"Well, Mr. Traveler, Agnes will be at your service~"
Edmond Dantès was so moved by Agnes's fun and vitality that he couldn't help laughing, and his tense mood became much more relaxed.
"Thank you, Miss Agnes." He thanked the other party with a smile, "Then I will rely on your help in the future."
"Agnes, I want to remind you of a few words." At this time, Alice also spoke at the right time, "Mr. Count came to Paris for his purpose and mission. As an outsider, I hope you will not take it casually.
Inquiring and spying will affect his work——"
Although she was warning her sister on the surface, Edmond Dantès could tell that she actually wanted Agnes to remain an outsider and not get too involved in their career.
Although it had only been two or three hours since they met, Alice left a very good impression on Edmond Dantès. She was both magnanimous and warm, and had a clear mind and quick response. When encountering an unexpected incident such as his visit,
The incident was not chaotic at all and was handled in an orderly manner, which is really awe-inspiring.
No wonder this lady can become His Majesty's friend and gain the General's trust.
I wonder what kind of person her husband is that can win her heart? A trace of curiosity suddenly flashed in his heart.
"I know, sister~" Agnes also knew her sister's true intentions, so she nodded and agreed, "I will inquire with my father and brother after I go back today, and I will come back tomorrow to take Mr. Earl to find someone.
"
"Well, I'll trouble you then." Alice smiled at her sister, "Agnes, fortunately, I have you to trust."
"Of course, you can trust me anytime." Agnes raised her head proudly.
"Okay, let's not disturb the Earl's rest here. Let's go to my room." After Alice finished speaking, she bowed to Edmond, "Sir, you can have a good rest. My sister will take you there tomorrow."
In the past...if you had any requests, just ring the bell and call the servants, and we will do our best to help you."
"Thank you for your hospitality, madam." Edmond Dantès thanked him quickly.
Then, the sisters left. Agnes was still smiling, chattering with her sister all the way, talking about interesting things she had encountered recently, while Alice looked at her sister with a smile on her face, nodding from time to time.
Seeing the two loving sisters, he felt a sense of security for some reason.
Then, he rested in the guest room assigned to him. At night, the servant came in and told him that General Treville did not come home tonight, so he sent dinner to his room. Edmond Dantès was also happy
Quietly, I ate alone in my room until the end of the day.
At dawn the next day, Edmond Dantès woke up from his soft bed.
After hastily washing up, he returned to the living room under the guidance of the servant. At this time, Mr. Edgar de Treville, the son of General Treville and Alice's husband, was already there, and Alice
She also sat next to him, smiling softly.
"Mr. Count of Monte Cristo, thank you for coming!" As soon as he saw Edmond, the young man greeted him happily. It was obvious that he had learned everything from his wife.
This young man is very handsome and handsome, and his smile is full of charm. No wonder he is favored by Alice.
"I'm sorry, I went to visit a friend's house yesterday, so I didn't have time to greet you. I hope you don't mind."
"It doesn't matter. I came without telling you and caused trouble to your family." Edmond Dantès quickly replied, "It would be better if you don't get angry because of it."
Then, Edgar said a few more polite words to him.
I don't know why, but when Edmond was answering the other party, he suddenly felt something was wrong in his heart, but he didn't know where this feeling came from.
And just as they were finishing breakfast, Agnes barged in again.
"Good morning, Monsieur Count!" As soon as she came in, she waved to Edmond Dantès with a smile on her face, "We meet again~"
The girl's laughter broke the dull atmosphere here and made Edmond Dantès feel much better, temporarily forgetting his doubts.
"How's the business we asked you going, Agnes?" Alice began.
"Of course I will handle the matter you asked me right away." Agnes replied with a smile, "I have already asked my father in a roundabout way. He does know a banker named Danglars and has had business dealings with him.
I have a very good evaluation of Mr. Danglars. I think this person is reliable in his work, has a tight-knit tone, and his fees are not high. He is a shrewd and reliable person..."
Edmond Dantès lowered his gaze slightly to prevent his hatred from being revealed.
He was not surprised why Tanglar could win such an evaluation - Tanglar was full of ambition and wanted to climb up the ladder. When he met a big shot like Duke Nordlien, he would definitely try his best to curry favor with him, even if he lost some money.
You should also serve the other person well.
Who can imagine what this seemingly respectable banker actually did back then?
Who can imagine how terrible the skeletons hidden under the shiny skin of the well-dressed aristocrats and bourgeois in Paris are?
"It is precisely because I heard the name of Mr. Danglars from a friend that I wanted to cooperate with him." Edmond Dantès restrained his emotions and allowed himself to reveal a
He smiled happily and said, "If I have the chance, I would also be happy to be his friend."
At this moment, he took the first step to becoming a decent person.
"This is not difficult." Agnes couldn't feel the turmoil in his heart at all, and took out a business card from the pocket of her skirt with a smile. "I took a business card from my father, plus I
I will accompany you personally, I think he will be very happy to become your friend."
"Agnes, you are such a clever little girl." Alice couldn't help but laugh, "Then why don't you just let the count ride over in your carriage?"
"Well, no problem!" Agnes responded immediately.
"Paris is like a maze that has never been seen in the world. In comparison, Minos's maze is just a place for children to play house." Alice explained to Edmond Dantès with a smile, "
If you want to enter someone's house, you must first have a pass. This pass is not a tangible thing, but some invisible but clear iron laws. Just like a warrior needs thread and equipment to break through the maze, you also need to use
Use all means to prove your social status so that you can be respected by everyone. Especially considering that you are a foreigner, it will be even more difficult to do this. I can only try my best to create conditions for you.
count."
"I am very grateful for your help, madam." Edmond Dantès was so moved that he couldn't help but stand up and thank her. "I am also very honored to meet you."
"They are all serving His Majesty, so why should we distinguish them so clearly? That's right." Alice replied with a smile, "In the final analysis, the more convenience we create for you, we are promoting our own career."
Having said this, she looked at Edgar again, as if she was urging him silently.
When she saw her husband last night, she told him to have a good relationship with this gentleman.
Although I have never heard of this person before, judging from the fact that he was entrusted with important tasks by His Majesty and given the title of earl, he is definitely His Majesty's confidant. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a good relationship with him and further consolidate the Treville family's influence.
The status in His Majesty's heart - so Alice entertained him diligently as soon as they met and tried every means to facilitate him.
"That's right, Alice." Edgar also remembered his wife's instructions, so he smiled and spoke to the count, "Earl, we are very happy to help you, and hope you can complete the task smoothly."
Although the couple said the same thing, Edmond could clearly feel that he was not interested in this kind of thing.
At this moment, he suddenly realized where his feeling of something wrong came from.
Not because he sensed danger, but in another strange way——
He clearly remembered that when he first met Alice yesterday, he said that her husband went to the club to participate in activities, but Edgar said that he went to visit friends.
Is Alice just prevaricating, or does she have no idea what her husband is doing outside, or does she have other secrets?
He had no time to think about it, and after all, it was someone else's private matter, and he had no reason to pry or interfere.
In this way, he said goodbye to the couple, then walked out with Agnes and got into the carriage she came in.
The family coat of arms was engraved on the outer wall of the carriage. The Count learned a lot about heraldry from Father Faria, so he could tell that this should be the family coat of arms of the Nordlyon family.
It was obvious that the Treville family was in decline and was not well-off in the upper class, so using their name could not open up the situation, so Alice deliberately asked him to go with her sister and use her natal name to open up the situation.
It is indeed a considerate and thoughtful arrangement.
The more this happened, the more worried he became, fearing that the sisters would get into trouble because of him.
"Mr. Earl, we are setting off immediately. The distance is not too far. It should not take long to get there." After getting into the carriage, Agnes reminded Edmond, "Is there anything else you need to prepare? Don't worry.
I didn’t think about it until I arrived.”
"I'm ready." Edmond Dantès replied calmly, "But you...will I get you into any trouble? If anyone knows."
"It's nothing, my father won't pay attention to such trivial matters. No one will ask him if a friend visited a banker, right?" Agnes shook her head nonchalantly, "Besides.
, even if you know, so what, who doesn’t have a few friends anymore? Don’t worry, for me this is just a small thing, I have done many more outrageous things."
Seeing the girl's confident look, Edmond couldn't help but wonder what the so-called "more outrageous things" were.
"Don't get me wrong!" Agnes also noticed something was wrong, "I mean beating someone all over their head..."
"Huh?" Edmond was shocked.
At this moment, the carriage started slowly and drove out of the Treville family's mansion, heading towards the city center from the Saint-Germain district.
"Didn't your Majesty tell you?" Agnes laughed again, "I am a very powerful swordsman! In the past, there were always some guys who did not know life and death and liked to talk big words who challenged me, but I was defeated.
Then I couldn’t save my face, and I was so fed up.”
"Really..." Edmond Dantes opened his eyes wide.
Although he knew that the other party would not tell lies, he couldn't believe it when he saw the girl's cute appearance.
"You don't believe it?" Agnes immediately became anxious, "Well, let's discuss it after a while, and I will let you see it..."
Seeing her anxious look, Edmond was not afraid, but found it funny.
"It's better not to use it..."
"Of course it is necessary. Aren't you going to carry out a secret mission? Such a person must be very skilled. Don't look at me like this. Maybe I can give you some good guidance." Agnes was obviously interested and continued.
Stick to your own ideas. "Okay, just for a short while, let me see how good you are. How do you like it?"
"Okay, okay." Unable to resist the girl's persistence, Edmond could only agree, "When I finish the matter, I can come and listen to your advice."
"Then it's settled!" Agnes smiled and waved her hand.
While they were chatting, the carriage moved forward and finally arrived in the center of Paris.
Mr. Tanglar's bank account is located in a large building near the Place de Greve on the right bank of the Seine. This place is not far from the Paris City Hall and the Paris Stock Exchange. You can feel the influence of the French financial community up close.
The pulse is beating, and opening in this place itself proves his considerable strength.
On this day, as usual, this already well-known banker was sitting diligently in his office, checking every account and the wealth he had accumulated.
And just when he was immersed in the battle of numbers, the servant came over with a business card and informed him that a distinguished guest was visiting.
Mr. Danglars picked up the business card and looked at it. He found that it was the business card of Duke Nordlyon, and he was immediately in awe.
Then, he asked the servant about the specific situation. The servant replied that the visitor was a foreign noble. It seemed that he was a friend of Duke Nordlien. His daughter, Miss Agnes, personally accompanied him to visit, and it seemed that he wanted to handle some business.
.
"Excellent!" M. Danglars couldn't help but let out a small cheer.
This is not a small thing, it means that he is being recognized by the upper class.
His diligent work and painstaking efforts to please finally paid off.
"Bring them over quickly, I want to entertain them well."
How could he neglect the guests introduced by the Duke?
Soon, Miss Agnes and the foreign nobleman were invited to his luxuriously decorated office.
"Please take a seat, two guests." Danglars tried his best to suppress the ecstasy in his heart and entertained the guests diligently. Then he looked at Edmond Dantès and asked, "How should I call you?"
"
He doesn't recognize me at all, thought Edmund.
Yes, I have changed a lot - and it's all thanks to you! Thank you.
Edmond Dantès touched his hat gently, and then nodded to him reservedly.
"I am the Count of Monte Cristo, a traveler who has just arrived in the capital of your country. I am acquainted with the Duke of Nordlien. Because I need to handle some business, I asked the Duke for help, and he introduced you to me. He thinks
You handle things properly and can take care of my worries."
"Oh! Mr. Count, please believe what the Duke says." Danglars replied excitedly, "I will always do my best to complete the client's commission."
Ah.
The Count of Monte Cristo looked at Tanglar's current appearance with cold eyes.
His lips are quite thin, exuding a meanness. His large and protruding cheekbones make his eyes appear protruding, his forehead is flat, and the gaze in his eyes exudes cunning and treachery.
After so many years, he really hasn't changed at all.
This man is still so insidious, mean, cold, and vicious... He combines all the negativity in the world, making people uncomfortable to see him.
Agnes didn't say a word. It was obvious that her first impression of the banker was very bad and she only regarded herself as a living business card.
"Then I just need the help of someone like you, sir." Edmond Dantès slowly took out a small bag from his pocket, and then opened it for the other party to see.
For an instant, Tanglar's cunning eyes stared at the gem, as if he would greedily pounce on it the next second...
Yes, this person has not changed at all over the years.
Great... Show me your greed. The more you show, the better. I will let you fall into my palm without knowing it, and let you be driven by greed to doom...
This is the revenge that Edmond Dantès wants. For his enemies, revenge with just one bullet will never satisfy his desire for revenge.
In order to achieve this goal, he would rather exercise some patience first, and even cover up his inner feelings and pretend to be a friend of his enemy.
Today was the first step of his plan, and it seemed to be going very smoothly. Danglars was deceived by greed almost immediately and completely forgot about the danger lurking in the dark.
Yes... How could he possibly have imagined that the poor sailor whom he had tricked his entire life did not die in the dark dungeon of Chateau d'If, but would instead show off as a nobleman, carrying a duke's business card, and being polite?
come to visit him?
No, he couldn't believe it, no one could.
With a sneer in his heart, the count looked at the other party with his gentlest face.
"I have to admit that Paris is a dazzling paradise, but in order to visit paradise, the cost is too high... Therefore, in order to meet the cost of my trip, I need to sell some of my collections
, in exchange for enough funds. Mr. Danglars, can you help me with this?"