Soon, late at night, the guests have thanked Ms. Benti for this charming party and have left.
Oles is a simple man, he has the simplicity of a peasant and the warmth of a nobleman, but living in the countryside often makes him awkward and awkward, he is not good at dealing with the scene when leaving, so he swung out slowly by himself.
As he walked, Oles pondered, "They are afraid of me. They are afraid of me, they are afraid that this giant sits on most of old Militant's property, they are afraid that a farmer's grandson relies on a night of sex to squeeze into their ranks. But are they really noble?" Ols muttered thus, "Are they really noble?"
In his opinion, the nobles hate themselves not because of their own sophistry, on the contrary, because their own origin is really not noble! He looked around at the bustling street, where the noblemen's carriages were parked one after another in front of Benti Demme's house, and the nobles were slowly entering the hall with their skirts and huge heads on their shoulders, and the bustling crowd looked out of place with him. They came to see the joke on themselves? Why, Ols thought to himself, do these nobles place such a high value on birth? Is it possible that a poor man, a farmer's family, a peasant who works under the hot sun to feed his family, is not worthy to be in this "grand hall"? Oles continued to walk forward, thinking, his sullen expression and overly tall body in the dim street light seems more out of place and offensive.
Bobsinzini entered the antechamber and put on his coat, surrounded by a retinue. Not far away, Miss Ticoule was affectionately grasping the hand of Benti Demme and complaining to her: "You must tell my father when you see him how comfortable I am here with my aunt, why should I go back to the country (as she often called her family territory)? It's so interesting here, you must tell him." Bentey said, "Take care of yourself, Miss, my father is also doing you a favor. Remember to write to me more often, your aunt will intercede for you. Goodbye." She said and walked out of the front room.
"Take care of yourself, too, sir." Lady Benti shook hands with pleasure to Bobsini, a beautiful man whom she always liked, "I hear you are going to the front with your troops, are you?" Bobsini nodded, "Yes, I will be leading an army to run near White Crane Ridge to serve my country." Benthi said with slight regret, "That's terrible. You will only be here for a few days. You haven't visited your father yet, have you? That old man has always been stubborn, not wanting to attend my dinner parties, and not accepting any of the letters I send, so I really don't understand him." Bobsini kissed Ms. Benti with a slight apology, "I'm sorry, my father is a bit eccentric, I hope you understand, your dinner party was wonderful, I look forward to coming back." Benty covered her lips, quite pleased with the compliment, and waved her handkerchief proudly, "Of course, I hope you can persuade your father to come up to town and see us old friends, instead of staying in the 'summer residence'."
Bobsini's father, the current twelfth foreign marquis, the leader of the Durgenchersti clan, the former Field Marshal Dirini, nicknamed "Old King", had been living in seclusion for decades since he was relegated to the countryside in the middle of the reign of Stosun the Great, and his residence was located in the summer hills northwest of the capital city, where he had built a manor house called the "Summer Residence". He built a manor house in the northwest of the capital city, called "Summer Residence", which was named after the summer mountain. Although the old gentleman was allowed to return to the capital after the accession of Rui'an VI to the throne, he himself gave up the opportunity to enter the capital on the grounds that he had "lived in seclusion for many years and did not know people". He himself once said that if anyone needed him, they could come to him by boat from the capital, and he would never move. He often thought that the most praiseworthy virtues in society were trustworthiness and hard work, while the most despicable vices were lies and laziness. Even though he was half a century old, he still did not let himself be idle, writing his memoirs, working in the garden, and supervising the work of the estate workers. He ate on time, washed on time, and went to bed on time, every day, without missing a minute, while for his subordinates, he was always both harsh and harsh, and although he was not cruel, everyone remained in awe when talking about him.
Thanks to his grand reputation when he was in the court, despite his retirement and little decent power in the government offices, Xia Shan and the officials around the capital city, the old friends of the court tended to pay him a visit once he was in office and were filled with awe and serious emotions like those around him, every time they met was in the parlor on the first floor of the old gentleman's castle, and whenever the tall door of the parlor was opened, the creaking made The officials were respectful and fearful, the short old man scanned the surrounding crowd with a serious face, his eyes sharp as a hawk that is hunting for food.
The Dugan Chesty clan has a habit of going to the capital once every six months to bring the family's revenue from all over the world to the "summer residence". The "summer residence" of the old Mr. Dilini to go through.
Bobsini arrived at Summerhill at 6:00 a.m. the next morning, when Mr. Dilini had already had his morning meal and was leading the children of the estate to read aloud from their textbooks, he was an old man who was keen to teach. And in the midst of the morning mist, a car and a caravan arrived at the gate through the fog, Bobsini and his personal entourage stepped out of the car, the old butler, wearing a freshly groomed wig, gently opened the courtyard gate and informed the servants that the young foreign husband and his party had arrived, but the old gentleman turned a deaf ear and continued to read like a bell, the old butler knew that even if it was a big deal, it should not disrupt the old man's life. The old butler knew that even if it was a big deal, it should not disrupt the old man's order of life. The old butler knew that even if it was a big deal, he should not disrupt the old man's life. This was also known to Bobsini, and after taking off his coat, he sat at a short distance and waited for the old man to finish his morning reading with the students.
About half an hour later, with a high-pitched shout from the old man, the morning reading class was over. The old man squinted at his son and gestured as he walked away. "Look, soldier, are you trying to conquer anyone?" His cane hit the floor with a loud and forceful sound that shook the floor with a solid thud, "In my opinion you need to teach those wolf pups a hard lesson! Or they will cross the border province and force us to be their obedient people!" It could be seen that his son's return had made his excitement high.
"Yes father, I intend to officially start the allocation in October and run to the front at the end of November to arrive at the emperor's side." Bobsini nodded and said. "So did you learn anything from the banquet? Was it the champagne that thrashed the enemy? Or the smell of perfume that makes the enemy dizzy?" The old man grunted coldly, he had little affection for his old friends in the capital, in his opinion, those were people who had turned their backs on the old generation of imperial nobility, who no longer had the pride and moderation that was expected of imperial soldiers, and whose single-minded profligacy and dissipation had long since ruined them. However, this kind of complaint stops at the point, he sat down again in a peaceful manner and continued, "Tell me, how does His Majesty intend to attack the enemy? Which army will be mobilized? Midwich's army I know, Aiden's army I also know ...... advance together? What about the army of the Western Kingdom? Oh ...... intend to throw themselves into the battle line together?" The old man held his eyes, stood up, paced again, and added, "And what about the Papacy? Are they also joining the army?" After receiving an affirmative answer, he stood still again.
Bobsini stared into his father's eyes and told him the results of the imperial military conference not long ago, stammering a little at first, but then getting more and more energetic, and using the imperial military language skillfully. He said, in this military meeting, the three kingdoms in the east, west and north have reached a unified agreement, the second foreign line of Hou Petain Weisz family Midwich, the third foreign line of Hou Orgonpre family Aydin, the fifth foreign line of Hou Pelisa family Sneege, the seventh foreign line of Hou Greimu family Kripti, the fifteenth foreign line of Hou Quienze family McHethier, the sixteenth foreign line of Hou Thorne family Ahed Niko, the twentieth foreign line marquis of the House of Fantinopoulan, and himself will all lead their armies to the White Crane Ridge area. These eight foreign line marquis will be the main force against the enemy and the legion that will put pressure on the enemy, and they will encircle the enemy in three ways, one way to move east along the Pine River to control the enemy's supply route, one way to set up a formation at the White Crane Ridge to stop the enemy's advance, and the last way to cooperate with the mobilization of the western kingdom armies over the mountains to encircle the enemy from the rear.
Just as Bobsini was telling the whole military plan, the old man was continuing to pace with an impatient face, and when his son finished, he complained in a loud voice, "What kind of plan is this? What kind of plan is this? I tell you, there is still a fight to be made about this, and you must be prepared for it." Bobsini smiled faintly and said, "That I know, and I am only telling you that there is such a thing. His Majesty has not yet thoroughly illuminated his military planning." The old man waved his hand, "God knows when the fight will be over, let's go to the library first."
The library of old Mr. Dilini was as disciplined as he was as a person, he did not like to make all kinds of lace in the library, the beams, the eaves and even the various collection cabinets were all straight with a few vertical bars on the sides, opposite the door of the library was a picture of the Great Victory, a painting of the old man as a young man leading his army to put down the rebellion, and the old man's favorite battle, which he would talk about every time we met.
As the conversation continued, the old gentleman seemed to believe that today's officials are all brats who know nothing about military and politics, and that the powerful invading army they talk about is just a confused account to fool the court, and that the enemy is winning because they haven't met him, Stosun the Great, Grichauer the Great, Panto Eagle XVII, Saint Grew the Great, and so on. The old gentleman even thought that everyone was pretending to be in a play that was already scripted. For the old man's words, Bobsini only found it amusing, he joked: "Look at what you say, has Stosun the Great not been captured by the enemy? Has he not fallen into the traps of the barbarians?"
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The old gentleman knocked impatiently on the armrest, his eyebrows instantly stood up, and his eyes spewed fire like a poisonous dragon: "Who told you this? Who said this to you? The great emperor! The great emperor!" He shouted anxiously, "The great emperor! You can think of something, Don Bobsini! In my eyes, only Stosun the Great and Grichaur the Great are worthy of the name! The rest of them? What are they? Old Flucon is no match for them both! If they were in command, I'll tell you this! The enemy can't even take a chicken feather! What a strange thing! What a strange thing! The emperor has been dead for only 20 years! And now we're losing ground one after another! If you're not crazy, I'm old and blind!" He eagerly drew up a religious ritual, and then cried out forcefully, "May God bless you! My son! There is a great battle waiting for you!"
The old man's neck was strained like a cock in battle, his eyes were wide and his face was red, he was staring at Bobsini with those eyes as if he was watching a gladiator, the fire from his eyes almost dried up the moisture in Bobsini's body, and he shouted in a thick voice: "You think I don't care about politics? Don't care about the military? Huh? I am very concerned about it! I receive a lot of war reports from the front every day, and I have to analyze every one of them, who can be as attentive as I am?" The old man shouted until he was breathing heavily, then he waved his hand impatiently, indicating that he had work to do in the morning, and then let Bobsini go.
While the old man was doing his work, Pobcini was accompanied by the housekeeper, strolling around the manor, at the moment of going away, any person who is confused about the future will be full of love for his homeland. In such moments, people are always accustomed to remember the past, looking forward to a distant future, that future may have been their own family, perhaps already full of children and grandchildren. Bobsini, with his hands behind his back, paced slowly around the estate, walking from one end to the other, his eyes seemingly purposeful but aimlessly scanning the surroundings, wondering if it was timidity about the war, or a lingering love for his family? Or maybe both? But he obviously did not want others to see this flow of emotion.
A six-driver carriage was parked at the gate, and several servants were busy on the steps with cleaning tools. The huge mansion was inundated with servants, led by the butler, and the party was all waiting for Bobsini to move as soon as his report to the old man was completed.
"...... above are the harvests of the estates around the world since half a year and the total profit." Pobsini respectfully handed the roster to the old man, while old Mr. Dilini, wearing a pair of old-fashioned glasses and an old-fashioned nobleman's dress, sat at the writing table to write. After indicating to Bobsini to put the roster aside, he continued to bury his head in writing, while saying, "You are leaving?" Bobsini nodded: "Yes, to say goodbye to you." Diligny jerked his head up and gave Bobsini a few forceful scrawls of the church salute: "Thank you!" "What do you thank me for?" The old gentleman continued, "For not delaying, sir, not delaying for the sake of your children when the Empire needed you, official duties first, sir, thank you." He continued to write with his head down, ink splattering across the paper, "Say what you have to say, I'm listening, I can listen while I write." Bobsini rubbed his hands together and said to the old man in a pleading tone, "Please take care of my horse farm, and my estate." The old man gave a "hmmm" and then swept him a look, his sharp eyes looking straight at the man, "A horse lover, eh, good boy, my boy indeed. Yes, a qualified nobleman should leave his children's love behind and properly beg someone to take care of his horse and estate before he leaves."
He folded the letter in his hand sharply and sealed it, and took up the fire paint, the seal and paper and another letter, and handed them to Bobsini solemnly, "Now listen to me son, here are two letters, one to his Majesty, in which I have rambled a lot and talked a lot of nonsense, I ask his forgiveness, but I hope he will read them all properly, there are my views on this war and advice, and I hope he will read it all. The other letter is for Aidan, whose grandfather was my superior, whose father and I were in the same army, in the same bunk, drank together, and killed together, and ask him to give you an adjutant's post for the sake of this old friendship, and if he treats you well, then you will do it, and if not, then you will beg His Majesty to give you a different post. Never look at other people's eyes!"
He gestured again for Bobsini to follow him, and they both went over to the writing desk, which contained a large bag of papers and manuscripts. "I take death very lightly, I am not afraid of it, Bobsini, but I have to instruct you, this is the securities of all my possessions in recent decades, including the deeds of estates, noble titles and all kinds of connections. This is a large sum of money, which you will use as a bonus, and will be given to anyone who can write a book on the history of the Empire. Also, this is my memoirs, you can read more in the future, it is good for you!"
"Everything will be done as you say, father." Bobsini took it. "Well, then, son, off you go!" Dilini embraced Bobsini warmly, "Remember, I will be sad if you die in battle, but if you surrender, if you betray, if you give up-" the old man gasped, "I'm going to find out what you have sorry for the damned deeds of the Durgenchersti clan! I will only be ashamed!" "Yes, Father, I will not do that." Bobsini nodded solemnly. "The farewell is over! You go! Go away!" The old man banged his desk angrily and told his family to send Bobsini away. He yelled so loudly that he could be heard even at the end of the manor.
As soon as Bobsini left, the old man opened the door to his room and yelled from the butler, "Is he gone? Is he gone? Gone? Yes! Yes! Yes!" A loud bang followed, and the sound of the old man pursing his nose repeatedly came from the room, as if shooting. Outside the house, the servants were quietly doing their work, none dared to make a loud noise, all were silent and praying secretly for the young master and the old man.
以下是中文版：
很快，夜深了，客人们纷纷谢过了本提女士的这迷人的晚会，纷纷离去。
欧尔斯是个憨厚的人，他身上有农民的朴素和贵族的热情，不过常居乡下让他笨嘴拙舌的厉害，他不擅长应付离开时的场面话，因此自己一个人慢悠悠的荡了出去。
一边走，欧尔斯一边思考道：“他们是害怕我的。他们是害怕我的，他们害怕这个巨人坐拥了老米利特大半的财产，他们害怕一个农场主的外孙依靠着一夜春宵挤进了他们的队伍之中。可他们真的高贵吗？”欧尔斯这样嘀咕道：“他们真的高贵吗？”
在他看来，贵族们之所以讨厌自己全然不是因为自己的歪理邪说，相反，是因为自己的出身确实不高贵！他环顾着热闹喧嚣的街道，贵族的马车一辆接一辆地停在本提·戴梅宅前，贵族们提着裙裾，仰着硕大的头颅缓缓地走进殿堂，熙熙攘攘的人群与他显得格格不入，有认识的贵族略带惊讶与讥诮地看着他，仿佛是嘲笑本提·戴梅怎么瞎了眼，让这样一个道德败坏的人踏入门槛，可他们不正是为看自己的笑话而来的吗？欧尔斯自忖，为什么这些贵族要对出身如此看重？难道一个穷苦人家的人，难道一个农场主家庭，难道一个头顶炎炎烈日，为一家人糊口而劳作的农民就不配登上这“大雅之堂”吗？欧尔斯继续往前走着，思考着，他那愁闷的表情与过分高大的身躯在暗淡的路灯下显得更不合群与让人反感。
波布西则尼走进了前厅，在一干随从的簇拥下穿好了外套。在不远处，提库勒小姐正亲切地抓着本提·戴梅的手，向她抱怨着：“您见到我爸爸时一定要说说，我在姑姑这里待着多自在，干嘛要回乡下（她经常称呼自己家族领地是乡下）去？这里多有趣，您一定要说说他。”本提一边应付着一边招呼左右随从为这位小姐穿外套，“多多保重啊小姐，家父也是为了您好。您要多多记得写信给我，您姑姑会为您求情的。再见。”她说着走出了前厅。
“先生你也要保重啊。”本提女士快活地向波布西尼握了握手，对这位美男子，她一向很喜欢，“听说您要带兵前往前线了是吗？”波布西尼点了点头：“是的，我将会带领一支军队奔赴白鹤岭附近，为国效力。”本提略显遗憾道：“那可真是糟糕。您才会来几天啊。您父亲您还没去看过吧？那位老人家向来是倔强的，不愿意参加我的晚宴，我送的书信也一概不收，实在搞不懂他。”波布西尼略带抱歉地吻了吻本提女士，“抱歉，我父亲是有些怪癖的，还望尊驾谅解，您的晚宴实在让人觉得美妙非常，期待下次再来。”本提掩了掩唇，对这种恭维颇为满意，得意的挥了挥手帕，“那是当然，希望您能说动您父亲，上城里来看看我们这些老朋友，不要老是窝在‘夏居’里。”
波布西尼的父亲，也就是现任第一十二席外系侯，杜根彻斯蒂一族的领袖，人送外号“老王”的前陆军元帅迪里尼老先生，自斯托颂大帝统治中期被贬乡下后，已隐居了数十年，他的住所位于国都城西北夏山之中，他在此地修建了一座庄园，名为“夏居”，取得是夏山之名。同自己的老管家与一干随从生活在一起，尽管在瑞安六世登基后，这位老先生已经允许回京，但是他本人以“隐居多年，不通人情”为由，放弃了进京的机会。他自己曾放言，如果谁需要他，可以从京城坐船过来找他，而他是绝不挪窝的。他常以为社会上最值得称赞的美德是守信与勤劳，而最应该鄙夷的恶行是谎言与懒惰。即使年过半百，他依旧不让自己闲着，一会写回忆录，一会在花园劳动，一会又监督庄园的工人做工。他每天都准时吃饭，准时洗漱，准时睡觉，一分钟都不差，而对于属下，他总是既严厉又苛刻，尽管他不残酷，但说起他时，大家都保持敬畏的心态。
得益于他在朝时隆重的声望，尽管退休，在衙门里也没什么像样的权力，夏山以及国都城周边的官员，朝里的故旧一旦上任往往都会拜见他，并且像他周围的人那样，对其充满了敬畏和严肃的情感，他们每次会面都是在老先生的城堡一楼会客室里，每当会客室那高大的门打开时，发出的吱呀让官员们又敬又怕，矮小的老人一脸严肃地扫视着周边的人群，眼神尖锐的如同正捕食的鹰。
波布西尼本次奔赴国都城，一方面是为了打通关系，前往前线，另一方面，就是为了和迪里尼老先生见面，回报家族在各地的营收情况，这是杜根彻斯蒂一族近几十年的习惯，每隔半年时间便要进京一回，将家族各地营收情况汇聚成表交由身处“夏居”的迪里尼老先生翻阅。
波布西尼抵达夏山已经是第二天清晨6时，此时迪里尼老先生已经用过了晨餐，并领着庄园里属下的孩子们朗声读着课本，他是个热心于教授的老人。而就在晨雾蒙蒙之中，一辆轿车和一辆篷车穿过皑皑的雾气抵达了大门口，波布西尼与自己的几名贴身随从从车上走了下来，老管家戴着修饰一新的假发，轻轻地打开了院落大门，向仆从们通传小外系侯一行已经到了，老先生却充耳不闻，继续声如洪钟地读着书，老管家知道，就算是天大的事，也不应该破坏这位老人的生活秩序。这一点波布西尼也知道，在卸下外套后便规矩地坐在不远处，等待着老人家与学生们的晨读结束。
大约半个小时后，随着老人一声高亢的喊声，这堂晨读课才堪堪结束。老人斜乜了眼儿子，示意边走边说。“看看，军人，你是要征服谁吗？”他的拐杖打在地上，声音又大又有力度，震的地板笃笃响，“依我看你要狠狠地给那些狼崽子上一课！不然他们就要跨过边境省，逼我们做他们的顺民了！”看得出来，儿子回来让他的兴致很高。
“是的父亲，我打算10月正式起拨，在11月底奔赴前线，抵达皇帝的身边。”波布西尼点了点头，说道。“那么有没有从宴会上学到什么？是痛击敌人的香槟？还是让敌人头晕目眩的香水味？”老人冷哼一声，他对京城里的老朋友们没什么好感，在他看来，那些人都是背弃了帝国老一代贵族的人，身上已经没有了帝国军人应有的傲气和节制，一味地挥霍和散漫早就毁了他们。不过这种抱怨点到即止，他又和气的坐了下来，接着说道，“告诉我，陛下打算如何进攻敌人？是动员哪一支部队？米德维奇的军队我是知道的，艾登的军队我也知道……一同前进？那么西部王国的军队呢？哦……打算一起投入到战线上？”老人扶了扶自己的眼睛，站了起来，又踱了踱步，又说道，“那么教廷方面呢？他们是否也参军？”得到肯定的回答后，他又站住了。
波布西尼凝视着父亲的双眼，对不久前帝国的军议结果一一讲了出来，开始还有些吞吞吐吐，但到了后来越说越起劲，而且熟练运用起了帝国军方用语。他说，在本次军议上，东部、西部以及北部三个王国已经达成了统一协议，第二外系侯佩特安魏斯茨家族的米德维奇、第三外系侯俄律刚普雷家族的艾登、第五外系侯珀利萨家族的斯内葛、第七外系侯葛雷穆家族的克里普提、第十五外系侯奎因泽家族的麦合提尔、第十六外系侯索恩家族的阿赫德尼科、第二十外系侯芳汀普兰家族的施达西施因以及自己都将带领军队抵达白鹤岭地区，这八名外系侯将是对抗敌人的主力军，也是向敌人施压的军团，他们将分三路包围敌人，一路沿松河东进，控制住敌人的补给路线，一路在白鹤岭设阵，阻击敌人的前进步伐，最后一路配合西部王国的动员军队翻过山脉，从后方围剿敌人。
就在波布西尼说出整个军事计划的时候，老人正一脸不耐烦地继续踱着步，等到儿子说完了，他高声抱怨道：“这是什么打算？这是什么计划？我告诉你，这事还有得吵，你可得做好准备。”波布西尼微微一笑，说道：“这我知道，我也只是告诉你有这么一回事。陛下还没彻底亮出他的军事策划呢。”老人摆摆手：“天知道啥时候才能打完，先去图书室吧。”
迪里尼老先生的图书室和他这个人一样，规矩得很，他不喜欢在图书室里做各种花边，梁柱、房檐乃至于各种藏品柜都是笔笔直直的几侧竖条，在图书室的大门对面，是一副《大捷图》，画的是老先生年轻时带军平定叛乱的英姿，也是老先生最喜欢的一场仗，每次会面，他逢人必说这事。
谈话继续，老先生似乎相信，当今的官员都是些对军事与政治一窍不通的小子，他们口中强大的入侵军不过是为了哄骗朝廷的迷糊帐子罢了，敌人之所以能取胜，是因为还没遭遇他，斯托颂大帝，格力乔尔大帝，潘托鹰十七世，圣格鲁大君那般的名宿，老先生甚至认为，现在人人都是在假装罢了，都是在演一处早已定好剧本的戏剧罢了。对于老先生这番话，波布西尼只觉得有趣，他打趣道：“瞧您说的，难道斯托颂大帝没曾被敌人俘获？难道他没有掉下过蛮族的陷阱吗？”
老先生不耐烦的敲着扶手，眉毛瞬间立了起来，眼睛如同毒龙般喷吐着火焰：“谁和你说的？这是谁和你说的？大帝！大帝！”他焦躁的大喊着，“大帝！你倒是想得出啊，波布西尼阁下！在我眼里，只有斯托颂大帝和格力乔尔大帝算得上人物！其余人？他们算得了什么？老弗卢孔也比不上他们二位！如果是他们指挥，我这么和你说吧！敌人连一根鸡毛都拿不去！真是咄咄怪事！咄咄怪事！大帝死了才二十来年！如今却连连丢地！如果不是你们发了疯，那就是我老眼昏花了！”他急切地画起了宗教礼，然后铿锵有力地喊着：“但愿上帝保佑着你们吧！孩子！有场大战等着你们呐！”
老人那梗起的脖子如同战斗中的公鸡一般，怒目圆睁，脸上红彤彤的，他正用那双眼睛直勾勾的盯着波布西尼，仿佛在看角斗士一般，眼睛喷出的火几乎烧干了波布西尼身上的水分，他接着粗嗓子喊道：“你以为我不关心政治？不关心军事？嗯？我可是很关心呐！我每天都能从前线收到不少的战报，每一封我都要细细分析，谁能像我这么细心？”直喊到呼呼喘气，老人才不耐烦地挥了挥手，示意自己上午还有活要干，这才放波布西尼离开。
老人家做工的时候，波布西尼则在管家的陪同下，逛着这座庄园，在即将远行的时刻，任何对未来迷惘一片的人都会对自己的故土充满留恋。在这种时刻，人们总是习惯于回忆过去，展望一个遥远的未来，那个未来或许自己已经成家立业，或许已然儿孙满堂。波布西尼露出那种少年的沉思与期待，他背着双手，在庄园里缓缓踱步着，从这头走到那头，眼睛看似有目的实则无目的地扫视着四周，不知道是对战争的胆怯，还是对家人的留恋？或者两者都是？但他显然不愿意让别人看到这种情感的流露。
一辆六驾马车停在了大门口，几个仆人正拿着清洁工具在台阶上忙活着，巨大的宅邸仆人们络绎不绝，由管家带领着，一行人都在等待波布西尼向老先生汇报完成后立刻动身。
“……以上，是半年以来各地庄园的收成情况以及总盈利。”波布西尼恭敬地将名册交给老人，迪里尼老先生则戴着一副老花镜，穿着一身老式的贵族衣裳，端坐在写字台前写字。示意波布西尼将名册放在一旁后，他继续埋头写着，同时说道：“你要走了？”波布西尼点了点头：“是的，来向您辞行。”迪里尼猛地抬起头，有力地对着波布西尼猛划了几个教礼：“谢谢你！”“您谢我什么？”老先生继续说道：“因为你没有耽搁，先生，在帝国需要你时没有因为儿女私情耽搁，公务至上，先生，谢谢。”他继续低头写着，墨水在纸上溅开来，“你要说什么就说吧，我听着呢，我可以一边写一边听。”波布西尼搓了搓手，用一种请求的语气向老人说道：“请您照顾好我的马场，还有我的庄园。”老人“嗯哼”了一声，然后扫了他一眼，一双锐利的双眼直勾勾地瞅着人，“爱马如命是吗，好小子，果然是我的孩子。是的，一位合格的贵族临行前就应该抛下儿女私情，好好地求人关照下自己的马和庄园。”
他将手中的信利落的折好，封好，又拿起了火漆、封印和纸以及另一封信，将它们郑重地交给了波布西尼，“现在听我说儿子，这里有两封信，一份是交给陛下的，我在信中啰嗦了很多，说了很多废话，请他原谅，但希望他能好好读完，那里是我对这次战争的看法和建议，我希望他能读完。另一封是交给艾登的，他的祖父曾是我的上司，他的父亲和我同一支军队，同一个铺，一起喝过酒，一起杀过人，让他看在这旧日的交情给你安排个副官的职务，要是他待你好，那么你就干下去，如果不好，那你就去求陛下，让陛下给你换个差事。绝不能看别人眼色！”
他又示意波布西尼跟着他，他俩走到了写字台前，里面有一个大的文件袋和稿本。“我对死亡看得很开，我不怕它，波布西尼，但我要吩咐你，这是我近几十年所有财产的证券，包括庄园地契，贵族爵位以及各类人脉关系。这是一大笔钱，这些钱你要用当做奖金，谁能写成帝国史书的就发给他。还有，这是我的回忆录，你以后多读读，是有好处的！”
“一切都会按你说的做的，爸爸。”波布西尼接了过来。“那好，儿子，你走吧！”迪里尼热忱地拥抱着波布西尼，“你要记住，你在战场上死去，我会伤心，但如果你投降了，你背叛了，你放弃了——”老人喘了口气，“我要知道了你有什么对不起杜根彻斯蒂一族的鬼勾当！我只会感到羞耻！”“是的，父亲，我不会那么干。”波布西尼郑重的点了点头。“告别完了！你走吧！走吧！”老人家愤怒的敲打着书桌，让家人把波布西尼送走。他大吼大叫的声音，就连庄园尽头都听得见。
波布西尼一走，老人便立刻打开房门，从管家吼道：“他走了吗？他走了吗？走了？好！好！好！”随后一声巨响，老人抿鼻涕的声音一再从房间里传来，如同开枪一样。房屋外，仆人们都静悄悄的干着活，没一个人敢大声喧哗，所有人都在沉默的为少爷和老爷暗自祈祷着。