– You are right, Dominic, the circumstances are very sad," said the earl, with a playful frown, and laid the letters on the table.
– The fate of Walsingham is in your hands, my friend," the viscount reminded him. – These poor people are relying on you.
– I know that. Well, I will help them.
– And when will you finally take decisive action? It's been over a month since we left the village.
– I've been distracted by pressing matters, so the fate of my peasants has paled for a while before what I've had to deal with here," the Count replied, unhappy at his friend's interference.
– Pardon me, but I am well aware of your 'urgent matters'. While you were amusing yourself with the ladies, it rained in Walsingham, and the Glowford house was flooded," said Viscount Wilworth reproachfully, watching the expression on his friend's face.
– That's a pity," he said briefly.
– Colin, be serious: the house flooded, and the family slept in the neighbour's hayloft, next to the pigs. – The Vicomte was displeased with the Count's indifferent and even mocking tone.
– I hope none of them caught a cold. – When the Count heard of the downpour, he thought of Christine: in his imagination he saw her lying in the hayloft, under the roof of the old barn, the rain pounding furiously on her, covered with a tattered blanket, and he felt a chill.
– 'Fortunately, not,' the viscount answered him. – The village has begun work in the fields, so you have a great opportunity to fix up the cottages without disturbing the peasants. However, I'm curious to know how the restoration is going? Any progress?
– I confess I have not yet read Mr. Pilough's reports. – The Count was not the least bit embarrassed. – If you are interested in them, you can read them yourself.
– Gladly," replied the viscount. – But may I ask, what has been distracting you all this month?
– I have been having an affair with an actress," replied the Count briefly. He opened the drawer of his desk, took out a thick stack of unopened letters and gave them to his friend. – I think, Dominic, that you, too, would do well to get a permanent pet," he advised the viscount with a chuckle.
"It would be lovely to have a beauty like the peasant Christine as my pet. Or herself. She would be infinitely grateful to me for my kindness and patronage. But no, it's unacceptable: me and a peasant! What a scandal would break out in society!" – ran through the Count's mind.