Jero Bonaparte knew that Victor Hugo was clearly referring to so of his private agreents with the Order Party.
Clearly, it was you who asked to et , and now you start to evade!
Jero Bonaparte grumbled inwardly, but he maintained his smile and complinted, "Your influence is greater than an entire party combined! Hardly anyone in Paris hasn’t read your books!"
Jero Bonaparte silently added, "Those who haven’t have long been expelled!"
Victor Hugo still said nothing, quietly watching Jero Bonaparte’s one-man show.
"People all know you as a humanitarian, a great writer, concerned with people’s suffering while upholding order and freedom!" Jero Bonaparte attributed all beautiful words to Victor Hugo, then extended the topic to himself, saying, "We are alike in this, stemming from the concept of the Republic!"
"Is this what you declare to them (the Order Party)?" Victor Hugo said flatly.
"No... these words, I say only to you!" Jero Bonaparte emphasized, "The Royalist Party does not care about the people’s suffering; they only care about themselves. Although I don’t like them, I will remain loyal to this regi!"
Jero Bonaparte’s attitude of "although I don’t like them, I respect the constitution" made Victor Hugo feel goodwill.
"I have read your cousin Louis Napoleon’s ’Eradicating Poverty,’ and I was deeply moved!" Victor Hugo paused and continued, "I’d like to hear your views!"
"Cousin’s ’Eradicating Poverty,’ I share your feelings!" Jero Bonaparte lifted his head and said leisurely, "A nation’s strength lies in its education; public education is indispensable. The nation needs a strong departnt to uphold the rights of French children’s free public education. The nation must also propose solutions to optimize the redistribution of industrial wealth, preventing the entire country from allowing the poor to beco poorer and the rich richer! The Republic should take on more responsibilities and duties, enabling the unemployed to support themselves, rather than letting them linger in national workshops only to be kicked out in the end!"
Jero Bonaparte’s blunt criticism of the Second Republic governnt officials not only did not arouse resentnt in Victor Hugo but made him resonate more with Jero Bonaparte.
Victor Hugo nodded with satisfaction, yet still remained silent.
"Mr. Hugo, only I can defeat Cafenak! If a butcher stained with the blood of the people becos the first President of the French Republic, it would be the greatest insult to the Republic!" Jero Bonaparte pressed on.
Victor Hugo recalled that rainy night, walking on streets of battle, watching wounded workers fall helplessly, feeling utterly powerless and desperate.
"Half the Republic killed the other half!" Victor Hugo murmured with his eyes closed.
Though Jero Bonaparte had already guessed Victor Hugo’s response, he quietly awaited Victor Hugo’s final answer.
Victor Hugo opened his eyes, firmly stating, "I will support you becoming President!"
"Thank you! Thank you very much! Believe , your choice will not be wrong!" Jero Bonaparte said, shaking Victor Hugo’s hand.
Having gained Victor Hugo’s support, Jero Bonaparte evidently had no intention of lingering any longer in Hugo’s ho. After chatting briefly about upcoming works, Jero Bonaparte and Eugène Ruby left Hugo’s residence.
Returning to the Rhine Inn from Vosges Square by carriage, as Jero Bonaparte and Eugène Rue just entered the hotel door, the innkeeper inford them soone was waiting on the second floor.
Who would co to see at this ti?
Jero Bonaparte wondered inwardly as he went upstairs with Eugène Rue.
Just then, Fleury appeared at the stairway.
"Your Majesty!" Fleury exclaid quietly after a second of surprise.
"Fleury, who is inside?" Jero Bonaparte pointed at the half-open door and asked.
"Your Majesty, I heard him say he’s a Count, sothing like Falu," Fleury responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"It’s him!" Eugène Rue blurted out.
"Hmm?" Jero Bonaparte looked at Eugène Rue.
Eugène Rue explained to Jero Bonaparte about Falu’s "great achievents," including a proposal to dissolve the national workshops.
"Count Falu has deep ties with Catholicism, so..." Eugène Rue looked at Jero Bonaparte.
"The Pope’s ssage has co?" Jero Bonaparte murmured with his lips.
Under Fleury’s guidance, Jero Bonaparte alone went to a temporary location to receive Count Falu.
"Your Highness!" Count Falu greeted Jero Bonaparte with done-and-dusted formal etiquette, akin to a master trained in classical court manners.
"Count Falu!" Jero Bonaparte, lacking in etiquette training, could only slightly bow in return to Count Falu.
Count Falu seed unconcerned about Jero Bonaparte’s standard compliance, directly cutting to the chase, "Your Highness, I have received His Holiness the Pope’s ssage! He hopes we can support you!"
"If the Church can support to beco President Franc, I will be deeply grateful!" Jero Bonaparte responded with neither arrogance nor servility.
"Your Highness, you should know! The Gospel of the Roman Pope for us is rely a tendency; the key lies in what you can offer !" Count Falu, discussing the most worldly benefits with a pious expression, appeared utterly clownish.
"As I know, since the July Monarchy, the Church’s control over secular schools has been further declining, even though Mr. Guizot issued his education law, allowing only limited Church intervention!" Jero Bonaparte said to Count Falu.
"Your Highness, what do you want to say?" Count Falu maintained a calm expression.
"If the Church is willing to support , I’m willing to hand over the entire education sector to the Church, allowing priests to supervise education!" Jero Bonaparte offered his terms.
Count Falu’s expression changed slightly but remained generally calm, saying, "I think Cafenak would be equally willing!"
"No! He is not willing!" Jero Bonaparte resolutely responded, "You underestimate our Dictator, he is a complete extremist republican! He would never agree to the Church taking over education!"
Count Falu fell silent. Based on his understanding of Cafenak, Cafenak indeed would not offer such generous terms as Jero Bonaparte.
"I will convey your conditions to the Church!"
Count Falu and Jero Bonaparte exchanged a few more words about Paris topics before hurriedly departing.
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