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9. Secret and anxiety

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    "Yes, no I must know what happened." Baron Tanglar's expression was very serious. He was not excited about a big customer coming to his door. On the contrary, he was full of nervousness.  A mysterious rich man suddenly appeared in front of him, with a million cash in his wallet, and unlimited guarantees provided by two famous foreign institutions, but he knew nothing about this person before - this was enough  This proved to be a situation beyond his control.  He has dealt with those two foreign banks for many years. He knows that the banks on the other side are strong and cautious, and they will not be able to issue unlimited guarantees easily. Since they dare to do this, it can only be because of this.  The Counts of Monte Cristo each have deposits and assets of 10 to 20 million or more in their banks, and only in this way can they issue this unlimited guarantee that is almost like a joke.  In other words, the Count of Monte Cristo has a combined assets of thirty to forty million in these two banks.  Thirty to forty million!  "It is impossible for a person to have so much money and be unknown at the same time. Baron Danglars originally believed so, but this belief has now been severely shattered by reality.  He didn¡¯t feel excited, he just felt a little panicked.  What is going on with this person? Is he a ghost that suddenly emerged from the ground?  Or even worse.  When facing the count, he instinctively felt a little panic.  The most important thing for people who can climb to his status is not boldness, but caution. There are many bold bankers, and there are also many who get rich overnight by relying on their courage, but they cannot always be lucky, let alone like  The Baron thus climbed to the top of the financial world, becoming one of the most influential men within the Bank of France.  Over the years, he has been relying on his own caution to avoid the waves one after another, and has allowed his career to grow day by day, until he reaches his current position. The bloody storms have tempered his instincts and sense of smell, and he  Instinctively, I felt that this count was a very dangerous person - even though his smile was so kind.  According to the safest approach, he should reject the count's loan request, but for the sake of the reputation of Tanglar Bank, he cannot do this - the count has just made it clear that if Tanglar Bank rejects his request, he will  Go to the bank of the Rothschild family or the De-Bovan family with a letter of guarantee, and this will make people doubt Tanglar's strength. Even under the malicious exaggeration of these competitors, he might not be able to  would become the laughingstock of Paris' financial circles.  Under this consideration, even if he felt something was wrong, he could only bear it and handle the loan request of the Count of Monte Cristo.  Fortunately, at the beginning, the count only needed to withdraw one million. To many people, this was an astronomical figure, but to him, it was not a big problem. What he was anxious about was the future - this man who suddenly appeared  Who is the count, and what does he want to do?  He had to figure it out, otherwise it would be impossible to calm down.  And this requires relying on the young man in front of you.  After thinking for a long time, Danglars forced out a wizened smile that made people unhappy, and looked at Charles with an inquiring gaze.  "Mr. Treville, I am very grateful to you for introducing such a big customer to me. Although you may not know it, here you can get a commission for introducing a big customer loan." He squinted his eyes slightly and whispered.  He said to Charles softly, "You are so lucky to have found a rich man with huge assets as a friend. He borrows five million from me a year, and he has a complete guarantee, which means you can just lie down and take it."  Take commission - the annual interest on five million is 400,000, and you can get 40,000 from it. " "Thank you for your generosity," Charles greeted the other party with a smile.  The emperor said that in order to repay Charles's loyalty to him, he was going to let Charles make some money from the earl, and Charles faithfully fulfilled his majesty's instructions.  Of course, this is just the first wave of his attacks on the Count of Monte Cristo.  Ciel was not at all pleased with this.  Forty thousand francs is an astronomical figure for many families, but for this boy and the appetite of the Treville family, it is completely insufficient, not even a drizzle.  Nobles can only scrape the land with a knife. To win over such a rich man, they only scraped him 40,000 yuan a year. If it were revealed, he would probably become the laughing stock of the entire upper class He could see it.  , the Baron was a little nervous, and he was also waiting for the other party's next question, waiting for the space to scrape his bones. "How much do you know about him?" Sure enough, Baron Tanglar immediately returned to the political system, "Although I suspect that the customer is not ours  professional habits, but??You understand, for the safety of my funds, I need to find out more about this person.  " "Actually, I don't know much about him, but from what I know so far, he is probably the leader of a large foreign criminal group.  Charles immediately replied, "You also know that in some places, as long as the knife is sharp enough and the attack is ruthless enough, money can be made very, very quickly."  My grandfather¡¯s client conducted an investigation and found out that this gentleman¡¯s title of earl was bought, and his true identity is an adventurer who travels around. He has done big business in the East, Africa, Turkey, and even Italy.  He has a group of desperadoes under his command, and I saw the slaves he brought over today.  " "He is a robber?  Are you an adventurer?  Or a slave trader?  It wouldn't be so strange if this were the case" The Baron frowned slightly, "To be honest, I don't care where his money comes from, but this kind of people are too unsafe, and they may die at any time.  " "You don't have to worry too much about this" Charles tilted his head, and after confirming that no one could hear him, he lowered his voice and continued, "At present, the imperial government needs him, so don't worry.  Forget, the government also has a lot of things to do in foreign countries. For some things that are not convenient for you to do yourself, you need this kind of people.  " Then, he quickly spread his hands again and showed an innocent smile, "Of course, sir, this is just my guess. Just listen to it, don't take it seriously" "Shadow" the Baron murmured  He muttered to himself, and then suddenly his eyes lit up, "That's it, that's it!  "He also thought of what Marshal Treville thought of. "The leader of an adventurer group who has accumulated a huge amount of money after doing all kinds of murderous and unscrupulous things in foreign countries, now feels that he has made enough money, so he is ready to report to the French government  Seeking asylum and transferring his funds to France through legal and illegal channels - his crazy conspicuous consumption is partly because he is used to luxury, and partly to transfer assets more conveniently and erase other people's  His suspicion. This is the conclusion drawn by Treville and his grandson based on the information they have received so far. It is precisely because he is an adventurer who commits murder and swindles goods that he can remain unknown.  Accumulating such a huge amount of assets and his other behaviors can be fully explained - in order to leave a way out for himself, he wanted to make friends with rulers from various places and buy himself a noble title. He not only wanted to clear himself, but also wanted to clear his name.  He wanted to clean up his money, so he surrendered to the imperial government and was willing to serve the empire. He wanted to use the empire to transfer his assets to the relative safety of France, and then enjoy a luxurious life for the rest of his life and escape the fate of being replaced by other adventurers.  . No matter how much blood is stained on the capital accumulated by killing people, as long as it is cleaned, no one will care. He will be the generous and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, and he will not care.  As a banker, his moral values ??are much weaker than ordinary people. He has done this kind of thing to help people launder money many times, and he is not afraid of doing it again. For example, he helped Marshal Treville launder money before.  Charles did not tell the truth to the Count. He pretended that his family had nothing to do with Baron Danglars. However, although the two families did not have much contact on the surface, they actually had a secret collusion during the reign of Emperor Napoleon.  They have always used troops abroad, and in order to maintain the enthusiasm of the soldiers for fighting, in addition to brainwashing with honor, the emperor also had a more direct method, which was to indulge his troops in robbery. From the beginning to the end of that era, the French Imperial Army had always been.  The largest robbery group in Europe. Marshal Treville has led troops in this army for many years and has accumulated considerable trophies - of course, it is incomparable to those of the old marshals. And these trophies need to be passed through.  Certain channels are converted into cash for the Marshal to support himself in his old age. Baron Danglars is one of the main channels to help Marshal Treville digest the spoils (or to put it more directly, sell the stolen goods). In this banker's mind.  With the help, a large number of gems, famous paintings, securities, and even real estate seized by the marshal continued to flow into the market, and were eventually converted into clean cash and flowed into the bank account of the Treville family.  , in order to establish a good relationship with the Treville family, the banker also deliberately charged only a very low handling fee - almost every powerful family in the empire had received similar benefits from Tanglar Bank, and it was precisely because  In this way, Tanglar Bank rose rapidly in the imperial era and rose all the way until it became a giant in the banking world.  This kind of thingOf course, the love was kept secret, so the two families kept it secret and almost never interacted with each other on the surface. Charles also always pretended that he was not familiar with the baron.  Therefore, due to the relationship between the two families, when the baron asked about the details of the Count of Monte Cristo, Charles told the baron the guesses he and his grandfather had made. As for the part about His Majesty the Emperor, of course Charles could not explain it clearly, so he could only tell the baron.  He gave a hint, but that was enough for the Baron.  After figuring out the whole story, Baron Tanglar's nervousness immediately disappeared, and he returned to his usual calmness.  As long as everything makes sense, there's nothing to fear.  "So, the Count of Monte Cristo wants to spend a lot of money in Paris? I am looking forward to it. Let's see what new tricks he can spend money on. I am very happy to deal with him." "I  I'm looking forward to it too." Charles nodded, "But I want to remind you that since he is an adventurer, he is definitely not the kind of person who can be easily manipulated. You have to be wary of him, even though this is France and he doesn't dare to do anything.  "But who knows what this kind of person will do." "I know, you don't have to worry. In fact, I have been dealing with this kind of person all my life, and I have a lot of experience in dealing with him." The baron said nonchalantly.  He waved his hand and then stood up, "Okay, Charles, by this time, my wife has already prepared lunch for us. I think you don't mind eating with her, right?" "It's an honor.  ." Charles also stood up.  The two people walked into the restaurant of this mansion while chatting.  By this time, there were already two people sitting at the dining table.  The person sitting at the head of the table is a woman with a beautiful and delicate face. She is the Baroness Hermine de Danglars.  Although she is already in her thirties, she lives up to her youth and beauty, but her well-maintained skin and well-maintained figure still make her exude a mature charm, and she smiles more and talks to others.  A bit delicate, she is indeed a beauty.  The person sitting next to her and chatting cordially with her was a tall, elegant and handsome young man, about twenty-six or seventeen years old. The two people talking intimately made it seem as if they were the hosts hosting the lunch.  Feel.  This young man is Lucien de Bray, and he has a good background. He is the secretary of the Minister of the Interior, Prince J¨¦r?me Bonaparte, and is also recognized as a promising star in the government.  The two of them talked very happily, even when the male host came over, there was no pause. It was obvious that the relationship between the two of them was not ordinary.  Almost everyone knows that this young and promising secretary to the cabinet minister is the lover of Madame Danglars, even the banker himself knows it, but the social circle is like this, as long as everyone pretends not to know, then no one will.  knew.  When Charles walked into the restaurant, the Baroness interrupted the conversation, and then looked at Charles with an exaggerated smile.  "Oh! My friend, look, our young man is even more beautiful than last time!" This baroness came from a noble family, but because of her family's decline, she ended up having to live with a nouveau riche like Danglars.  To be honest, the marriage of a banker is not particularly popular among the upper class society of the empire. It is precisely for this reason that she is very happy to form a good relationship with a famous noble, so her attitude changed when she saw Charles, unlike her husband  So indifferent.  "Good afternoon, Mr. Treville." Debray also looked at Charles very cordially, as if he were an old friend. "It seems that you and the Baron have concluded some big business? You are so proud of it." "What kind of business can you get?  What about me? There is no way my grandfather can trust me to handle the matter." Charles shrugged coolly, avoided the question, and sat down in his seat.  "At my age, I can only run errands for everyone" At this time, Baron Danglars also sat in his seat, the servants began to serve the dishes, and lunch officially began.  As a family of bankers who spend a lot of money, this lunch is of course very sumptuous, but none of the four people here put their thoughts on the dishes. Instead, they all have their own thoughts. Charles is better, and the other three are all  It looks like some people are not satisfied with the taste.  "Charles, you have been in the palace all the time. Now you finally have a chance to come out for some air. Why don't you just have some fun." After eating for a while, the Baroness looked at Charles with a smile. "Now that spring is here, in the city  There are dances and horse races everywhere, and we will also hold our own banquets, and everyone is waiting for you to come and support us!¡± ¡°You are going too far to support me. In fact, you are willing to give me an invitation.  , I can't thank you enough." After taking a sip of wine, Charles calmly answered the other party, "Please don't worry, I finally have a holiday this time, I will definitely do it.I will get some fresh air. As long as there is any opportunity to have fun, I will not miss it" "That would be great, we are waiting for you.  "The Baroness seemed very pleased, and then turned to look at her lover Lucien Debray, "Lucien, you seem to be relatively free during this time. Would you like to take some time to accompany Charles and let him  How about enjoying this holiday?  " "Of course I am very happy.  "The gentle young man immediately replied, "But I'm afraid I can't do this escort job. Even though I'm much older, but when it comes to eating, drinking and having fun, I'm afraid Charles is better than me They are nobles.  The children have also been playing since childhood.  " "What's the point of ordinary entertainment?  "At this time, Baron Danglars, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly interjected, "If there are any fun and interesting things, I'm afraid the police know best. After all, they deal with these things every day.  " "Sir, although I am the secretary of the Home Secretary, I don't have many opportunities to deal directly with the police, and I can't control them.  Debray said unkindly to the banker, "I can only be responsible for the daily arrangements of your Excellency the Minister So even if you really have any interesting hobbies, I'm afraid I can't give you much advice."  ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any exotic hobbies, I just want to participate in social activities in an ordinary way.  " Charles quickly defended himself, "However, in my opinion, since the Minister of the Interior is in charge of the police, then as his confidant, you can naturally control them, right?  " "I'm afraid things won't be that easy for us.  Debray's smile seemed to have a little more bitterness, but it disappeared in an instant, "I am the secretary of His Royal Highness, that's all. Don't think too much of me."  Besides, His Royal Highness the Prince hates others seeking personal gain in his name, and I can't do that even more.  " Charles did not believe this. The current Minister of the Interior, Prince J¨¦r?me Bonaparte, is the youngest brother of Emperor Napoleon and the uncle of His Majesty the current Emperor. He has a very respected status, and he has been very playful since he was a child. His character  Deserted. During the most glorious era of the empire, he was appointed king of Westphalia by Emperor Napoleon. As a result, he had no achievements in governing the country and only knew how to have fun. Later, the empire failed in the war and Westphalia failed.  After the Kingdom of Leah was destroyed, he could only escape back to Paris and continue to live happily as his own prince. Logically speaking, such a person should not be entrusted with important tasks. However, in order to maintain the status of the family and the rule of the empire, in  After the death of Emperor Napoleon, the regent Empress Dowager could only continue to use these royal families. Prince J¨¦r?me Bonaparte also held important positions again and again, and now he has become the Minister of the Interior of the Empire.  His personality has not changed, and he still likes to live a life of fun and debauchery. He barely cares about the daily work of the ministry, and finally leaves it all to his confidants. Therefore, as his secretary, Mr. Debray's influence is not limited to just a secretary position.  That¡¯s all. Not to mention using power for personal gain, even if his subordinates break the law, the prince will basically ignore it. It is for this reason that the great banker Baron Danglars allowed his wife to have an affair with Debray. He needs more time.  Lunch passed by among some patron friends. It was obvious that Lucien Debray was deliberately trying to hold Charles back, while his lover was cooperating. As for Baron Danglars, he seemed  He didn't know the situation, so he just let it go and basically didn't interrupt. When he was full, Charles was about to leave. When he came to the vestibule, Debray finally caught up with him. "My friend.  "He called to Charles in a low voice. "What's the matter with you?  " Charles asked. "Actually, I came here specially today. I have been waiting for you for a long time." Debray looked a little nervous. "His Royal Highness, there are some things you want to know.  " "His Royal Highness, you want to ask me?  Charles seemed a little surprised, "I thought the Home Secretary should know everything."  " "He can do this outside the palace.  Debray replied coolly, "It is different in the palace¡ª¡ªmy friend, let us have a good talk. What do you want?"  "    "what do you need?  " Charles asked back, and his expression became serious. "If he sells the news about the palace, he needs to get the due reward, and not even a penny less. "Although this young man is not old, he has a sophisticated mind.  , He has always been able to measure his own value and never let himself suffer in transactions. ¡°I heard that His Majesty wants those two families in Italy to come back?  "He hesitated for a moment.??Afterwards, Debray asked in a seemingly nonchalant manner.  This is another secret involving the empire.  During the reign of Emperor Napoleon, his family also ascended to heaven and wore various crowns.  His eldest brother Joseph became the King of Spain, his fourth brother Louis became the King of the Netherlands, his younger brother Jerome became the King of Westphalia, and even his brother-in-law Murat became the King of Naples.  However, none of these brothers gave him peace of mind and opposed him at every turn. Especially Louis, who after becoming King of the Netherlands, directly opposed the emperor's continental blockade policy and focused on doing business with Britain.  After a dispute, the furious emperor removed Louis as king, and the prince was sent to Florence, Italy. Even after the empire was rebuilt, he was never forgiven.  And he also had a younger brother, Lucien, who was the most capable and made great contributions when he seized power. However, Lucien opposed his brother's ascension to the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and at the same time refused the title of prince.  After some debate, the younger brother left the empire and went to live in Rome, Italy.  However, a friend in need is a friend indeed, and in 1815, Lucien ran back to France to support his brother again, helping the emperor finally stabilize the empire.  It is precisely for this reason that when the emperor died, he made a special will to let Lucien continue to assist his son and maintain the empire.  In the first few years after Napoleon II ascended the throne, he served as the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Empire, almost controlling the political power of the Empire, and competing with the Queen Mother Regent.  As time went by, the empire's rule gradually became more stable, and at this time the prince's threat became apparent.  When His Majesty the Emperor was about to get married and take office, Her Majesty the Queen Mother used her last power to forcibly depose this powerful royal minister, and then forced the Prince to leave France.  The prince finally returned to Rome and settled there with his children. He died in 1840.  In other words, at this moment, there are two branches of the Napoleon family in Italy.  And now, His Majesty the Emperor plans to forgive these two princes for their past mistakes and bring them back.  When he does this, some people will naturally be happy and some will be sad.  By using the royal family as a cover for centralizing power and attacking the previously powerful royal family, His Majesty the Emperor has good intentions.  But the one who suffered the biggest impact was Prince J¨¦r?me¡¯s faction.  They have always regarded themselves as the most powerful descendants of the royal family, but if the descendants of these two princes return to France, they will definitely be greatly impacted - and this may be His Majesty the Emperor himself.  purpose.  Considering this, the anxiety of the prince and his secretary is understandable.
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