Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

May 22, 1893 Ronff tossed and turned sleeplessly. Every evening for the past fifteen years his activities have been exactly the same, eating his supper, smoking a cigar, reading the day's Times, and finally spending an hour studying before going to bed.For thirteen of these fifteen years, the mistress who lived in London visited twice a week, seeing her when he put down Plato's Feast or Aeschylus' Myrmidons.In his first year back in Devon, he had tried unsuccessfully to find a regular local female companion.For the past year or so.He has been living a life of abstinence. He has never supported abstinence, and it hasn't changed now. Perhaps he has really become a countryman, so he is too lazy to go to the human flesh market in London.It may also be due to living alone for a long time and burying his head in research, his sexual desire was extinguished early, and the ancient physical exercise was no longer needed.He didn't care much about it at first, but tonight was different.He would be delighted if a woman arrived at Thonnes by train at twenty-three past nine, and took a carriage to drive the six kilometers southeast to Neutroil.

The silent study made him feel boring and drowsy.His nightly activities were pretty much the same, except that his cigars were sometimes swapped for punch, and he occasionally read a novel, basically as dull as the capon that was fixed on the table every Thursday.He went out of his way to have dessert first tonight, but it didn't help the annoying monotony, it just made him feel ridiculous. Although he sometimes loses interest and energy, the current problem is just the opposite. He is bored because of excess energy.He paced back and forth like a wind-up Christmas toy soldier, marching at the command of a three-year-old.

There was a knock on the door, and Reeves, the supervisor, sent East Lingwan's mail.Ronff flipped through three envelopes, two of which were communications from fellow scholars who lived in Germany and Greece respectively.The last one was from his cousin Caroline, Mrs. Anfery, who loves to inquire about the sins of others, as obsessively as her religious beliefs, and she knows every storm in the small teapot of social circles You know it well, and give full play to your benevolent nature, and don't hesitate to share it with everyone. After dismissing the steward, he opened Caroline's letter. Although the content was absurd, it was just a distraction.Caroline's sister is Grace, Mrs. Sunshby, and the two of them used to come to his house early every morning just to ask the servants which lady's house he visited the night before and whether he brought a slut or a child Go home, if yes, please answer the number.One morning, while they were standing in front of his house ringing the bell, he himself oversaw the servants accidentally pouring buckets of cold water down.However, their sense of mission was so strong that they came back the next day, just holding umbrellas.

In the past, the many romantic scandals he provided had made them the queen of gossip. Perhaps in return, Caroline would write to him every month to report the latest gossip.When he first started living in seclusion, every time he received a letter, he would burn it directly, and he didn't even bother to tear it apart.But year after year, she still wrote letters regularly, as accurate as clockwork, and that insistence finally made him give in.Ashamed to admit it, he was already addicted, looking forward to the cheating, vanity, madness she reported every month. The big news this month is that Mrs. Southaway gave birth again, but the child is not at all like Lord Southaway, but looks exactly like Mr. Renford; Rollon.Sir George hides a double beauty in a house. It is said that Wenny.Lord Wyle was having sex with his brother's fiancée in a closet and was caught.

Caroline saved the most exciting news for the last, a wonderful divorce. The woman is the richest daughter in the country, and the man is the heir to the duke. It is said that he is also rich.Caroline eloquently described the Marchioness's desire to marry the young lover, but the Marquis's intentions were ambiguous, and all London was speculating about the outcome.They act respectful to each other in front of everyone, but God knows what it will be like behind closed doors?Did they secretly poison each other's coffee?Are they spreading false rumors to each other?Or maybe they will love each other and laugh at Frederick.Lord Stewart?This last item is unlikely, but not impossible.

In the letter, Caroline called the Marquis of Tremais the daughter of the railway.She once came close to marrying a duke, then managed to marry her late fiancé's cousin in an ridiculously short interval, but never got the chance to wear the strawberry leaf tiara. He frowned, and suddenly remembered where he had seen Mrs. Roland before.Right here, on the same country road, in front of the same farmhouse. That was at least thirty years ago.He was at Eton, and when he came home from the holidays, he was madly bored and wanted to do something wild and stupid, but he didn't want the news to get to his parents.

His father had been ill for many years and died a few weeks later.But Ronff didn't know that his father's time was running out.Ronff was bored by his father's endless illnesses, which felt meaningless, and it seemed that Neutroy was always shrouded in the shadow of death.At school, Ronff could still entertain himself with low-level jokes. His favorite subject was the filth of a disabled father; the round-faced middle-aged nurse who was in charge of taking care of his father was still cheerful in the face of the stench, which made him even more disgusted.When he got home, he couldn't do that, so he ran as far as he could.

He spent much of the day out, and on one of his walks he saw her coming out of the farmhouse to get into the carriage which was parked by the side of the road.She is a stunning beauty.He had tasted the forbidden fruit a few months ago and thought he was mature and sophisticated, but he was still dumbfounded.She not only has a beautiful face, but also has a goddess-like figure, elegant demeanor like a water spring fairy, and dexterity like a sea goddess. An older man got into the carriage behind her. He thought it was her father, but then another gray-haired old man walked towards the carriage.She leaned out of the car and kissed him on the cheek.Goodbye, father.

He thought about it day and night for the next few days.He found out that her husband was twice her age.Started by manufacturing railroad tracks and industrial machinery.He felt very sorry, but never thought about it.He had no intention of marrying her at all, but he really wanted to seduce her. Then his father died, and he was consumed by guilt.She gradually faded from memory.He lived a dissolute life, and returned to Devon at last.How long has she been back?They lived next to each other, but never had a word of conversation. until now.Until she carried an avalanche-like momentum and broke into his walking path.He has always wondered why he was easily drawn into the trap she set up, with almost no resistance.Perhaps a part of him had recognized her, though his mind hadn't.Perhaps Fate has played an old favorite trick.Or maybe it's just because he hasn't been in contact with women for too long, and she is still the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

Victoria accidentally heard about Duke Perrin's past, and knew a lot of things she didn't want to know. She had dinner with Condon at the restaurant below, which was harmonious but frustrating.That kid is as slippery as an eel, and his answers are always elegant and gentle, but when you think about it carefully, it's like saying nothing. After Condon left, she went on her own to the theatre, where she met Mrs. Anfery and Mrs. Thornsby, the sisters whom she had known by chance, and who greeted her very warmly.Of course, they wanted to inquire about Jiaqi's news. Victoria was very cooperative and told them Jiaqi was reconsidering.After seeing Lord Cui Xiaosi, this is a matter of course.Mrs. Anfery and Mrs. Thornsby agreed, who waved her handkerchief vigorously.Lord Tremais is too good to say anything, really nothing to say.She also told the two that Kang Deng was secretly trying to get Jiaqi back. Although he didn't say so himself, they had dinner together in Lingwan. He was really a filial and good son-in-law, and he didn't look like he was in a hurry to get a divorce.In fact, the couple will visit her farm hand in hand in the near future.

Ha, there's no rule about telling them the truth, right? The two ladies were very satisfied with the information she provided, and they kindly invited her to sit in the box.Victoria was still angry with Jiaqi, so she readily agreed. In the middle of the second act of the Fool, Mrs. Sangsby said with great regret that it was rare to see you in London. Probably because Devon is so much more beautiful than here. Our cousin lives in Devon too!Mrs. Anfery shouted. Yes, Mrs Thornsby agreed.Where does he live from. Between Tones and a small village called Storgal, said Madam Anfry.Mrs. Roland, you should have heard of him. Our cousin is Duke Perrin. For once, Victoria didn't know what to say.Ah, yes, I seem to have heard of it. How could it not?Mrs. Thornsby chuckled a few times.God, I miss that kid so much.He kept us busy when he was at his wildest, right? Do you remember?He won £10,000 one night, lost £12,000 the next day, and won £9,000 the next day. Oh yes, he made seven thousand pounds in the end.So he bought two identical bay horses and hired all the girls in Madame Minon's shop for a week. And that time when an American woman got into a fight with Mrs. Bradley over him, and they slapped each other like shrews, only to find out that he was having an affair with Mrs. Fancourt, too. These Victorias stuttered.These rumors must have been exaggerated. Mrs. Thornsby and Mrs. Anfery exchanged glances, as if Victoria were saying that the Crown Prince was a pure little virgin."My dear Mrs. Rowland," said Mrs. Thornsby, with emphasis on every word.These are by no means rumors, but events that really happened, which are as true and unquestionable as the Bible.The so-called false biography should be the part between him and Mrs. Fangcourt. Mrs. Anfery nodded her head.Ropes, whips, chains, and things we can't describe, can only be said to be foreign, and very evil. Victoria felt slightly queasy.Although Jiaqi is definitely not a weak woman, but ropes, whips, chains, and other things! She thought with horror of the bet she had made with Duke Perrin, and the two of them would be alone all night, separated only by a card table.Had he no intention of anything other than the depraved pleasure of gambling?Is he planning to tie her up with curtain rope and then? She exclaimed in a low voice. Yes, Mrs. Anfery was clearly very pleased.Not to mention Mrs. Wen Pei's time, even the bed was on fire.