At this time, the crowd who had been watching Fabli's speech noticed the commotion here.
However, the crowd of onlookers seemed unable to grasp the situation immediately. An Ning heard someone whispering in a low voice: "What's going on, the noble young men are jealous?"
An Ning remembered that he was also a trousers guy now, and he also had a maid, so he was not recognized as one of his own by the trousers guys.
But this was only temporary, because the person whose gloves were thrown immediately helped An Ning.
"God's belly button!" He said something that in French means "fuck". "You, the son of a cobbler, dare to throw my gloves? I am Count Reginald! My father is Marquis Richard."
!”
An Ning sneered: "What Earl? Do you have a title? Just call yourself an Earl! You are just a commoner like me!"
The heir of a marquis is called an earl, which is actually an honorific title. It does not mean that he really has the title of earl. The title of a title can only be passed down in order after the death of the original owner.
Now all the onlookers around understood the situation, and then the trousers guys suddenly stood on An Ning's side and started shouting to help: "That's right! The Marquis is your father, we call you Earl just to be polite!
"
"Kill the cobbler's son!"
Reginald was furious: "What did you say? I am a noble! Even if I did not inherit the title, I am still different from ordinary people like you! How dare you compare with us?"
"What's the difference?" Mabuli stood next to An Ning, "Your earl is a false title, but I am a real earl. I don't think there is any difference between me and this cobbler's son!"
As he spoke, Mabuli turned to An Ning: "Very well, young man! Say no to the nobles bravely! The duel requires a witness from both sides, and I am willing to be your witness!"
An Ning nodded: "Thank you, Sir Mably..."
"Call me sir." Mably corrected him, "A title is just a title. Some people just can't see this clearly, so they deceive themselves!"
An Ning nodded, and then said to the man named Reginald: "How about it, I already have witnesses here, and there are so many people watching. If you refuse the duel, you will become the laughing stock of all Paris!
Tomorrow word will be spread in every tavern that the son of the Marquis Richard has been frightened to death by a cobbler's son!"
Reginald smiled: "Huh, do you think I will refuse? Are you kidding me? I have received the best swordsmanship training since I was a child!
"Although my brothers are trained to deal with errands, I am different. My swordsmanship is real! Isn't it just a duel? I agreed. You'd better write a letter to your parents in the country as soon as possible and let them
Let’s collect the body for you!”
After Reginald finished speaking, several of his followers laughed: "I didn't expect that there would be someone who didn't have the eyesight to duel with you, Reggie!"
"Doesn't he know that Reggie has won three duels?"
Good guy, it seems that this Reginald is still a victorious general in duels.
Reginald: "We will also have a witness here, and then we need a third-party witness. I think it would be better to ask the Duke to be the witness..."
At this time, a voice came: "I'm afraid Your Excellency the Duke does not have such time, so why not let me serve as the third-party witness."
An Ning looked around and saw a tall, well-dressed gentleman who looked like he was a priest.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Emmanuel Sieyès. As you can see, I am a priest. I think there should be no big problem in serving as a third-party witness in my capacity."
An Ning was shocked. What day is it today? This afternoon, I first met Mably and then Sieyès. Are the historical figures of the Revolution lining up to appear?
Although this Sieyès was a priest and belonged to the first estate in the Three Estates Council, he came to the side of the Third Estate and wrote a famous pamphlet "What is the Third Estate".
There is a famous saying in this booklet: What is the third estate? It is everything!
But when An Ning thought about it, the Palais Royal was now the main center for the dissemination of Enlightenment ideas in Paris. It is estimated that progressive people living in Paris would come to the Palais Royal from time to time.
Then it is normal to meet one or two progressive people near the Palais Royal.
Reginald looked very happy: "Very good! This way we have enough witnesses. Your Excellency, the priest, you can set the time for the duel. As the person who was brought up for the duel, I have the right to choose the weapon. I choose
Dagger as a dueling weapon!"
Sieyès: "That is your right, but before the duel, let me first ask the cobbler's son, how will you do tomorrow afternoon?"
An Ning nodded: "No problem, tomorrow afternoon. As for the place, I'm not very familiar with Paris. Is there any place in Paris where the son of a nobleman can be splashed with blood without looking out of place?"
"The lawns near the Bois de Boulogne are nice." Someone among the onlookers shouted, "Where else will I go for an outing in the spring this year?"
An Ning glanced at the caller and found that he was a gentleman dressed as an intellectual and wearing one-sided glasses.
An Ning guessed that he might be an employee of a commercial bank or a clerk of the Paris Municipality.
Nowadays, Paris has developed a quite large number of small bourgeois groups. These people will later become part of the sans-culottes and be swept up in the torrent of the times.
Sieyès nodded: "Okay! It's decided, the lawn north of the Bois de Boulogne, tomorrow afternoon! Please come to the appointment on time with your witnesses!"
After Sieyès finished speaking, he turned around and looked at An Ning: "Sir, I haven't asked you your name yet."
"My name is Andy Frost, the son of a cobbler." An Ning deliberately added his father's occupation.
Sieyès sighed: "Honestly, I admire your courage very much, but it is obviously not wise to challenge a noble who has won duels many times. I will try my best tomorrow and hope you can survive the duel."
After speaking, Sieyès looked at Mably: "Mr. Mably, I never thought you would get involved in such a thing."
"Sieyes, you should see the courage of Mr. Frost just now. If everyone in the third estate can have such courage, France will undergo earth-shaking changes!" Mably was obviously very excited. It turned out that he
I am an old friend with Sieyès.
An Ning actually wanted to tell these two people that the third estate in France did not lack courage, they just lacked a food shortage.
Sieyès patted An Ning on the shoulder, and then said to Mably: "Okay, my friend, maybe we can go to a nearby coffee shop that is still open for a drink. Mr. Frost, see you tomorrow."
An Ning nodded.
Then Sieyès took Mabley and left.
Reginald took a step forward, pointed at An Ning's throat and said: "The priest and Mably seem to think that being a witness can save your life! They are too naive, tomorrow is the day you die. Guys like you,
Not worthy to be around Miss Tollestaire!"
An Ning showed a contemptuous smile: "If you can, try it. I am a person who has survived on a life-and-death battlefield. People like you who have only played house in the duel field are not my opponent at all."
Reginald snorted and left with a group of noble buddies.
At this time, the onlookers also began to disperse, chatting about tomorrow's duel and walking to a nearby tavern.
The only person left beside An Ning was Fanny, who was hanging her eyes.
Fanny: "You idiot! That Reginald has already killed two men close to the lady in the duel, and injured one! He seems to think that he is the only one worthy of the lady! You are so provocative
, which suits people’s wishes.
"If you hadn't thrown your gloves, Reginald wouldn't have challenged a civilian to a duel!"
An Ning: "Can't nobles initiate a duel with commoners?"
"Because it will be embarrassing. Any activities related to the common people will make the nobles embarrassed." Fanny said angrily, "But you idiot, you did it for others."
An Ning raised her eyebrows: "Why are you so angry?"
"I get angry when I see other people doing stupid things."
"But I may not lose tomorrow."
In fact, An Ning feels that he will probably win tomorrow.
He is someone who cares about him.
Fanny rolled her eyes: "Humph, if you win tomorrow, I will..."
An Ning waited for a few seconds and saw that Vanika was shell-shocked before asking: "What do you want?"
"I didn't think about it! Anyway, I will give you some benefits! But I don't think it is possible. I will replace your parents and collect your body tomorrow. Just imagine how sad your parents were when they received the obituary notice!"
An Ning pouted, and then he remembered that he had returned to Paris safely, and it seemed that he should send a letter to his parents in the countryside of Caen to report that he was safe.
An Ning remembered that in her native family, her elder brother should be literate and could tell his parents his beliefs.
At this time Fanny sighed: "Hey, although you will die tomorrow, I am still your servant today. Come in quickly and I will bring you food."