Danger Maximilian shouted, How can you be so cruel and unfair? Can you find a slave who is more submissive than me? You promised me that you could talk to Valentine all the time, but you forbidden me to follow you when you were walking or on other occasions. I followed you, and since I managed to walk into the garden, I have been through this door. Although you are close to you, I can’t see you. Have I ever tried to reach into these gaps and touch the edge of your dress? I didn’t think of knocking down this wall. You know that I am young and I am young. It doesn’t take much effort to tear down this wall, but I have never complained about your implicit attitude and never expressed any desire. I kept my promise like an ancient knight. Come on, admit these points less, or I will think you are unfair.
That’s true, Valentine said. She reached out a finger tip through a small gap in the board and Maximilian kissed it at that finger tip. That’s true. You are a respectable friend, but your business is still motivated by personal motives. Dear Maximilian, because you know very well and you say something to the contrary, everything is over for us. You promised to give me a warm heart. My brother and sister love me. There are no other friends in this world except you. My father doesn’t care about me. My stepmother persecutes me and abuses me. My only partner is one. An old man who can’t talk and suffers from leprosy, his shriveled hands can no longer hold my hand, but he still has some warmth in his heart when I talk. Oh, my life is so bitter. Those who are stronger than me either regard me as a sacrifice or treat me as an enemy, but my only friend is a Promethean. I am really in pain. You love me for my sake, not for yourself. This is really right.
Valentine’s youth was deeply moved and said, I can’t say that I love you in this world because I love my sister and brother-in-law, but my love for them is quiet, not like my love for you. My heart beats faster when I think about you, and the blood in my veins gets faster. My chest is upset and fluctuating, but I solemnly promise you that I will resist all this enthusiasm and come to your service or help you. I heard that Mr. Franz will not return to China for a year. In this period, we’d better be full of hope, because hope is so sweet and comforting. Valentine, when you blame me for being private, think about your attitude towards me for a moment. It looks like a beautiful and indifferent idol of love. For that loyalty, what do you give me back? No, you haven’t given me anything. You told me that Franz Epinay is your fiance. Tell me, Valentine, don’t you have any other thoughts in your heart? I have dedicated my life to you and returned my soul. My heart beats slightly every time. When I said to myself that I would die if I lost you, but you didn’t feel scared when you thought that you would belong to someone else. Oh, Valentine, Valentine, if I were in your position, I know that I am deeply loved. As I love you, I have reached out my hand from these bars for at least a hundred times and told poor Maximilian that I am you. Maximilian belongs to you in this life and the next.
Valentine didn’t answer, but her lover could clearly hear her crying. The young man’s emotions changed rapidly at once. Oh, Valentine, Valentine said that you feel pain in my words, so forget it.
No, she said, you’re right, but can’t you see that I’m a poor wretch? I’m almost like a stranger at home, because my father is almost like a stranger to me. My heart has been broken. Every day, every hour and every minute since I was ten years old, I’ve been suffering from those hard-hearted oppressors. No one knows that I’m suffering, and I’ve never told anyone except you that my appearance is smooth in the eyes of ordinary people. But in fact, everyone is very considerate to me. Everyone is my enemy, and most people say, oh, a strict man like Mr. Villefort just can’t expect him to be as warm to his daughter as some fathers are, but she is lucky enough to find a stepmother like Mrs. Villefort, but most people are wrong. My father is indifferent to me, and my stepmother hates me, and I feel even more terrible because her hatred is always hidden by her smile.
I hate you, Valentine, said the youth. Who would do such a thing?
Alas, Valentine said, I have to admit that my stepmother hates me because she loves her own child so much that it is my brother Edward.
How is that possible?
How is it possible to come? I don’t think you should talk about money, but my friend, I think her hatred for me stems from that point. She doesn’t have any property, but I’m already rich, because I’m the heir to my mother and my property will double in the future. Mr. Saint-Milan and Mrs. Saint-Milan will give me the wealth one day. Well, I think she is jealous of me. I’ll give her half of that property on holiday, so I can be as sure as a daughter in Mr. Villefort’s home, and I will certainly do so without doubt.
Poor Valentine.
I seem to feel that I live like a chain, and at the same time I know that I am very weak. I am afraid to break the chain that binds me. I am afraid that I will be in an extreme situation of help. Moreover, my father will not punish those who violate his orders without punishment. I will also be extremely disrespectful to the king, because his past history is blameless and his position is almost unshakable. Oh, Maximilian, I assure you that I will not struggle, because not only I but also you will be overwhelmed in that struggle.
But Valentine, why do you despair and see the future so terrible?
Ah, my friend, because this is what I judge from the past
But think about it again. Strictly speaking, although I am not right enough, I feel that my combination with you can’t be said to be a great climber in France. Now it is no longer the era of paying attention to family status. The monarchy family has been married by the imperial family, and the spears and nobles have been married by the cannon and nobles. I belong to the latter class. My father has a bright future in the army. Although my property is not much, he is not held by people. My father is respected in our hometown. Everyone recognizes him as the most respectable businessman. I said that our hometown Valentina is not far from Marseille because you were born.
Don’t use the name Marseilles again. Well, I beg you. The name Maximilian reminds me of my mother again. For those who knew her, she really died too early. Although she took care of her children in this world for a short time, I hope that now when her pure soul is flying in that happy place, she can still look at her children with kindness and compassion. If she is still alive, we don’t have to be afraid of anything. Maximilian, because I can tell her our love frankly and she will certainly come to help protect us.
I’m afraid Valentine’s wife replied that if she were still alive, I would never be lucky enough to know you, and then you would feel very happy and high above happiness, and Valentine would look down on me.
Maximilian, now you have become cruel. Oh, it’s unfair, Valentine said, but I really want to know one thing.
What is it? the young man asked. He noticed Valentine’s hesitation, as if he didn’t know what to say. He told me that when Maximilian was in Marseille, your father and my father didn’t have any misunderstanding.
As far as I know, no young people answered, unless it is because they are hostile parties, maybe they can’t point out each other. Your father, as you know, is an ardent supporter of the Bourbon royalist, while my father is devoted to the emperor. They won’t argue any more, but why do you want this question, Valentine?
I’ll tell you something, replied the young girl, and you should know about it, but I must start with the day when I reported you as an officer of the Honorary Corps. On that day, we were all sitting in the room of my grandfather, Mr. Noirtier, and Mr. Danglars was there. Do you remember Mr. Danglars? Don’t you remember? Maximilian borrowed a carriage to give my stepmother and nearly killed her and my little brother together. The banker was busy discussing the marriage of the Danglars group there. I was reading a newspaper for my grandfather, but When I read your passage, although I didn’t do anything else that morning, I read it to myself over and over again. You know this news, you told me the night before. I feel so happy, but I feel very nervous at the thought of reading your lover’s name in front of so many people. I really want to skip that passage, but I am afraid that my silence will arouse suspicion. I summon up the courage to read it as firmly and calmly as possible.
Lovely Valentine
Well, my father turned around as soon as he heard your name. I’m sure you see how stupid I am. Everyone will be surprised as if he had been hit by a thunderbolt when he heard your name. I seem to see that my father was taken aback, even Mr. Danglars was taken aback, but that was of course an illusion.
Morrel Morrel My father said stop, and then he frowned and said that the Marseilles family name was Morrel, which were all Napoleonic parties. They gave us a lot of trouble in 115. Is this person the descendant of that family?
I think M. Danglars replied that the man who read the newspaper was the former owner.
True Maximilian replied, So what did your father say about Valentine?
Oh, it’s terrible. I dare not talk about it
Go ahead, said the young man with a smile
Ah, my father still frowned and said that it was really appropriate for them to worship the emperor’s attitude towards these craziness. He called them cannon fodder, which could not be more accurate. I am glad to see that the current government is trying its best to implement this beneficial policy, that is, stationing troops to guard Arria. That policy will cost a lot of money, and I also want to congratulate the government.
This is indeed a vicious policy, Maximilian said, but you don’t have to be ashamed of what Mr. Villefort said, dear, because I can assure you that my father is as fierce as your father when it comes to politics. He said that the emperor has done many good things, but why didn’t he unite judges and lawyers and send them to the front forever? You see, Valentine, if she is gentle and elegant, the two parties are the same, but what did Mr. Danglars say after the prosecutor greatly developed the party spirit?
Oh, he smiled because of his sinister smile. I think it was cruel. After a while, they got up and left, then I noticed that my grandfather was very angry. I must tell you that Maximilian can see the mood of the poor crazy old man alone. I doubt that because no one paid attention to this interview in front of him, the poor man has aroused some strong influence in his mind, because it is natural that he loves the emperor so much and has always been loyal to him. Now others talk about him with such contempt. Of course, he will feel pain when he hears it.
Speaking of Noirtier, Maximilian said that he was a famous figure in the imperial era and a politician with high status. I don’t know if you know that Valentine led every Napoleonic rebellion during the Bourbon Restoration.
Oh, I often hear people talk about this kind of thing quietly. I think it’s really strange that my father is a Napoleonic Party and my son is a royalist. Why should there be such a strange difference in party politics? Let’s go back and tell my story. I turned around and looked at my grandfather and asked him what he was so excited about. He looked at me thoughtfully and read that newspaper. What is it? Dear grandfather, I asked, are you happy? He gave me a positive indication that he was happy. Did my father just speak? Did he give a negative answer? Maybe you. Is what Mr. Danglars said another negative sign? Oh, so you were happy to hear that Mr. Morrel, I dare not say Maximilian was appointed as an officer of the Legion of Honor? He nodded his consent. Think about it. The poor old man didn’t know you, but he was glad to hear that you were appointed as an officer of the Legion of Honor. Although this may be his conscious action, I love him all the more because of his consent.
It’s incredible, Maximilian whispered. Your father obviously hates my name, while your grandfather is just the opposite. It’s strange that these Parisians love and hate.
Hush, Valentine suddenly exclaimed, hide quickly, someone will come quickly.
Maximilian jumped into his alfalfa field and scooped up weeds with the most affectionate attitude.
Miss, miss, a voice behind the bushes shouted, madam is looking for you everywhere. There are guests in the living room.
Valentine, the guest, asked anxiously who it was.
A big shot, a prince, that’s what they told me. It’s the Count of Monte Cristo.