Chapter 5 chapter Five

I know that people are the most unreliable animals, so I don't expect anyone to help me defend the humiliation at the ball. I just hope that it will not be widely known, especially Marisa-but This seems to be a luxury. I held back the anger for two days and didn't break out, but I couldn't stop some rumors from spreading.The "interlude" at the dance allowed the boring people to find a topic. Even Simon and Lafon had secretive expressions when they were with me. My friends know that my pile of explosives can't stand a little spark. Marisa became agitated when she heard my piano playing, and asked me why more than once. I always fooled it with insincere jokes, until she finally walked into the piano room with a blue face this morning.

The near noon sun was blindingly white, and I drew the pale green curtains halfway so that the shadows just covered the reflection in front of my eyes.Marisa stood in the most colorful place, leaning on the high-back sofa and looking at me. "Chart," she hesitated, wringing her fingers in difficulty, as if she was choosing her words carefully, "I have something I want to talk to you..." "What's the matter?" Could it be that there is something wrong with the ration card, "If it's because you can't buy the supply of cheese, then use cash to buy it on the black market, anyway—"

"No, no, I'm not talking about that." She interrupted me irritably, and walked straight to the piano, "Tell me, that guy... really did such an outrageous thing?" "Serenade in E Major" was cut off in shock. I turned my head and forced a smile: "What's the matter? What are you talking about?" "Don't be like that!" She suddenly raised her voice, "Don't speak in such a tone, I already know it! Is what happened at the ball true?" "Who told you? Mrs. Rose? Miss Muffell?" "It's not important!" Rare excitement appeared in her eyes, "Tell me if it's true?"

I stood up and gently held her arms: "I'm sorry, dear. I just don't want you to worry..." She jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly. "Don't be like this, miss!" I put my arms around her and stroked her shoulder slowly, "It's not as serious as what they said, it's just a dirty joke made by that guy, although it's bad, it doesn't matter to me Substantial damage!" She shook her head vigorously: "No! He's targeting you, Shalt! He's not going to let you go! He did it last time, and he's still doing it now! He hasn't had any good intentions since we were first arrested! It must be so !"

"Calm down, Marisa!" "I have a bad feeling that you will be destroyed by him!" I looked at the person in my arms seriously, and found that her lips had turned purple.Her anxious expression made me feel very uneasy, but such a big reaction was beyond my expectation!Maybe she took things too seriously—as if I were going to a concentration camp tomorrow. I didn't know what to say for a moment. "Promise me, Chartres! Don't meet him again, don't take revenge on him! You can't make him your enemy!" Should be asking him not to mess with me, right?

"Speak up! Promise me..." I looked at the eyes that were almost dripping water in front of me, swallowed the words in my heart, and nodded solemnly. Marisa bent the corner of her mouth and kissed my lips with such strength that I was surprised—— Was she really intimidated?Maybe I should talk to Captain Portman, what is his purpose in this series of actions, what exactly does he want from me?It has been two days, and I believe that I have calmed down a bit, and I will not do anything too impulsive again; at least for Marisa, I will try my best to restrain myself. The Nazis occupied an extremely luxurious three-story building next to Tenerplatz as a temporary office for the SS. Iron-gray motorcycles rushed in and out. A visitor in plain clothes stared at him.When I walked in the door, I could almost feel a coldness that was very different from summer.The guard asked me what I wanted to do in a blunt tone, and I suppressed the disgust in my heart and called out the name of Captain Rostock von Portman.

"You can't see him," came the strangely beautiful French, "I can't let you in if you don't have a special certificate or something, and you don't have an appointment!" It is useless for me to argue repeatedly. Everything that can prove status and identity before the war has no value in their eyes.I should have known that this time I might return in vain, and it was really naive to single-handedly seek out that guy to ask him a question.But if I don’t do this, maybe I can only be played by him forever—— Just when I was about to try again, a strange look made me swallow the words on my lips.

At the end of the corridor was a thin officer with wine-red hair exposed under his military cap. He had a focused expression on his upright face and a pair of light blue eyes sunken deep in their sockets.He looked straight at me, and after realizing that I saw him too, he gripped the papers in his hands and walked towards me, effectively alleviating the guard's rude attitude. "You're looking for Major Portman?" he asked me hoarsely. "I didn't know he was promoted." "Is there a problem?" "It's a private matter, I have to talk to him." I don't know why this man's eyes make me feel very uncomfortable.

"Perhaps I can help you." He smiled at me as friendly as he could. "Thank you." I looked at him in surprise, "But..." "I am Sergeant Heinrich Belken, the Major's adjutant," he explained to me. "I take it you are Count Chartres de Nodois." I was amazed that he could say my name so accurately, and my face flushed immediately-it seems that the Germans have had enough jokes about the ball! It's all the fault of that shameless guy; there's undisguised anger in my eyes! "Please come with me, and I will take you to see him."

I don't understand why he is willing to do this, but he smiled tolerantly: "We don't want to be your enemy, but we just want to live as peacefully as possible on French soil." Answering nothing new, I silently followed him into this boring place. Sergeant Belken took me to the door of a room on the second floor, knocked on the door, and a pleasant inquiry came from inside. "It's the Earl of Chartres looking for you, sir." The sergeant raised his voice and announced my name. "Ask him to come in." The shelf is really big! The sergeant twisted the door open for me and gestured to come in.Cursing in my heart, I stepped into this room.

A mahogany desk is placed horizontally in the Rococo-style room, and the milky white curtains are drawn halfway, softening the harsh sunlight; It seemed even darker, and it was almost impossible to see anything. Major Portman's face was hidden in this half-darkness, gazing at a painting in the sun-Gerard's "Madame Recamel". "Tell me, Monsieur Count," he asked me softly, "is France not rich in beauties with black hair and blue eyes like yours?" I felt the blood rushing to my head uncontrollably again: "Yeah, it's like Germany is full of blond rascals like you!" The person being ridiculed smiled softly and stood up. He was only wearing a white shirt, and the sunlight vaguely outlines his perfect figure through the clothes. His slightly bulging muscles, slender and powerful limbs, and that kind of leisurely and elegant movements, these will not become people in any case. Disgusting condition, God must have made a mistake when endowing him with a soul - I can't help but sigh "wasting everything". "Did you come here just to quarrel with me, my lord?" He came up to me and folded his arms. "Why don't you sit down and talk?" I snorted and found a single sofa that could get sunlight. "What would you like to drink?" He assumed a "master" posture. "Don't bother." I declined bluntly, "I just want to know your intentions." "I don't understand what you're saying?" "Don't tell me you forgot about the prom that day!" The thick-skinned guy. He pretended to think for a while: "Oh, I remembered. Could it be that you are still dissatisfied with my dance steps?" "Please listen carefully to what others say!" It was almost difficult for me to maintain a consistent rationality, and even my voice became sharper, "Don't you think that holding a man in your arms is not an insult to him?" He leaned against the table and crossed his arms: "So that's why you are here? I really just want to ask you to dance. I didn't expect you to misunderstand my kindness." "There are hordes of women in that place willing to accept your offer!" "I'm not interested in them!" I was so choked that I couldn't speak!This man is really shameless to the extreme! "Listen, Captain—no, Mr. Major, we met each other under very unpleasant circumstances, which is a misfortune in itself, and I don't want to perpetuate that misfortune! I'm not stupid enough to believe what you're doing It's a sign of 'friendliness', so tell me, what exactly do you want?" The robber's intentions were nothing more than plunder; his fellow countrymen poured over their valuables back to Germany, and the "advanced" ones aimed at more valuable fine art and private collections, or more blatantly Cash extortion.I looked at the famous painting not far away—it was the real one—and I began to carefully recall the property I owned in my heart, guessing what this "elegant thief" was coveting. Major Portman looked at the angry me calmly, without even raising his eyebrows, which made me feel somewhat embarrassed-could I be the one who justified it? "As I thought, you are an impulsive person!" He sat down across from me, the sunlight hit his face from the side, casting a strong brilliance, and his hair was more like gold Dazzling; how nice it would be if he didn't talk! "No one can always maintain etiquette under malicious provocation! I should not be blamed for my reaction! Mr. Major, I don't want to entangle you in matters of personal self-cultivation. Please tell me directly, what is your intention?" "Oh, it seems that you want to negotiate terms with me? Why do you have this idea? Did I make you feel uneasy recently?" "I just want to live in peace, and... try not to hurt the people I love..." "You mean your fiancée?" He turned his face and looked at me with a half-smile expression: "Well, a typical aristocrat; a self-conscious defender of ancient morality and chivalry, who believes that he can do it with courage. You can bear all the responsibilities, as well as damn self-esteem, reserve and arrogance, you really don’t lack anything! What kind of thing raised people like you..." His tone is full of mockery and contempt. I know that in the heart of any conqueror who holds power, the dignity of the citizens of the occupied areas is ridiculously fragile like the life of an ant, but as he said, it is this kind of "thing" Raised me from a young age—— "Major Portman," I stood up with a sullen face, and said word by word, "maybe I don't have the pistol in your waist, and my strength is far from yours, but as far as a man's courage is concerned, I am I believe that there is no difference between myself and you. If I really make up my mind to protect something—whether it is a person or a principle—then I will definitely do my best...I will not tolerate your repeated, repeated Insult, please remember this!" Perhaps because of the change in angle, I saw a strange color in his blue eyes, and a clear color of blood appeared on his fair cheeks.My "declaration" made him stunned for two seconds, and then burst out laughing. I'm probably overwhelmed with anger, and it's not out of control at all; it seems that there is really no way for the two of us to communicate! After a while he stopped laughing, stood up and walked in front of me, the distance was so close that I could clearly feel the height gap between myself and him. "God, my dear Lord Earl," he approached my face more maliciously, the smell of tobacco and lemonade filled my nostrils again, "I remember warning you when we first met, don't Put on airs of aristocrats before me, and you will regret it." "I won't regret it more than talking with you." I said coldly, and walked towards the door without looking back at him, but the sight behind me was like a needle pricking me. The door closed behind, finally separating me from him.I breathed a long sigh of relief, and suddenly found Sergeant Heinrich Belken standing in the corridor, looking at me intently from less than two meters away, just like ten minutes ago.He met my gaze, smiled calmly, turned and left. Is this man concerned about his officer?Or is it too cautious?Otherwise, you are targeting me! An inexplicable chill slowly crept up my spine. The rest of the day passed as usual. I didn't tell Marisa and Simon that I'd gone to Major Portman, which would send everyone into another spiral of anxiety and worry.But two days later, I found that the dark whistle that had appeared scattered around us had completely disappeared.Until November, there was no more malice from the Germans in my life. I can't believe that conversation will be useful, but I'm also very happy as long as I don't have those annoying people and things around me. The good old days of France seem to be gone forever, because all kinds of common supplies are gone: Mademoiselle Doriot learns to synthesize detergent from gasoline, lye and nitrate; André cannot buy new shoes , because the animal skins were preserved for the German army boot factories; even Marisa's silk stockings disappeared from the shops!But the Germans can brazenly accuse the British blockade of causing all this! At the same time, some things were more popular than before the war, such as movie theaters, theaters, museums and nightclubs, which were open almost every night and business was booming.It seems that these places have become good places to escape from reality.After a long discussion with Simon and Lafont, I decided to resume the performance of "Nightingale" and let it play its role in the difficult years.So I got busy again and got rid of the recent period of "doing nothing". Marisa also came to my side to help, and became my secretary just like Pierre. Her mood has calmed down a lot recently, and the lack of material life has given people more things; we can often walk to church arm in arm with our ID cards, military service application cards and ration cards to pray for the future.Perhaps it is the most practical and meaningful to support each other with patience. Mr. Raymond Deiss started talking to me about the publication of my fourth opera and thanked me for my help in the "Resistance Cause". ""Giant" has been published, it will tell everyone the real situation of the war, and it will also spread the blood of France." When the famous music publisher said this, his eyes were full of determination, but I was still very worried. The Gestapo definitely had a nose like a hunting dog, and they would find out if they were careless. Although the dissemination of such underground resistance publications is very covert, most of them are distributed by reliable volunteers in subway stations, shops, churches and even public bathrooms. A single negligence can expose the entire distribution network. I suggested to Mr. Daisy to hide the printing factory in a hidden place. He told me that this is an abandoned cellar that Simon found for him. It is very safe and there is a spare "workshop". "I will also reduce the number of times I come to you." He told me very considerately, "After all, the relationship between you and me is not that close, and it is not good if you come too frequently." I thanked him for thinking of me and offered to continue to help him. "You are such a good man, Count," he said very politely, and at the same time told me to be careful, "I heard that an SS major seems to be targeting you. At the ball a few months ago, he publicly insulted you. But you, you have to be careful." "There is such a person." I nodded, "But he hasn't done anything recently." "Of course that's the best way! However, I've also heard that... Someone told me that the SS has recently set its sights on French celebrities with some family property in order to increase their allowances, and they have begun to find fault." I didn't pay attention to it, but Mr. Dace's news still made me uncomfortable. Does it mean that I have to guard against unexpected troubles again? "In any case, be cautious. It may not be difficult for them to find you. After all, you have entered the police station and are recorded on the 'protector' list." What he said was the truth, but I knew that I had nothing to guard against—I was French, and that was enough reason to be hurt. I didn't tell Marisa what Mr. Deiss said. First, I was afraid that she would be worried. Second, I just tried to keep the relaxed mood during this period intact. However, after just over a week, the short-lived peace was shattered again. . On November 11, 1940, the weather was cool in the late autumn. I prepared a small performance of "Nightingale" with Simon and Lafont, and finally got a little relaxation and vacation after four consecutive days of exhaustion.Marisa immediately pulled me into the street with great interest. "Why don't you go for a walk, honey?" she whispered in my ear in the morning in bed, "We can't deal with ledgers and pianos all day, look at your beautiful blue eyes." , are like blunt glass beads!" "Okay." I said in a daze, stroking her smooth back with my hand, "I listen to you, baby, where are you going?" "How about the Champs-Elysées? We can take a walk and admire Madame Polone's flowers. The daisies must be dazzling by now!" "No problem." I tightened my arms to wrap around the soft flesh in my arms, "But before that, can you give me a kiss first?"