Margaret's Secret

Chapter 18 From Shanghai to Paris (10)
"No, I want to tell you my new discovery. In the 30s, my grandfather once studied in Paris, France. He may have studied art. I think this may be related to the origin of the parchment. Can you tell me in Paris? Check it out for me?"

This new discovery is indeed useful. I hurriedly and calmly asked: "Lin Hai, what's your grandfather's name? Which school did he study in Paris?"

"My grandfather's name is Lin Danqing, and Danqing is Chinese ink painting. I only know that he studied in Paris, France in the 30s, but I don't know the details, and I don't even know what school he went to."

"Oh my God, what kind of investigation is this?"

Lin Hai's tone was quite helpless: "I don't know, but since you are in Paris, I can only ask you for help."

"Well, your business is my business, and I will do my best."

"Thank you, if I can live until tomorrow morning, goodbye!"

After answering the long-distance call from the motherland, I sat on the subway seat and took a few deep breaths. Only then did I realize that the people around me were staring at me. Maybe it was the ancient Chinese I spoke too loudly that scared them?I can only say a few times in apology: "Sorry!"

At this time the subway has arrived at the station, I rushed out of the car door and ran to the ground quickly.It is now 05:30 in Paris time, and the time difference between China and France is seven hours. So Lin Hai called at 12:30 in the middle of the night. What happened to him? Did he have to call in the middle of the night, or did he take care of him? Time difference on my side?
When I returned to Voltaire University, it was almost dark, but I saw a bald man standing at the gate of the school waving to me from a distance.

It turned out to be Yu Li. The corner of his mouth twitched and he said, "I know you are not used to French food. Come to my house and eat Chinese food."

I finally had a chance to fill my "Chinese stomach", so I eagerly followed him into the Renault.Less than 10 minutes after driving out, the car stopped at a dormitory building. Yu Li said that this was the graduate building of Voltaire University, and he was the only Chinese in the whole building.

Yu Li lives in a spacious room on the third floor, and there are two bedrooms and one living room of [-] to [-] square meters, which is really enviable.There is a big kitchen in the house, which looks very clean, and it is obvious that the oil pan is rarely turned on.There were already washed vegetables on the cooking table, Yu Li asked me to rest beside him, and he turned on the oil pan and started frying.

While frying vegetables, he sighed and sighed. It turned out that what he told us at the beginning was all cowhide. He found a job as soon as he arrived in France. He worked in a trading company with a weekly salary of [-] euros and even had three French girlfriends. , is simply non-existent.Now he finally admits that in his first year in France, he stayed in school during the day and went to Chinese restaurants to cook vegetables at night, and suffered a lot.Later, he took refuge in Professor Orleans' school and was highly valued by the professor. He finally received the research allowance from the school. The professor has funding for research projects every year. Yu Li got a lot of benefits from the professor, and finally bought it in the past two years. used car.

In fact, it is not easy for Yuli. His parents are both engaged in academic research, so it is reasonable to say that they are also from a scholarly family.Yu Li often boasted that he was gifted when he was a child. He could recite 20 Tang poems at the age of eight.In his freshman year, his father went abroad as a visiting scholar for a year. He didn’t know what subject he encountered there, and he devoted himself to the research. As a result, he became obsessed and went crazy after returning home. Soon he had a car accident and Wife died together.

Yu Li's cooking movements were very neat, and he quickly finished four dishes and one soup, which was already very difficult for the two of us.After eating this rare Chinese meal, Yu Li's expression suddenly became serious, and with his shaved bald head, he looked like a gangster.After a long silence, he finally spoke: "I told you in the past that my father once went abroad as a visiting scholar for a year..."

"Could he be a visiting scholar in France?"

"That's right, and it's the University of Voltaire, and the subject he's researching is 'The Mystery of Louis IX'!" Yu Li suddenly became a little excited, straightened up and said quietly, "There are almost no one in China who studies this subject, only My father was very interested in this. He studied at the University of Voltaire in Paris for a year and worked with Professor Orléans. When my father first came to France, he came into contact with many mysterious materials and immediately devoted himself to it. I I don't know why he has such passion, it seems that he has changed suddenly, and I can hardly recognize my voice on the phone."

"You once said that your father went crazy abroad?"

Yu Li said in a daze: "Yes, in the process of researching 'The Mystery of Louis IX', he seemed to be fascinated by something and finally lost his mind—he claimed that he was in the corridor of the History Department of the University of Voltaire, I saw the ghost of Louis IX, and often played chess with the great prophet Nostradamus. Of course, no one believed his words, and everyone thought he was insane, so they sent him back to China for treatment.”

"Many people died mysteriously because of the research on the 'Louis IX mystery'. Could it be that your father is also among them?"

"Yes, my father died in a car accident with my mother less than a month after returning to China. In the past, I couldn't understand it, and I could only blame it on the injustice of fate. But since I came to France, in Professor Orleans studied the 'Mystery of Louis IX' and discovered this terrible secret. I am sure that my father died because of the 'Mystery of Louis IX'!"

I took a deep breath: "Since this is the case, why do you continue? Aren't you afraid of repeating the mistakes of your father?"

"I was also afraid at the beginning, and I hesitated for a long time. But I think this is my father's unfinished will. In the dark, there must be some kind of power manipulating these mysterious events. It is my responsibility to keep these secrets Dig it out and find out what was the force that killed my father!"

"Once something is personal, it becomes very troublesome!"

When I said this sentence, I suddenly thought of Lin Hai and his Margaret.

"No, this is not just a personal emotion. The most important thing is that ever since I studied under Professor Orleans, I have discovered that the 'Louis IX Mystery' may have great value, which is far beyond what we currently have. imagination."

"The big secret?"

"Yes!" Yu Li said in a very affirmative tone, which made me have to believe. He said tremblingly, "I believe my father will never die in vain. His death is of great significance. He is to decipher the most important thing about human beings." I died for a mystery, and I also died for the future survival of mankind. I must inherit my father's behest and complete his unfinished business, which is the best consolation for his spirit in heaven."

I couldn't refute his words, so I could only sit silently for a while, until Yu Li gradually regained his composure, his eyes seemed to be a little teary, he shook his head and said softly: "I'm sorry, maybe I'm too happy tonight. Those things that shouldn’t be said have also been said.”

"Why shouldn't you say it?"

He smiled bitterly: "Don't worry about it, I will tell you the reason, but not now!"

After a short pause, I suddenly remembered the call I received from Lin Hai in the subway today.I immediately asked, "Yu Li, can you check someone for me?"

"Go ahead."

While writing down the name "Lin Danqing" on the paper, I said, "This person studied in Paris in the 30s and studied fine arts."

"are these all?"

"Yes, I don't know much about Lin Danqing, and I don't even know which school he went to."

Yu Li shook his head: "The possibility of finding out is extremely slim. In the 30s and [-]s, thousands of Chinese youths went to France to work and study, and many of them later became the founders of New China. They stayed in France. The only thing I have is the student status file. If you don’t know the name of the school you’re attending, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack if you want to find someone out of so many people.”

"You're right, and I know there's little hope, but this person may be important..."

Now I am very hesitant, should I tell the reason?

Yu Li found something in my embarrassed eyes, and said loudly: "Tell me if you have anything, I will do everything I can to help you, if you still regard me as a good friend."

Hearing this sentence, I was really embarrassed to hide it anymore, so I told everything about Lin Hai, from Lin Hai's first visit to the art museum, to the accidental discovery of the parchment book, to Lin Hai's rescue of Ma in the oil painting. Gretel received death threats from Nostradamus until today's overseas phone call.

When I finished talking about these things, I felt that I was talking about the outline of a thriller and suspense novel, which would probably be good to make into a Hollywood movie.

After hearing this, Yu Li was also taken aback. He stood up and took a few steps, then looked at the dark night in Paris outside the window, and something flashed in his eyes.

He bit his lip and said, "It's really incredible, but I'd rather believe it's true. Tomorrow I'll take you to the university library, and we'll look up the details of Margaret in history."

"Well, these two things must be linked together."

We chatted for a while, until after ten o'clock in the evening, I knew that he might have a night life, so I left early and went back.

Yu Li drove me back to the University of Voltaire, and the car stopped directly under the history department building. I didn't let him see me off, and climbed up to the terrifying top floor alone.

Finally back in my guest room, listening to the footsteps of the ghosts in the nineteenth century, I seem to be able to see the face of Margaret in the distance...

In the night forest full of mist, Lin Hai saw a ghostly shadow, and the dark light fell through the gaps in the leaves, gradually revealing a black cloak.

The howling of wild wolves sounded from time to time in the distance.The fog was getting heavier, filling the forest like a tomb.Wrapped in a black cloak, the figure came to Lin Hai silently, stretched out a dry hand, and lifted off the black cloth covering his head.

Lin Hai saw a pale face with wrinkled lips under a hooked nose, and the pair of gray eyes slowly rolled, staring at him for a moment.

Then, the man slowly spit out a sentence: "Tu va mourir sans doute."

This sentence is in French, and when translated into Chinese, it means—you must die!

"No!"

Lin Hai struggled and jumped up, but found that the black forest no longer existed, only faint light was seen coming in through the tape covered with dormer windows.

It turned out to be another nightmare.

"I'm alive."

Lin Hai spit out these words with relief, he rubbed his eyes, he was still in the small attic, and the time displayed on his phone was six in the morning.

Just when he was still rejoicing that he was alive, he suddenly heard a scream from below——

That was Margaret's voice, what did she see?
Lin Haifei rushed out of the small attic, and almost rolled down the narrow escalator. In the dark bedroom, Margaret was curled up on the bed, staring at a pair of big terrified eyes, and her complexion was extremely pale.

He rushed to the bed, grabbed Margaret's shoulder and asked, "What's wrong?"

Margaret's fingers trembled, and she pointed in the direction of the window, but she couldn't speak in her mouth.

Lin Hai looked up at the window, and saw a few lines of red ink written on the window glass—"Tu va mourir sans doute."

In an instant, the line of words hit his head from the sky like a thunderbolt, almost suffocating him.

It's still the same sentence I heard in my dream—you will definitely die!

The foggy forest seemed to appear in front of him again, the pale face under the black cloak, a pair of gray eyes, Lin Hai knew who he was, and the ghost entered Lin Hai's dream.

Margaret finally spoke: "Nostradamus! This line was written by Nostradamus!"

But Lin Hai let go of her hand, and walked slowly to the window pane. The window had been sealed with tape last night, and it was almost airtight.But in the center of the window pane, the line of blood-red ink was written, which was as eye-catching as a scar.

He subconsciously spread out his left hand, and the "Aider moi" still in his palm had almost the same unique handwriting as the line of text on the window glass.

Does this mean it was written by the same person, or the same ghost?

Lin Hai recalled that night in front of the library again, the man in black who smelled like a corpse, wasn't that the ghost that appeared in the dream just now?

Is he Nostradamus?

But the strange thing is, since Nostradamus left "Aider moi" in Lin Hai's palm, why did he say "You must die" after he actually rescued Margaret?

Could it be that Nostradamus arranged all of this?Lin Hai is just an ignorant little animal, obediently waiting for the hunter to kill him?

He turned his head to look at Margaret, the eyes of the two were equally terrified, and he asked tremblingly, "Did you see him just now?"

"No, I didn't see it. But he must have come in. Only he can write on the window."

Yes, Nostradamus not only entered this room, but also entered Lin Hai's dream.

The old house was still dark in the early morning, Lin Hai immediately rushed to the door, but found that the door was intact, the table was still behind the door, it was impossible for anyone to come in.And all the windows were closed tightly, and the tape was sealed well, without any trace of tearing.He rushed to the small attic again, and found that the dormer window was intact, and the whole room was still a secret room, with no sign of anyone entering.

Unless it's a ghost.

If Nostradamus really came in, it would be easy for him to kill Lin Hai. This is also a "secret room murder case" that only exists in mystery novels.

But why didn't he kill Lin Hai?

Lin Hai touched his beating heart, feeling lucky that he was still alive.But then he felt terrified again, because Nostradamus could take his life at any time, his life and death were completely in the hands of that ghost, maybe in the next minute or the next second, he would be inexplicably died? !

Trembling, he returned to Margaret's side. They could only rely on each other to drive away the fear, but it was still useless, and the breath of ghosts was permeating the room.

Margaret hurriedly put on her coat, which was the black top and corduroy trousers she bought on Huaihai Road last time.She leaned into Lin Hai's ear and said, "What should we do?"

"I do not know either……"

Lin Hai stared blankly at the writing on the window, is he going to sit here and wait to die?No, he had to live, and Margaret couldn't lose her freedom.

Now the only way is - to escape.

The old house has been arranged into a secret room with copper walls and iron walls, but this has no effect on Nostradamus, and will instead become Lin Hai's tomb.He can no longer stay any longer. Although it is very dangerous to escape, and anything may happen outside, there is still hope for life after all.

Lin Hai grabbed Margaret's hand and said, "Marguerite, let's get out of here quickly and escape."

She, too, seemed completely out of sorts, just nodding her head.

Then they packed up their things. Lin Hai didn't bring anything except his schoolbag, but he brought a bag for Margaret, which contained a lot of clothes bought from Huaihai Road.

When everything was ready, Lin Hai moved the table behind the door, tore off the tape that sealed the door, and finally opened the door.

It was pitch black outside the door, and they couldn't see anything clearly. They walked down the stairs hand in hand, pausing every step they took, for fear that a dry hand would stretch out in the darkness.

Walking out of the house cautiously, it was already bright outside, Lin Hai put on a pair of sunglasses for Margaret to avoid attracting others' attention, and he himself got a peaked cap from somewhere.

They left the alley with their heads down, and came to the streets of Shanghai in the early morning, all with their heads down and their collars turned up, like "men in suits" hidden in their clothes.

Lin Hai walked to the side of the road and wanted to hail a taxi, but he always felt that the empty cars oncoming were full of Nostradamus, waiting for them to get on.

He stood on the side of the road like this for more than ten minutes. He didn't dare to stop an empty car. He retreated to Margaret helplessly and said, "It seems that we can only wander around."

They walked for a long time on the secluded small road, until Margaret said that she was tired and hungry, and Lin Hai stopped to have some breakfast at the roadside snack bar.The snack bar was filled with steam, and many office workers came here to have breakfast. He looked around from time to time, as if there was a figure hidden in the steam, and a pale face would appear at any time.

Lin Hai's heart trembled, he thought he shouldn't stay in one place for too long, otherwise Nostradamus would find him soon.They left here in a hurry, turned to Beijing East Road, and walked towards the Bund.

In the early morning, the surface of the Huangpu River was covered with dense fog. Margaret shivered from the cold, staring blankly at the choppy river.Suddenly a melodious bell rang from the customs building. She looked back at the European-style Bund buildings and exclaimed, "It's really like Notre Dame de Paris."

Lin Hai nodded, "Notre Dame de Paris" is the famous Notre Dame de Paris.

They walked for a long time by the fog on the Bund. The damp wind blew Margaret's long black hair into disorder, and a few strands of hair covered her eyes. With the pair of sunglasses, it looked like a fashion photo.She stopped by the railing of the flood control wall and said softly, "Where should we go?"

"I don't know, just hide in this fog, maybe everything we have experienced is as difficult to see as fog."

I paused by the railing for half an hour, until the fog gradually dissipated, and I could clearly see the buildings in Lujiazui across the Huangpu River.Margaret looked up at the Oriental Pearl, and her whole body was as motionless as a sculpture, her eyes full of shock. If you came to modern times from 400 years ago, you might feel the same way.

(End of this chapter)