Just as his brother was busy, Miss Frande Treville rode her own carriage as usual and came to the studio of the well-known and well-known painter Carl Durham, and began today's painting study.

As you can see from the name, the painter was a German.

If the Germans of this era came to Paris, the most common professions they were musicians and painters. Compared with the murderers and robbers who went back and forth in military uniforms decades later, it was of course better than the better.

Among these German painters in Paris, Mr. Durham is the most outstanding one. After years of struggle, he has become famous in the Paris art world and is highly respected by people for his upright character. Over time, his studio has become the best place for the ladies in the upper class to learn painting.

The standard for recruiting students is also very strict. If you are just rich, you will not be able to become his disciple no matter what.

Any lady who has learned painting from her husband is unanimously recognized as a woman who can review the museum's collection of paintings and can draw excellent portraits - in a nutshell, she is the kind of woman who truly has appreciation and can add value.

For girls who just want to become artists or become famous, without talent or receiving the most basic technical training, society is not tolerant of providing talent shows to satisfy their wishes.

There are large glass windows on the side of the studio to facilitate lighting, but at this time, most of them are blocked by dark velvet curtains because the summer sun is too strong. On the side of the wall, there are frames without canvas or canvases that are not installed in the frame, and the walls and floors are dyed with various pigments; plaster statues, various instruments, and even armor are everywhere, making it look like an atmosphere in the backstage of the opera house.

Now that the teacher has not arrived yet, the female students are doing their own painting exercises as usual. The girls have their own beauty and demeanor, and their clothes are also different. The sunlight shines into the studio through the velvet cloth, forming various contrasts and strong light and dark effects.

For any first time visitor entering the studio, the scene itself is worth drawing a picture.

However, if visitors have the opportunity to stay here for a long time and can deeply experience the fierce undercurrents hidden in the seemingly gorgeous and gorgeous studio, they may be shocked.

Yes, there is no essential difference between the studios in the 19th century and the classrooms in the 21st century, and there is no essential difference between the girls of wealthy families and ordinary girls. The female students find their own circles and partners according to the rules in their hearts, and at the same time define their opponents and enemies. Until the end, these small circles confront each other and exclude each other - this is both an instinct and a way to find fun for girls.

In the studio, the status and wealth of fathers and grandparents should be forgotten the most. However, here, the status and wealth of fathers and grandparents became the ultimate basis for girls to define their camps and circles.

The girls were divided into two distinct groups, divided into two sides, separated from each other by a distance that seemed short but seemed insurmountable for life.

On one side are the daughters of Bourgeois, such as bankers, notaries or businessmen. They are all rich. They are talking happily, with their faces very active.

On one side are ladies from old aristocratic families. Their expressions are more serious and their conversations are simpler, and there is no excessive expression. From time to time, they give various sharp and hidden looks to the other group (but they can be felt by the other party!).

The current situation and future of the two ruling classes in France can be reflected so vividly in one studio.

These ladies are all elegant in their behavior, charming in their movements, but lack straightforwardness in their eyes. Strict education has long turned politeness into an instinct, but their childishness is gradually being wiped out - the innocence of children has become farther and farther away from them.

Of course, due to age, society has not completely assimilated them, so they can occasionally show a truly holy smile and the true nature of their children - as for how long this quality can last, only God knows.

Fran did not participate in the battle between the nobles and the banking party. As usual, she chose to run to her corner and quietly continue painting the painting that she had not completed yesterday - a warship in a storm. The captain stood at the bow, commanding the crew to fight the wind and waves, while using a telescope to observe the scene in the distance.

She forgot the whispers beside her and was immersed in the passion of creation. When she drew her last stroke and outlined the dark clouds during the storm, she breathed a long sigh like those dedicated artists.

"It looks so good, isn't it?" A low voice of praise rang in her ears.

"Huh?" She turned her head quickly, and her long blonde hair shook.

Matilda de Dilièon, looking at herself, was wearing a long dress embroidered with lace, and holding her long gold handle glasses in her left hand.

She was one of the leaders of the noble party in the studio, because her grandfather, Earl Dilièon, is now the minister of the seal of His Majesty the King.

Her eyes were black and moist, her hair was light brown, her eyes were slender, her face looked very serious, and she didn't talk much. She was two years older than Fran and was seventeen years old this year.

[The French minister in charge of seals was initially the minister responsible for keeping the seal for the king, and later it evolved into an important official position. Those who hold this position were usually the king's close attendants and staff officers.]

She leaned over and looked at Fran’s paintings just finished. “The composition is very good, the color is very well used. It is a rare and good work—Miss Treville, you just completed a masterpiece. You are indeed worthy of being the student that Teacher Durham admires the most…”

"Thank you, you've been too rewarded." Fran's face turned a little red.

"No need to be modest, I sincerely praise you." Although it was a compliment, Matilda's face was still very serious. "I will not come to please you intently."

Fran lowered his head, but was wondering why the other party came to him.

"I guess you are wondering why I came to you suddenly." A faint smile appeared on Matilda's lips.

"Yes." Fran whispered, "There are not many people who come to me to talk to you."

"You are the most beautiful among us, and this is enough for some people to hate them for fifty years." Matilda still had that kind of smile that was indifferent, "not to mention your grandpa..."

"Then why are you coming to me today? Are you not worried about being vented by some people?" Hearing the other party say his grandfather, Fran interrupted her directly, almost forgot to suppress her voice.

After a moment, she regretted her loss of composure.

How would she treat me? Will she continue to mock her, or will she ask her friends to come and bully her? What should I do?

The first and most important lesson a girl wants to learn when entering the upper class is to hide her hatred. Fran remembered what her brother once said.

My brother's words always make sense.

However, Matilda's reaction was far beyond Fran's expectations. She just curled her lips slightly, showed a helpless smile, and shook her head gently. "Okay, I'm not here to talk about my position today. This is just an after-event of our fathers and ancestors - we have ours."

Fran looked at the other person in confusion.

"You miss Mary very much, right?" Matilda looked at Fran, "Don't rush to deny it, my dear lady, I can see that you treat her as a good friend, and you miss her very much during this period."

Fran lowered her head slightly. "Yes, I miss her very much."

"Very good, we finally got the same thing." Matilda nodded, "She is probably the best among us. She is so respectful and kind to everyone. I like her very much. But fate has caused her to suffer such a disaster..."

Fran still lowered his head.

"Of course, sighing that it cannot save anyone, action talent." Matilda continued with an amazing calm, "I decided to bring her back, and I believe you would also want to do this."

Fran looked up at Matilda in surprise.

Matilda gently lifted the long-handled glasses with her left hand in an elegant movement, blocked the glasses horizontally in front of her eyes, and then stared at Fran through the frame.

"I'm surprised, I'm not as unkind as I seem." She paused for a moment, and then continued, "A century ago, our ancestors had no other choice but to obey orders and walk into the monastery for a lifetime. However, a century later, we will always be much better than our ancestors-at least the education of the new era has left our minds besides God..."

"I want to thank you for Mary!" Fran was a little excited when he discovered an alliance.

Then Fran told Matilda about his request for his brother.

"I did not read you wrong." Matilda showed a gratified smile - that true smile. "However, relying on your brother alone may not be able to impress the Marquis of Leoran, and make this happen..."

"He can definitely do it." Fran interrupted the other party again.

"Okay, I hope so." Matilda nodded. Obviously, Fran's determination comforted her heart a lot. "I believe that a person with a surname like De Treville knows what he should and can do. However, if there is something I need to help in this matter, please tell me directly and I will do it."

Fran nodded as well.

Seeing that her plan was so smooth, even a girl like Matilda, who had always been happy and unrestrained, could not help but feel happy. In order to dispel these unnecessary excitement, she continued to hold her long-handled glasses and carefully examined Fran’s paintings just completed.

"What a masterpiece!" she sighed again, then turned to look at Fran, "Forgive me, is the captain in this painting a famous figure in history? Or is it the image made in your mind?"

Fran's answer this time is extremely simple.
Chapter completed!