charles smiled at the right time. "Consider what you've accomplished...... You must be tired of them. ”

"Yes, you can't imagine what kind of wretched creatures I was working with." The Duke of Wellington unceremoniously gave a comment. "Without me, their best outcome would have been to be torn to shreds by your French army."

Considering that his subordinates and colleagues were all old and dead, Charles had no interest in defending them, he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, and then took another sip of wine.

"Now, it's up to you to endure this suffering, young ......man," the Duke sighed softly, then looked at Charles again, "You have to be careful to restrain a group of energetic and simple-minded reckless, and to be honest, I'm worried about you......"

Charles tilted his head slightly, waiting for his explanation.

"A nation is always energetic after 40 years of rest, let alone the French. This exuberant energy can both revive a nation and lead it to terrible destruction...... "In the light of the not-so-bright candlelight, the Duke of Wellington's already wrinkled face became even more obscure. "And you, in order to seize power, helped your master to carry out a policy that raised the status of the military - if not to say that the military was placed in the dominant position of the state. So, when this dominance is mastered, what will the Frenchmen think? I don't have to guess that I can figure it out. ”

"I'm afraid you're thinking too badly about everything." Charles smiled reluctantly.

"Really? Let's hope so. The Duke's expression still did not change in the slightest, and it was difficult to understand what was going on in his heart, "Mr. Treville, I think there is one thing that we should tacitly know as smart people - since you are raising the status of the soldiers, then you have an obligation to restrain those people for the sake of your country and your status. Otherwise, you're playing a vicious game of setting fire to the grass and walking away, leaving the consequences to other innocent people! The blood of millions of people in Europe should no longer be shed in vain as it did in the past, and I think you know that. ”

Charles wanted to argue, but he knew in his heart that the Duke of Wellington was not such a good deceitful person, so he couldn't think of a better argument for a while.

In a way, he does have a point.

"You don't need to explain it to me in any rhetoric, the trouble is your own, and all you have to do is solve it," the Duke said, spreading his hands, "I am already an old man on the verge of death, and it may not be long before I die." The next era will be you, and the giant will be you – are you ready for your responsibilities? ”

Such a sharp gaze was as if the entire body of Charles had been pierced.

Charles twitched slightly uneasily.

"A Trevier will never change his approach because of your opinion, he has his own pace." In the end, he left this answer. "However, he would always stand by the fire and use it to light his cigar."

"I hope so, young man." The Duke sighed leisurely, "You can go back tomorrow, I hope you can remember everything I told you." (To be continued......)