Chapter 16 Chapter Seven Things Get Complicated

Fifteen years had passed since Silas Dronta had left Trieste to live in this magnificent mansion in Laguez.He is originally Dalmatian, so it was only natural that he wanted to return to his homeland after retirement. The two spies kept their secrets strictly, and the bounties for the informants were all in hand.At this point, a huge sum of money fell into the pockets of bankers and old Tripoli brokers. Back then, the two died in Pissino Castle, and Count Sandov was also buried in the rolling waves of the Adriatic Sea during his escape.Once the death sentence was sentenced, their property was also divided up.There was nothing left of Zatmar's house and a small piece of land-not even the livelihood of his old servants; Étienne Bathory's family was even more poor, because he had no property and lived only by teaching; but Count Sandov had a considerable fortune: the castle of Atenac and its fertile estates, the neighboring mines and the forests on the shady slopes of the North Carpathians.These properties were divided into two parts: one half was confiscated and confiscated to reward the informer; the other part was used as trusteeship property, which would be returned to the earl's heir when she reached the age of eighteen.If the child dies before the age of eighteen, the property is confiscated to the state.

However, the bounty received by the two informants was as high as 1.5 million florins (approximately more than 3 million francs), and this property was for them to squander at will. As soon as the two conspired to get the money, they immediately wanted to go their separate ways.Sakani didn't want to be with Doronta, and the latter didn't want any more contact with his old broker.So Sakani took Zirona and left Straster.Zirona never disliked Saccani when his fortune was bad. Now that Saccani is in good fortune, he must of course follow closely and never leave.The two left without any news.Where did they go?Must have been to some big city in Europe.Once there, as long as they have money, no one will ask where they come from; as long as they spend money like water, no one will doubt the source of this wealth.Now, in Trieste, only Duolongta knew them, and now no one will mention these two adventurers.

After they left, the banker breathed a sigh of relief.He thought he no longer had to worry about Sarkani threatening him, worrying about his endless entanglement.However, even if Sarkani made a fortune, he can't expect this kind of spendthrift guy to be successful again. Once he squanders this windfall, wouldn't he brazenly go back to find his former accomplices? Half a year later, the bank in Duolongta, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, returned to its original state.After clearing his business, he left Trieste and moved to Laguez.Although only the governor knew of his part in the denunciation of the attempted uprising, and although he was not afraid that the governor would slip up and give away the facts of the case, it was a great deal for a man who did not want to lose any dignity and wanted to be known wherever he went. For a man whose wealth has lived a fine life, it is enough for him to stay where he is!

Perhaps there was a special reason why he decided to leave Tritest—a reason that was only known to the Duolongta couple at the time, but later leaked out.This reason even caused Duolongta to have a relationship with that Namir once, and the relationship between this woman and Sakani is well known. The banker chose to settle in Laguez.When he was a child, his parents died and he had no relatives, so he left this place, and people have long forgotten him.Forty years later, when he left his homeland, he was a complete stranger. The high society of Laguze welcomed the rich and well-dressed rich man.They only knew that he was famous in Trieste.The banker found a mansion in the most aristocratic street in the city.He lived in a luxurious house with huge expenses, and replaced all his servants with locals.He treats guests and is a guest at the same time, and communicates extensively.Since people don't know his details, shouldn't he be a privileged figure of this noble class?

Indeed, Silas Dronta was an unrepentant man.He was only worried that one day his heinous informant would be exposed, and other than that, nothing seemed to disturb his life. However, Mrs. Duolongta always appeared in front of him, like a silent but fierce reprimand. This unfortunate woman was pure and upright, and she knew the crime that killed the three patriots.As early as when the bank was on the verge of bankruptcy, her husband missed a word, saying that he hoped to get a share of Count Sandov's property to revive the bank's business. Later, when he received the reward, he had to ask his wife to sign it. All this shows that he participated in the Report the conspiracy of the Trieste uprising.

From this Madame Dronta hated her husband—all the more so because she was Hungarian.But people say she is a depressed woman.After suffering this blow, she was even more devastated.From then on, whether in Trieste or Laguiz, she lived as solitary as possible whenever possible.Of course, under her husband's intimidation, she also attended the banquet at the Stratton mansion.But as soon as she was done playing the part of a high-society dame, she retreated to her bedroom.She poured all her feelings into her daughter, tried her best to educate her daughter, and tried to forget her husband.But it's not easy to forget the husband who participated in the informant!

After they had lived in Laguze for two years, another incident complicated the situation.This incident brought new troubles to the banker, and new pains to Madame Doronta. Madame Bathory also left Trieste with her son and old servant Paulic, and moved to Laguiz.They have several relatives here.The last frost of Étienne Bathory did not recognize the Dron Tower, and never even knew the relationship between the banker and Count Sandorf.As for the fellow's involvement in the plot to murder three Hungarian nobles, how could she have known the details, since her husband had not revealed which scoundrels had betrayed them to the Austrian police before his death?

Madame Bathory did not know the banker in Trieste, but this one did.Living in the same city as her, passing her on the street several times, seeing her poor family and working hard all day to raise her son, all these made Duolongta feel uncomfortable.If Mrs. Bathory had already lived in Laguz before Doronta considered moving, then Doronta might give up her plan to move here.But when she moved to the shabby house in Marinella Alley, Duo Longta had already bought the mansion, his family had already settled down, and his social status had been accepted and recognized by people, so he no longer wanted to find a third one. residence.

"Everything is habitable!" thought he. He decided to ignore this evidence of his treacherous activities.It seems that in this way, he is innocent. But this disturbed the banker after all, and became a source of endless pain and remorse for Madame Doronta.She had quietly helped this widow who lived only on labor many times, but she was rejected. Just as Mrs. Bathory refused many times to support strangers, this strong lady did not ask for nor accept anything. funding. Another unexpected, perhaps unlikely, event made the situation even more incredible, even dire. At the end of 1867, Mrs. Dorronta moved to Laguze with her husband.The wife loves her daughter who is only two and a half years old, and puts all her feelings on her.More than ten years have passed in a flash, and now Sharapova is almost seventeen years old.She was attractive, more Hungarian than Dalmatian.Her hair is black and thick, and under her high forehead, her big eyes are piercing. You can tell by palmistry that she is a person with "brains".She had better lips, a rosy complexion, a upper middle figure, and a lithe figure—how could such a charming richness not be conspicuous?

But the most moving and unforgettable thing about this girl is that her pensive face seems to be always recalling some long-forgotten past events, and her indescribable and moving expression makes people feel sad.Those who frequented her father's salon, or occasionally encountered her in the street, had an indescribable feeling and dared not judge her. It is said that Sharapova is the heir to a huge fortune, and the property will all belong to her, so many people come to pursue her.Although many wealthy children came to propose marriage, Sharapova refused without explaining after consulting her mother.Duolongta neither asked nor urged her daughter's marriage.Probably the son-in-law that Duolongta wanted - not so much for Sharapova's sake, but for his own sake - has not yet appeared.

After we have described Sharapova, we should also say that she had a natural admiration for the virtues of patriotism and heroic deeds.This is not because she cares about politics, but as long as she talks about sacrifices for the motherland and heroes who people can be proud of in the modern history of the motherland, she will be deeply moved.This feeling did not come from the family of her birth, certainly not, and still less from Silas Dronta-for the girl is noble and generous, and this feeling is the natural expression of her inner world. Is this not, as everyone has guessed, the cause of mutual sympathy and closeness between Pierre Bathory and Sawa Doronta? exactly!It seems that it is God's will to oppose the banker and make the two young people love each other.One day when Sawa was twelve years old, someone pointed Pierre in front of her and said: "His father died for Hungary!" The words will never be erased from her memory. Then the two grew up, Sharapova was thinking about Pierre before Pierre noticed her!She saw Pierre so serious, so deep!Although he was poor, he worked hard and determined to be worthy of his father's surname.She knows his entire history. We all know what happened afterwards.We know how Pierre fell in love with Sharapova at first sight, fell madly in love with her.The girl's character makes Pierre have a good impression of her, and even before the girl finds out that she is in love, the young man has fallen in love with her deeply.Later, they finally fell in love. The situation about Shava Duolongta has been introduced, let's take a look at her situation at home. Sharapova was always quiet about her father.The father does not love his daughter, and the daughter has no affection for him.The father was blindly indifferent, and the daughter hid away when she saw him, and the two couldn't get along with anything.Sharapova regards the respect for Duolong Tower as the duty a daughter should do to her father, nothing more.Moreover, Duolongta allowed his daughter to act freely, did not interfere with her hobbies, and did not restrict her charitable acts, because he was vain by nature and could accept such virtues of his daughter.In short, Duolongta didn't care about his daughter, and Lisawa became increasingly disgusted with him, even loathed him. Sharapova's feelings for Mrs. Doronta are completely different.Although the wife is controlled by her husband and is not respected by him, she is kind-hearted, innocent all her life, sincere in dealing with others, and self-respecting and self-loving, which is a thousand times stronger than her husband.Madame loved Sawa, and had already seen in the girl's reserved demeanor that she was good-looking, upright, and strong of character.Madame loved Sawa deeply, and felt strangely admiration and respect in this love, mixed with a kind of fear.Likewise, Sharapova loves Mrs.It can be seen that even if the two are not related by blood, they will depend on each other for life. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Doronta guessed Sharapova's mind first.The girl often talked about Pierre and his family in front of her mother, not noticing that the name caused her so much pain.So when the wife found out that Sawa fell in love with this guy, she couldn't help but said to herself: "It's God's will!" We can guess the meaning of Madam's words, but we don't know, Madam is thinking, Sharapova fell in love with Pierre, how it seems to make up for the damage caused to the Bathory family! The devout Mrs. Doronta believes that this is God's will, and she believes that her husband should be persuaded to marry the two families.Without telling Sharapova, she decided to test her husband first to see what he thought. As soon as Mrs. Duolongta opened her mouth, her husband became furious and furious: "Be careful, madam! . . . You will regret it if you dare to mention it to me again!" The madam's efforts failed, and she returned to the bedroom amid her husband's threats. In this way, the bad luck mentioned by Silas Dronta not only drove the Bathory family to this city, but also made Sharapova and Pierre acquainted, close and in love. Everyone can't help but ask, why did the banker lose his temper?Did he have other plans for Sharapova's future?Does Sharapova and Pierre being in love make him dissatisfied?Yes, if one day his plot was revealed, wouldn't it be better if he could make amends beforehand?If Pierre Bathory had really become the husband of Sawa Doronta, what would he have to say by then?What about Madame Bathory?Obviously, it is a very scary thing for enemies to marry each other, especially for newlyweds.As for Silas Doronta, he should have felt a little relieved!But there is a Sakani!Although he is now unknown, he may make a comeback at any time, not to mention that the banker and his accomplices may have something to say.Once Sakani squandered all his property, it would be strange if he didn't come back and ask Duolongta to fulfill his preface! The disappearance of an old broker in Tripolitania worries Doronta.Fifteen years had passed since the Trieste incident, and there had been no news of Saccani.Although Duolongta knew that Saccani had some connections in Sicily through Zirona, after sending people to search, there was no result.Kosakani will show up at any time!The banker was worried and restless.He would be very happy to learn that Saccani was dead, and only then would he reconsider his marriage to the Bathory family.But in any case, this idea should not be entertained at present. Since that time when his wife came to talk about Pierre, Doronta never mentioned him again, nor did he explain to his wife the reason for his anger.He took measures to keep Sharapova under strict supervision and even sent someone to monitor him.He decided to be haughty about the young engineer, and if he came across him on the road, he would turn his back on him and give him no hope.This would at last convince Pierre that all his efforts were in vain! It was under these circumstances that on the evening of June 10th the impudent Saccani appeared at the Stratton mansion and asked the servant to announce his name.He had driven from Carlotta to Laguz that morning by train accompanied by Namir.He first took a room in one of the big hotels in the city, dressed himself in the best clothes, and without delay, went to the house of his former accomplice. Silas Dronta received him and ordered that no one should be disturbed.How did he receive Sarkani's visit?Did he control his emotions and not show anything?Are the two beginning to reconcile?Is Sarkani still as rude and domineering as ever?Did he remind the banker of the promises he had made, of the long-standing understanding between the two?Finally, did they talk about the past, present and future?None of this was known, since no one had ever interrupted their conversation. But the result came out immediately. Twenty-four hours later, a shocking news spread through the city, and people talked a lot, that Sakani, a rich man from Tripolitania, was going to marry Miss Sawa Doronta. Apparently, the banker had succumbed to Saccani's threat that a word from this man would kill him.Therefore, neither his wife's pleading nor Sharapova's frightening behavior could impress Duolongta. He decided that Sharapova's life-long affairs should be arranged by him alone. There is only one reason why Sakani wants to make this marriage. He is now bankrupt.His share of the fortune, a sum as large as that which had revived the banking business at Dorron Tower, was squandered by the adventurer in only fifteen years.After leaving Trieste, Sakkani traveled all over Europe, spending a lot of money, enjoying himself in hotels in Paris, London, Berlin, and Vienna.In the end, he lost all his money at the gambling tables in the gambling cities of Switzerland and Spain, and in the principality of Morocco, which is close to the French border, and finally went bankrupt. Needless to say, Zirona followed him like a shadow all these years.When they had only a few thousand florins left in their pockets, they returned to the hometown that Zirona never forgot - eastern Sicily.They waited there for the opportunity to reconnect with Duolong Tower.Because, as long as you marry Sharapova, the only heir to the rich man's property, wouldn't it be easy to make a fortune again?What's more, Duolongta couldn't refuse Sakani's marriage proposal! In fact, it is impossible for Duolongta to refuse the marriage proposal without even saying no.Perhaps in the process of the two looking for a solution, there is another unknown woman who is secretly dealing with it! However, Sharapova asked her father to explain clearly, why did she arrange her life-long events in this way? "This marriage is a matter of my honor, and it must be done!" replied Silas Dronta, and at last he spoke the truth! When Sawa relayed this answer to her mother, Mrs. Doronta almost fainted in her daughter's arms, and she shed tears of despair. The wedding is scheduled for July 6th. During these three weeks, the life of Pierre Bathory can be imagined.He is restless, distracted, seeing his love being robbed and helpless, it drives him mad, shutting himself in the house, and fleeing the damned city, Madame Bathory So he was afraid, lest he never see his son again. What could she say to comfort her son?Before the marriage was decided, although Pierre was treated coldly by Sharapova's father, there was still a glimmer of hope after all.But if Sharapova gets married, wouldn't it create another abyss—this time, an insurmountable abyss!Although Doctor Antekit had promised earlier, he still abandoned Pierre!Pierre thought again, the girl who loved him was stubborn, how could she agree to marry Sakani?Could it be that there is some secret hidden in the Stratton mansion that this kind of thing happened?well!How good it would have been if Pierre had left Raguez, accepted a position offered elsewhere, and left Sharapova far away!And now they betrothed her to this stranger, Sakani! "No!" he repeated over and over again, "it's impossible!... I love her!" The house that had once been illumined by the radiance of happiness was now enveloped in an atmosphere of despair! Boscade always had eyes on all sides, ears on all sides, and was the first to hear what happened in the city.As soon as he heard that Sharapova was going to marry Sakani, he sent a letter to Cattaro.Finding that the young engineer was devastated by the news, he hastened to report to Dr. Antekit. The order and reply he received was to continue to observe what happened in Raguz and report to the doctor at any time. As the ominous day of the 6th of July drew nearer, Pierre's condition grew worse.His mother couldn't calm him down a bit.Is there any way to make Duolong Tower change the good thing?Hastily announcing the marriage and setting the date of the marriage is not enough to show that the marriage has already been negotiated, Sarkani and Doronta have known each other for a long time, and this "rich man from Tripoli Talia" has a special influence on Sharapova's father? Pierre was very depressed, and his thoughts wandered all day long.On the eighth day before the wedding, he wrote a letter to Duolongta. There was no reply to the letter. So he tried to meet the Duolong Tower on the street again...if it didn't work. He wanted to look for the Duolong Pagoda in the mansion...but he couldn't enter the door.As for Sharapova and her mother, they don't even show their faces now, let alone go to them! However, while Pierre could not see Sharapova or her father, several times he ran into Sakkani face to face on Stratton Street.Pierre cast a hateful look, and Sakani responded with extreme arrogance and contempt.Then Pierre wanted to provoke him to a duel...but what excuse could there be?Sarkani is about to become Sharapova's husband, and he can benefit greatly from it, so why is he willing to accept a duel before the wedding? Six days passed, and Pierre ran away from home on the evening of the Fourth of July, despite the dissuasion of his mother and the entreaties of Paulik.The old servant wanted to follow him, but he disappeared in an instant.Pierre, mad, walked aimlessly through the most deserted streets and alleys, along the walls of Laguiz. When he was carried back to Madame Bathory's residence an hour later, he was dying, his left lung pierced by a dagger. Undoubtedly, Pierre was desperate and committed suicide! As soon as Boscade heard the sad news, he ran for the telegraph office. An hour later, in Cattaro, Dr. Antekit received news of the young man's suicide. Pierre probably won't live for a few hours. Mrs. Bathory stood in front of her son. It is difficult for us to describe her pained expression.But the mother's courage overcomes the woman's fragility.In any case, rescuing his son is the most important thing, crying is a matter for the future. The requested doctor arrived immediately. He inspected the wounded, listened to the intermittent and weak breathing in his chest, measured the depth of his wound, and then began to apply medicine and bandage.He tried his best to save him, but there was no hope. Fifteen hours passed, and due to excessive blood loss, the young man's injuries worsened, and he was so breathless that he was almost dying. Mrs. Bathory fell to her knees and begged God to bless her son! Just then, the door opened... Dr. Antekit appeared, and went straight to the dying man's bed. Madame Bathory was about to rush towards the doctor, but he motioned her to stay still. The doctor bent down and, without saying a word, examined Pierre carefully.Then he fixed his irresistible eyes on Pierre, as if wanting to inject his own life and will into this dying head. Suddenly Pierre sat up, opened his eyes, looked at the doctor ... then fell down again, unconscious. Mrs. Bathory rushed to her son, screamed, and collapsed in old Polik's arms. At this moment the doctor closed the eyes of the young deceased, got up, and left the room.Perhaps someone overheard him muttering a proverb from an Indian legend: "Close your eyes and drink away your hatred, the heart of death is not dead!"