After Aiglon ended his interview, Prosecutor Villefort was still in shock.
Under Aiglon's coercion, he had to risk his life and reputation to complete a political case, accusing the Duke of Orleans of trying to assassinate Aiglon.
There is no doubt that this means that Villefort will be pushed to the forefront in the future, but he knows that he has no choice but to bite the bullet and go on.
He had read the confession just now and knew that the assassin was a woman named Bianca di Florini and her brief life story. However, these things could not bring him much help when it came to the assassination.
The amount of information about the event is really too little.
Moreover, he was very confused about the current situation.
This self-confession now gives him the feeling that he was "recruited, but not fully recruited."
This totally defies general logic.
Under normal circumstances, the assassin will either fight to the death and not say a word even if he is killed; or he will confess under severe torture or inducement, or even cooperate with the interrogator and say whatever he wants.
However, this self-confession was completely half-baked. It mentioned some situations but said nothing about the important ones. It was almost like a deliberate provocation.
Will Your Majesty tolerate this kind of provocation? From the impression he got from the meeting just now, he felt that this young man was not such a good-tempered person.
Judging from the handwriting and signatures on the self-confession, the person who wrote the document was indeed a woman, and she did not appear to be physically weak—that is to say, she had not experienced severe torture.
He was even more puzzled that an assassin could receive good treatment after being caught.
Could it be that this assassin has some other identity that makes His Majesty worried?
All kinds of doubts lingered in his mind, and he analyzed several possibilities in his mind, but none of them convinced him. In the end, he had no choice but to interrupt this reverie, and prepared to observe again, and got the result.
More information before drawing conclusions.
He struggled to spend time alone amid tension and fear. As the sky gradually darkened, a guard found him again and conveyed the message that His Majesty would summon him again.
Villefort knew that now was the critical moment for his performance, and he did not dare to neglect at all. He followed the guards to come to Aiglon again, and then Aiglon took him to a certain suite in the palace.
When they walked in, Prosecutor Villefort found two women already sitting on the sofa in the room - one looked about forty years old, and the other was a girl.
This girl is quite beautiful, and Villefort feels that he has some vague impression, as if he has seen it somewhere - although he is also a member of the upper class, in order to maintain his life, Villefort basically does not participate in the society of the upper class.
, so I didn’t recognize Agnes immediately.
But now he didn't have time to think carefully about who this girl was. His attention immediately focused on the older woman. According to the self-confession just now, he already knew the approximate age of the assassin, so when he saw this woman, he immediately guessed
Then she was the assassin himself.
His many years of legal career have also honed his meticulous vision. The woman in front of him is dressed simply, but not in prison uniform. Her face is pale due to long-term imprisonment, but her body does not look skinny. She looks like she has been suffering from recent injuries.
Be treated well.
Villefort mentally confirmed his suspicion just now, but still didn't understand why.
Because he was unclear about the situation, he did not speak rashly immediately, but waited for the young man to answer some of his doubts.
From Prosecutor Villefort's twinkling eyes, Aiglon could already see his hesitation and entanglement at the moment, so he spoke first.
However, he first introduced Villefort to Bianca's master and apprentice. "This gentleman is Prosecutor Villefort, from the Paris Supreme Court. He is a well-known legal person."
"Prosecutor Villefort, I have heard of this name!" It must be said that Villefort's efforts to establish his character were quite successful. Even Agnes had heard of his reputation for integrity, so she immediately agreed with Agron.
Then, she stood up and saluted Villefort, "Dear Prosecutor, I have heard about your integrity and probity for a long time. For many years, you have been punishing evil and promoting good in a fair way. Since you are responsible for this case,
case, I feel relieved..."
Because he didn't know who this girl was, Villefort cautiously did not respond. He just smiled and nodded to the other party, saying that he would do his best.
"This is Mademoiselle Agnes de Nordlien, the Duke's youngest daughter. I think you should have heard of her." At this time, Aiglon introduced Villefort.
No wonder I feel a little familiar... Villefort suddenly realized it. It seemed that he had met Agnes at some high-society event before, but he just didn't remember it.
But after one puzzle was solved, new doubts followed - why did the princess appear at the interrogation scene? Was she also involved in the assassination plot? But judging from her relaxed attitude and the fact that she was dressed so
Looking at the glamor, it is hard to believe that she is also a prisoner who was implicated.
At this time, Aigron explained in time.
He first looked at Bianca, "Inspector General Villefort, this is the assassin who assassinated me, Ms. Bianca di Florini - you may not think she is a woman, but her swordsmanship is
Outstanding, almost killed me!"
After finishing speaking, he looked at Agnes again and continued to introduce, "Miss Agnes is this lady's apprentice, and we are also very good friends. Therefore, after learning that the master was caught by me for assassinating me,
After that, she desperately begged me, hoping that the master would not be sentenced to death, but dealt with fairly. Out of the deep friendship between the two of us, I decided to comply with her request and let a prestigious prosecutor like you come.
Responsible for handling this matter."
Although Aiglon's explanation is somewhat vague, who is Villefort?
Therefore, he suddenly understood, and the doubts that he had been puzzling about were instantly solved.
It seems that the princess and His Majesty have a very "special" friendship, so much so that His Majesty, who has a bad temper, is even willing not to torture the assassin to extract a confession for her sake.
An assassin assassinated the King of Rome, but the assassin's apprentice was the King of Rome's lover... If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Villefort would never have believed that such a thing could happen.
However, he soon regained his composure. After all, he had handled countless complex cases over the years. There were few people who knew the dirty things in the upper class better than him. What he saw today was not beyond his reach.
imagination.
Rather, it made him understand his current situation.
The King of Rome wanted the assassin to cooperate with him to testify against his political rival the Duke of Orleans. However, due to Miss Agnes, he could not use torture to force the assassin to surrender, so he found himself and wanted to use his "business
"Ability" and the reputation he has accumulated over the years can prove this accusation, causing his political opponents' reputation to be damaged——
Although there are slight discrepancies, Villefort's guess is quite different from the facts.
When he thought that he was forced to be involved in the whirlpool for this reason, Villefort couldn't help but feel a little emotional and aggrieved, and he also felt a little resentful towards Miss Agnes. However, Villefort also knew that since she had an unusual relationship with His Majesty,
Then he can't be disrespectful to this lady at all - or in other words, if he dares to dissatisfy her, the consequences can be imagined.
However, he did not feel uncomfortable at all about the special relationship between the King of Rome and Miss Agnes. Although he knew that His Majesty was already married, in his opinion, it was really inappropriate for a young and vigorous young king to have several mistresses.
normal.
While Prosecutor Villefort was thinking, he secretly looked at Aigron, hoping to get further instructions from him.
"I have told you the basic situation, Mr. Prosecutor. Next, I will ask you to preside over this interrogation from a fair standpoint and help me identify the instigator behind my murder. As a victim who survived the catastrophe,
I have the right to seek justice for the harm I suffered!" Aigron also looked at the prosecutor, his eyes becoming extremely sharp, "In addition, in order to ensure your fairness, Miss Agnes will accompany you throughout the process.
She will also sign her name on the interrogation report - since it is about your reputation, my rights, and even Miss Agnes, I ask you not to let us down..."
Under Aigron's gaze, Villefort instinctively felt a kind of fear, and his mood became extremely nervous.
But he was nervous, and he understood what His Majesty really meant.
He actually has two tasks: first, to ensure that the assassination incident must be led to the Duke of Orleans and throw dirty water on him; second, to satisfy Miss Agnes, at least to make her willing
Sign the results of the interrogation.
Both tasks were very difficult and even a bit contradictory, but at this time Villefort knew that he had no choice. He had to do his best and rack his brains to complete these two tasks at the same time.
Since he emphasized that he should not disappoint him, if he disappoints him, the consequences can be imagined.
Villefort had no time to complain about himself. He tried hard to get his brain running and complete his task.
After all, he is an experienced person and has handled many political cases before. Now that he already knows the general background, he can get into the situation quickly.
He put aside Agnes first and focused his main attention on the older lady.
"Madam, let me confirm for the last time, are you Ms. Bianca di Florini?" he asked pleasantly.
"Yes." Bianca responded coldly.
After confirming Bianca's identity, Prosecutor Villefort took out the confession he had just received from Aigron and showed it to Bianca.
"This confession was indeed written by you and signed by you, right?"
"Yes." Bianca replied in the same way.
Although Bianca has no awe of the law and judges, she doesn't want to refute her apprentice's face at the moment. In addition, the apprentice said that the person in front of her is a "reputable prosecutor", so Bianca compares
The usual nonchalant attitude actually showed a bit more respect.
"Well, can you guarantee the authenticity of every word you write?" Villefort asked.
Bianca frowned, a little impatient at Villefort's question, but in the end she nodded angrily.
"Of course, I am responsible for every word I write!"
Villefort asked these seemingly insignificant questions not because he was bored, but because he wanted to take the opportunity to test Bianca's character. These nonsense questions were exactly when the person being interrogated was at his least alert.
From Bianca's response, as well as her expression and body language, the experienced Villefort immediately understood Bianca's character and behavior very clearly.
This is a woman with a simple mind, a proud and arrogant character, and is used to being straightforward. She may have strong swordsmanship, but her intelligence will never be stronger than that of ordinary women - Villefort came to a conclusion instantly.
As far as common sense goes, like a master, there must be a disciple. Since this is the case with the master, then Miss Agnes is probably also of this type. Therefore, His Majesty is probably tired of the sophisticated ladies in the court and prefers this style.
Do women want a change of taste?
Villefort quickly put this irrelevant thought aside and continued his interrogation.
At this time, after psychological construction and interrogation warm-up, he had gradually entered the state. His originally timid and panicked appearance gradually became more solemn, showing the condescension when facing the prisoner.
The look of being at ease.
For a moment, he had forgotten his dangerous situation and turned back into the iron-faced prosecutor who was like a tiger in front of the prisoners.
"Since you admit the authenticity of the document you wrote, I have a few important questions to ask you." Villefort's eyes gradually became sharper. "As an Italian, and your previous life was not the same as that of the King of Rome."
Your Majesty has never had any interactions with each other, so there is no enmity, so why did you come here to assassinate him? If there is no deep hatred, then it must be someone who ordered you to do so. In my opinion, this is self-evident."
Facing the prosecutor's sharp gaze, Bianca felt a little uncomfortable. After all, she felt guilty, and she didn't want to identify her behind-the-scenes instigator.
"I refuse to answer." Finally, she replied forcefully to the prosecutor.
If in the past, a prisoner dared to face Villefort like this, Villefort would naturally have many ways to let him know the consequences. But now that this lady has a special status, Villefort does not dare to use such small tricks, so he can only let the other party do this.
arrogant.
But he was not in a hurry. After all, after a brief meeting, his rich experience had allowed him to see clearly that the person he faced was not that difficult to deal with.
Even if the prisoner doesn't confess, he can still make the case reach the conclusion he wants.