Chapter 2 Chapter two

There are some damp water stains on the whitewashed wall, and the incandescent lamp shines on it, which seems to have a slight musty smell.The sound of leather boots came from the other end of the corridor, mixed with the loud clang of the iron prison door and high-pitched curses.However, the cursing is often interrupted after a sound of fists hitting the flesh. I paced up and down the end of this corridor, gritting my teeth anxiously. God, is that bastard lying to me?It's been an hour and I still haven't seen Marisa!What did they do to her?He said he would not embarrass her! Oh no!What an idiot I am, how can I trust a Nazi?If something happened to Marisa, I'd definitely—

"Shalt!" A sharp female voice came from the other end of the corridor. Under the dazzling light, a slender figure desperately broke away from the person behind him, and rushed into my arms recklessly. "Marisa! Marisa!" I hugged her tightly with all my strength, feeling my heart beating strongly like a drumbeat, "Honey, it's good that you're okay! It's okay, it's okay! It's okay! We Go home now, now!" She couldn't tell whether it was because of fear or anger, sobbing, she buried her pale yellow head deeply in my chest, and grabbed my collar with both hands.I carried her to the door, and now I don't want to stay here for a second - this house smells like German pigs, it makes me sick!

It was getting dark outside the gate, Pierre parked the car on the side of the road and waited for me, the corner of his mouth was bruised, it seemed that he had just been released from inside. I got into the car with my arms around Marisa, and the moment Pierre started the car, I saw that tall figure standing behind the window on the second floor, smiling and touching the brim of his hat. The bastard! The car took me back to the apartment on the Boulevard Pierre I of Selby, and I asked the secretary to park the car and come in quickly. Miss Dorio was looking anxiously through the iron fence, and she was very happy when she saw us.She opened the door and looked around carefully: "Thank God, you are finally back!" The old woman covered her chest with a white handkerchief, "I haven't heard from you all day, I'm afraid something happened to you ..."

I helped Marisa in and forced a smile: "It's okay, it's just that a few dogs stopped me. Look, we're fine." "God bless!" "Has my mother called?" "There have been more than a dozen calls!" She closed the door behind us, "Madame is very worried, and I hope you can contact her as soon as possible. By the way, Mr. Luchel and Mr. Mabel Westy have been waiting for you." I froze for a moment, and then sure enough, in the living room, I saw two loyal friends from my university days; The arm of the sofa banged loudly.When I hugged Marisa and pushed the door open, they all jumped up and rushed to me.

"Chart, damn it, where have you been?" "We couldn't find you anywhere, what happened?" A warm thing rose from the bottom of my heart.I patted them on the shoulder, motioned them all to sit down, and ordered Miss Doriot to bring three glasses of brandy. Probably because of our tired and pale expressions and the wound on Pierre's mouth, they understood. Simon Lucher asked cautiously, "I see it's a mess outside. Did you... meet a German?" "Yes, a little trouble." I didn't deny it, "It's the SS...they are not human..."

"My God, stop—" Marisa took my hand. "Stop it, honey! It's horrible!" The blood leaking from her neckline surprised Laffon Mabwesey: "Miss Guied, are you hurt?" "No, I'm fine, this... it's stained..." Her face turned blue, and she reluctantly shook her head at him, "I'm sorry, Lafeng, I, I feel a pain in my heart...Maybe I should call home ..." She really needs to rest now, I gently shook her hand and said: "There is a phone in the room upstairs, the one you usually live in - go, tell them you are here, and have a drink." Drink and sleep well."

She kissed me gratefully, and Miss Dorio tenderly took her on her arm and went up to the second floor together. Raffon Mabwesey leaned slightly towards me and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter, Chartres?" I took a deep breath and told them as calmly as possible: "Professor Marguerite Soler is dead! And her student Armand Fischer. The Germans did it!" "what?" "Really! Armand and a few men attacked a German army vehicle and were wounded. We wanted to take him to the hospital, but...on the way...the SS stopped us...He, a captain, died without a trial. Kill them!"

The expressions on their faces turned blue and white, their eyes widened and they didn't speak for a long time. We have all lived in a peaceful environment for too long. Perhaps at this time, they, like me, understand how close war is to them. Simon coughed a few times, and first returned to normal. He looked at Pierre's embarrassed look, and carefully guessed: "So... you... were taken away?" "yes." "They also beat me a few times." My secretary pressed the corner of her mouth bitterly, and frowned in pain. At this time, there was a loud noise in the street, as if talking on a loudspeaker. After a while, Andre, the valet who was guarding outside, came in and told me that the German soldiers and police were declaring a "curfew."

"It's really 'great'!" I stood up and opened the curtains to see, "Don't go back tonight. Pierre can go to rest first, and ask Miss Doriot to give you some medicine. Simon, Can you and Lafon go to the study and wait for me for a while? We have to discuss the issue of the troupe." I should be able to make up my mind to leave now. In fact, in the past few months, Parisians have moved to the south one after another. I even had this idea a month ago. In the end, it was Marisa and work that kept me. But now I am not so naive as to think that I am safe in this city: this is no longer the place I am familiar with, this is occupied territory, a place trampled under the heels of invaders, and no Frenchman can With freedom and dignity as before, Germans can play God here, we are all lambs in their hands.Those who died today were colleagues and students I was familiar with. I can't guarantee that the same fate will not befall me tomorrow.

Now I think of Captain Portman's eyes and I feel a chill run through my body.He's a fool who likes to manipulate the emotions of his opponents and take away all the will to resist in a man - I can see that, and it's not an exaggeration to call him a living devil.Maybe it's intuition, I don't think he will let me and Marisa go so easily, there may be even bigger troubles next! I have to leave Paris as soon as possible, and I have to deal with all the remaining things as quickly as possible: the college is basically closed, all I need is to ask Andre to send a formal leave slip; all things in the exchange are also frozen, Even if I don’t have a penny in a few years, I won’t be so poor that I can’t afford to eat; the more troublesome thing is the troupe, and I must find a solution with Simon and the others tonight... Then, I can tell my mother that I want came back.

I loosened my tie and walked into the small living room, dialed the phone— "Hi, hello, this is Armand Manor." "Hello, Jacques," I said in a relaxed tone. "Would you please call my mother?" "Yes, yes, my lord." My voice surprised the old housekeeper. I even heard the sound of running away. A moment later, a slightly anxious female voice came from there. "Chart, is that you?" "It's me, Mom." "Thank God, why haven't you heard from me for a whole day." "I'm going to pick up Marisa, we may go back in a few days, don't worry." "I heard that the Germans have already entered the city. Paris is not safe. Get out of there quickly!" "I will, but other things must be taken care of." "Don't worry me, Charlotte." "I'll be fine. I love you, Mom." "I love you too, kid." ... Yes, I have to live well, I have to protect myself, for my mother and Marisa, for my friends and everything I love. Simon and Laffont are such lovely friends that they were playing chess when I came to the study!I have had enough of their rough nerves in the seven years since college, I never thought they could still make me laugh at this time—— "Take three steps to the right." "What?" Laffon, who was at a disadvantage, turned his head and looked at me, "You're joking." I raised my eyebrows, and Simon's face was already changing. Lafon seemed to understand: "Okay, listen to you—" "I object! This is cheating, it doesn't count!" Simon hurriedly grabbed his horse in his hands. "Okay, gentlemen." I suppressed a smile. "Is this how you relieve stress and fear? I have just escaped from the tiger's mouth. You should show some empathy." "We're just trying to keep the fun of life." Laffon put away the chess and sat down at my desk, "What do you want to discuss with us, Chartres, is it about the troupe?" "Yes, I am going to leave Paris." I found the documents that had been put away for a long time from the drawer, "I originally wanted to find a solution to the crisis of the troupe with you. After all, this is a common property that we have worked hard since college, but Now it looks like I don't have the time." Yes, our three small troupe, The Nightingales, founded by our love of opera, were a favorite in the salons of pre-war Paris, but when the Germans began to threaten French stability, romantic life, At that time, many actors took leave of absence, but everyone didn't want this lovely collective to disappear because of the brutal war.Both Simon and I think that we can observe the situation first and then consider what to do, but now I think it is necessary to make a final decision. "What do you intend, Chartres?" Both Lafon and Simon looked at me seriously—probably because I am five years younger, they have always been very tolerant to me, and they listened to my opinions first, which made me very grateful: "I'm sorry, I want to . . . I think I must leave Paris as soon as possible, and therefore must leave all my work here, including that of the theater." "Do you mean to suspend the activities of the troupe?" Simon asked with his head tilted. "Yes, at least, I don't want it to disband, but it can't be run like it used to be. Even if the Germans allow it to exist, who wants to act as if nothing happened under such circumstances? But if I leave Paris, the burden on the two of you will increase again, I hope you can go back to Armand Manor with me." "Did today's events make you make this decision?" "Yes," I didn't want to deny at all, "I think it's never going to end, it must be! The SS doesn't have any soft-hearted guys, they won't let me and Marisa go so easily! The captain will probably Trouble me again; that's the kind of man he is! I can see it!" Simon frowned: "I see." "You're right!" Laffon nodded in agreement, "Don't take any chances, hurry up and leave before they come to the door! Don't worry about things here, we will take care of everything." "Why, aren't you going to leave?" I was surprised, they have several good properties in other provinces. Laffon cracked his mouth and smiled: "No, Erna is thinking about her sister, and she is not willing yet; Simon also has to convince his stubborn old mother!" "Don't worry about us," the other frowning man stood up and patted me on the shoulder. "After all, the Germans still abide by the Geneva Convention on the surface." "Thank you." I don't know what to say anymore, their smiles are always so kind, "If I calm down, I will return to Paris immediately." After taking a shower, I gently opened the door of the guest room, under the dim and soft lamp light, Marisa lay quietly on the bed. I put down my hair towel and sat down beside her: what a pure, beautiful girl she was, with the most innocent eyes and the smallest nose, full and inviting pink lips, pale yellow The hair set off her fair face, so pleasing to the eye.I know that she is as beautiful inside as she is outside, she is kind and warm-hearted, everyone likes this cheerful girl.I think I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, and I am even more fortunate that I can really have her love... These sensitive eyes seemed to sense that someone was watching, and slowly opened: "Shalt...why are you here?" "I was thinking back to the first time I saw you, in your white dress and gobo hat." She smiled, reached out and touched my face: "What's the matter, can't you sleep?" I grabbed that hand and pressed it to my chest: "I'm worried about you, are you alright?" "It's okay, I think it's okay, I just think it's all so sudden and scary... I was, I just wanted to help them... oh my god!" I hugged her into my arms, stroked her thin shoulders and whispered comfort, telling her that she cannot be blamed for all this, this is war: "Come back to Armand Manor with me, we are safe there, I can protect you ! I want to marry you immediately, I don't want you to have an accident!" "You are so kind, Chartres, I love you." "Me too! I've always been grateful to God for giving you to me, what a lucky man I am." She smiled again, and put my face in her hands: "Silly Chartres, I should feel lucky. Do you know what Audrey and the others say? They say you have the most beautiful black hair and blue eyes in Paris, and you The most exquisite face and the most noble heart, I must be God's favorite to be with you." I hugged her tightly and proposed to her again. "I am willing, I have always been willing!" She whispered in my ear, "Let's get out of here, I am afraid that I will say goodbye to this world suddenly like Armand, I don't want to lose you like this... I invited my parents to the wedding, and Joseph..." A burst of great joy almost made me shudder!I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. These are the most beautiful words I have ever heard in my life! If everything can develop according to our wishes, then I may never know how cruel fate can be... The next day I became more decisive than usual - Simon and I finished breakfast neatly, ordered Pierre to send Marisa home first, and then went to the theater first, which took nearly two hours Time and my two partners announced the decision made last night.Then there is the matter in the exchange. In fact, before the Germans entered Paris, all the brokers stopped working voluntarily. All I have to do is to sign the power of attorney and give it to Simon to act as his sole agent.I got home before supper and wrote my leave note to the College - I hope it still works - and almost as soon as I put down my pen Miss Dorio came to tell me that Marisa had called. I couldn't wait to pick up the receiver, and her joyful voice came from inside: "Chart, Chart, good news! I told my parents about our decision!" "Do they agree?" I suddenly felt that I had become a primary school student waiting for the grade again. "They approve! Thank God they blessed us!" "That's great!" A feeling of incomparable relief immediately filled my whole body, and I couldn't help but smile, "They are so kind, I will go over tonight to thank them in person! My dear, I will formally propose to you !" "Oh, I'm so happy, I'll wait for you! I have to tell Audrey and the others, by the way, you still have to tell Simon and the others, right?" "Yes, I also plan to ask them to be the officiant." "Go do it, right away!" I ended the call with great happiness, put down the phone, called Andre, and told him to send the leave note to the academy, and to inform Mr. Simon Lucher and Mr. Lafon Mabwessey by the way. : "Please come to me tonight, I have good news for them!" "Yes, my lord." Even he had a knowing smile on his face. At this moment a sound of hurried footsteps disturbed my cheerful mood; Pierre came hastily from the drawing-room, his coat hanging dirty on his arms as if rolled in the earth.I frowned unexpectedly—— "What's the matter, boy, look at you!" "My lord!" He panted and wiped his forehead, ignoring his sweaty face, "I'm sorry, but—something happened, it's too bad!" "what happened?" "We can't go!" "What?" I almost jumped up, "Say it clearly!" He took a breath with difficulty: "I went to the station this morning to buy three tickets to Melun, and they asked for an ID card, so I took out what you prepared yesterday—yes, it's you, Miss Guied and mine—but they gossiped for a while before they said they couldn't sell me the ticket!" "why?" His face became more and more ugly: "This... I heard their tone, it seems that the Germans ordered..." I felt a sudden pang of fear: "Where's the boat? Have you gone to buy a ticket? Maybe we can go down the Seine—" "I went, but got the same answer!" I was almost at a loss for a moment, and an ominous thought emerged from the bottom of my heart: Is it because of what happened yesterday?Are they after me? "What is to be done, my lord?" Pierre asked anxiously. I shook my head and didn't answer him, just kept guessing all the possibilities—— "grown ups?" "Don't ask, Pierre." I sat down irritably, "Go and rest first, let me... let me think of a way!" The young man walked out of the living room. I looked up at the anxious look on Andre's face and waved him to go out too. I braced my head, thinking of the face reflected on the glass when I walked out of the gate of the police station: Captain Portman, it must be his fault!I should know that he won't let us go easily, but, but what should I do next?