Lionel welcomed Albert in.
Under the electric light in the living room, the weathered look on Albert's face and his bloodshot eyes made him appear even more haggard.
Lionel poured him a glass of water:
"Aren't you managing the Rohan family's iron mines in Algeria?"
Albert took the glass, drank it all in one gulp, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve:
"I received a letter from Alfred, and a stack of Parisian newspapers he sent!"
He said eagerly:
"It's all news about you! The little rascals in Lyon burned 'My Uncle Jules'! My God, I couldn't sit still then!
Also, Alfred mentioned in his letter that 'many people feel it's necessary to teach the betrayer a more painful lesson!' I think this is a dangerous sign.
Alfred is much better informed than I am, which means... it means that besieging you now isn't their ultimate goal! They want to do something else!
I immediately bought the next available boat ticket and rushed back! Lion, you can't expect these mad puppies to remain rational..."
He angrily pointed out the window:
"These idiots, they've been exploited and still think they're noble... hopeless!"
Lionel looked at him, smiled, and asked calmly:
"Albert, did Count Rohan send you?"
Albert jumped up as if stung by a scorpion, his face flushed, and he swore vehemently:
"Lion! I swear by the honor of the Rohan family!
Absolutely not! My father has no idea I'm back! I only came back after seeing the newspapers... If I'm lying, may the Algerian sun bake me into a mummy!"
He passionately waved his arms:
"I am your friend! Am I, Albert de Rohan, the kind of scoundrel who would stand by indifferently while a friend is in trouble?"
Lionel patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down:
"Sit down, sit down. I believe you."
He paused, then asked with a hint of teasing:
"So, if your father knew you ran all the way here, wouldn't he be angry?"
Albert's face grew even redder.
He remembered his father's admonitions, words about family interests and political considerations echoing in his ears now.
But he shook his head vigorously, straightened his neck, and stubbornly said:
"Family is family! I am me! I can't control what my father thinks!
I know you're right! At least... at least you shouldn't be treated like this! Trapped at home by a bunch of hotheads!"
Seeing him like this, Lionel felt a touch of emotion.
Just as he was about to say something more, there was another commotion at the door, followed by an urgent ringing of the doorbell.
Lionel got up again to open the door.
Standing outside was a breathless Guy de Maupassant.
His hat was askew, his tie was loose, and his face also showed anger and worry.
As soon as Maupassant entered, he exclaimed:
"Lion! My God, what a scene outside!"
Seeing Albert, he paused for a moment, then nodded in greeting.
Then he turned to Lionel again:
"Émile and I met earlier today, and we all agree you can't stay here anymore! It's too dangerous!"
He grabbed Lionel's arm, his tone serious:
"Take back your naive ideas! Do you really want to be besieged by these people for a month?
Émile heard some very bad news; someone is inciting these idiots, saying they want to inflict some 'physical suffering' — you know what that means!
Listen to me, Lion, find a way, leave immediately, at least get out of here first!"
Lionel fell silent.
He had originally planned to use the court to publicly state his position, and if convicted, he would immediately appeal.
During the appeal, he would then use the legal procedural gap to arrange whether he would "go into exile" or actually go to prison.
According to Delaroy's estimate, he would at most receive six months to about a year of imprisonment, along with a fine of several thousand francs.
Of course, such a judgment would not be immediately effective, and Lionel could still appeal, delaying it until October at the latest.
So he had Delaroy privately make some legal preparations to ensure his business wouldn't be affected if something happened to him.
But now, Charles de La Rochefoucauld and his "Youth Guard" had disrupted his plans.
What if they didn't just "escort" him to court, but took more extreme actions?
These young people, blinded by fanaticism, were capable of anything!
Lionel was willing to go to court, and even wasn't afraid of prison, but being surrounded by these fanatics for two months was an entirely different matter.
Moreover, they could lose control at any moment; you can't expect a group of fanatics to always remain rational.
Think about it, no matter where he went, as long as it was a public place, there would be several tails following him, and these tails could become whips to strike him at any moment.
Albert's brother Alfred's letter was clearly a hint; Count Rohan was trying to warn him in this way.
Seeing Lionel silent and frowning, Maupassant knew he was weighing his options.
He leaned in closer and whispered:
"Lion, don't hesitate! There's no benefit in stubbornly holding on! We've come up with a plan..."
——————
The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, the clamor outside the villa intensified.
Lionel put on his clothes and walked to the window to look out, only to see a moving scene:
A group of veterans in old military uniforms, some with more or less disabilities, had arrived at the perimeter of the villa at some point.
Some were in wheelchairs, some leaned on crutches, some had an empty sleeve, and some had gruesome scars on their faces.
Their faded but still recognizable uniforms were adorned with various medals.
They were confronting the young cadets of the "Youth Guard of the French Republic".
A veteran who had lost a leg and stood with a crutch loudly reprimanded them with his hoarse voice:
"Courage? You inexperienced youngsters, do you even deserve to speak of courage? Courage isn't flaunting power at someone's doorstep!
Have you seen your comrades-in-arms turn into minced meat under the cannons of Sedan!"
Another veteran, blind in one eye, pointed to his empty eye socket:
"Look! This is the 'glory' that war gave us! What do you think war is?
Is it a ladder to promotion? Is it the admiring gaze of ladies in salons? Bullshit! War is a machine that grinds flesh and blood!
Is there even one person in a hundred who can crawl out of it and return with something useful?"
Another voice roared:
"We have shed blood and suffered wounds for France! But we never believed that opposing war is opposing us!
On the contrary, only those who have experienced it know how precious peace is! Only they know what schemes those who incite war are hatching!
You've been used, and you're here self-righteously 'patriotic'!"
The veterans spoke one after another, using their mutilated bodies and weathered experiences to issue deafening challenges.
Their words lashed like whips across the faces of the young cadets.
Many cadets lowered their heads, their faces burning.
They were overwhelmed with shame, reprimanded by these true heroes, these living fossils of war.
Some people's convictions began to waver, and their steps involuntarily shifted backward.
However, Charles de La Rochefoucauld, though pale with rage, still retorted loudly:
"Veterans! We respect your sacrifices! But times have changed!
France needs expansion, needs glory! Sorel's statements are undermining our morale! We must..."
A crude voice interrupted him:
"Shut up, young master! Can that fancy uniform you're wearing stop bullets?
When you've crawled in the mud like us, watching your guts spill out, then talk about glory!"
The confrontation continued, the atmosphere tense.
Although few in number, the veterans' moral authority, stemming from their experiences and wounds, temporarily suppressed the arrogance of the Youth Guard.
But under Charles's stubborn persistence and incitement, the Youth Guard, despite their dampened morale, showed no sign of dispersing.
The veterans also set up tents and small cooking pots in the open space, seemingly preparing for a prolonged struggle with these young people.
Lionel didn't know how to thank them, so he gathered everyone in the villa, and together they prepared dozens of portions of food to send to the veterans.
As Lionel handed food to one of the veterans, the veteran suddenly said to him mysteriously:
"Mr. Sorel, don't worry, you will definitely get out of this..."
————————
The situation continued to change.
That evening, on an empty patch of grass not far from the villa, a group of people began to get busy.
Each of them was oddly shaped, some almost unnatural creations, making them intimidating to behold.
However, these strange individuals moved quickly and efficiently.
Soon, a gigantic, brightly colored circus tent was erected.
The huge canvas top was slowly being raised, with exaggerated and grotesque patterns painted on it.
Calls of ferocious beasts like tigers and lions occasionally came from the camp, making no one dare to approach.
This sudden scene stunned everyone, including the confronting veterans and the Youth Guard, as well as Lionel and others behind the villa's window.
There weren't many residents nearby, mostly villas, so very few people would go to a circus.
What was this circus doing here? Although there were many people gathered nearby, no one was in the mood to watch a circus.
————————
It was late at night, and almost everyone had fallen asleep.
At this moment, a luxurious carriage decorated with golden imperial eagles, crossed scepters, bees, and crowns quietly entered the camp of the "Youth Guard of the French Republic".
The carriage door opened, and Napoleon Victor Jerome Frederick Bonaparte stepped out.
Charles de La Rochefoucauld was already waiting there.
After saluting, he respectfully welcomed the other into his tent.
As soon as Victor Bonaparte entered the tent, his face darkened:
"You fool, do you want to turn this operation into a joke?"
Charles de La Rochefoucauld was stunned and couldn't help but explain:
"Your Highness, it's not that we haven't tried, it's Lionel... he's too cunning..."
Victor Bonaparte completely ignored his explanation:
"Do you know how much influence and money those important figures have paid for this?
Your daily food and drink here, and the horses, vehicles... and in the end, you've really become Lionel's followers?"
Charles de La Rochefoucauld was at a loss, tried to speak several times but was silenced by Victor Bonaparte's stern gaze.
Victor Bonaparte said coldly:
"We need to take more effective action... Sorel's arrogance must be taught a lesson!"
Charles de La Rochefoucauld became anxious:
"But the Duke said we cannot..."
Victor Bonaparte waved his hand, interrupting Charles:
"So the Bonaparte family's words are no longer valid, are they? Are you preparing to serve in the rainforests of Tokyo?"
Charles de La Rochefoucauld swallowed the rest of his words:
"...As you command, Your Excellency!"
Victor Bonaparte then smiled with satisfaction:
"Very well, tomorrow night, after it's completely dark, you all..."
...
Fifteen minutes later, the luxurious carriage quietly left the camp again.
Charles de La Rochefoucauld watched the receding golden imperial eagle emblem, his expression changing repeatedly.
After a long while, he returned to his tent; soon after, he came out again and summoned his most trusted junior.
Charles de La Rochefoucauld handed a note to the other:
"Deliver it to the address written on it immediately, set off now!"
(End of Chapter)