The Fox of France

Chapter 295: A Miracle

The sun slowly descended, casting a dimmer light around, and the gas lamps on the streets began to illuminate. The small square outside the "Moulin Rouge" was filling up with people, as it was almost time for the reopening of the famed establishment.

At that moment, a slim gentleman, accompanied by a beautiful lady in a low-cut evening gown, arrived at the entrance of the Moulin Rouge.

"Oh, it's Monsieur Hotin..."

Whispers circulated through the crowd.

Sémeré Hotin was the proprietor of the Moulin Rouge, although some claimed he was merely a front for certain other interests, and his ownership stake in the establishment wasn't substantial. Yet, he commanded great respect throughout Paris.

Hotin stood by the entrance of the Moulin Rouge, waving to the gathering crowd. They fell silent, eager to hear what he had to say.

"My dear friends, it has been two long weeks since I last saw all of you. I missed you terribly!" Hotin declared. "Did you miss me?"

Laughter echoed through the crowd.

Hotin glanced around and then turned, looking smug, at the lovely lady by his side. "Nicole, look, they adore me!"

Nicole, the girl by his side, had been one of the star attractions at the Moulin Rouge during this time. She smiled and stepped forward, emulating Hotin's gesture. "My dear friends, it's been two long weeks since I last saw all of you. I missed you terribly... Did you miss me?"

"Nikole! Nikole!"

"We love you, Nikole!"

"We missed you so much, Nikole!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, catcalls, and shouts, almost causing people to stumble over each other.

After some time, the excitement subsided, and Nicole grinned at Hotin. "Monsieur Hotin, you see, I'm even more popular than you."

Hotin chuckled. "Yes, in terms of popularity, no one here can compare to you. In fact, any girl at the Moulin Rouge is more popular than me." He turned to address the crowd again. "Well then, I won't keep you waiting any longer. I hereby announce the reopening of the Moulin Rouge. Welcome, everyone!"

With his announcement, the world before their eyes suddenly transformed. The glass jewels embedded in the Moulin Rouge and the windmill sparkled like stars fallen from the heavens. The stones in the square cast brilliant beams of light toward the building, making the Moulin Rouge shine brightly, not just illuminating the surroundings, but becoming a radiant source of light in itself.

Considering the relatively elevated position of the Moulin Rouge, this radiant spectacle was visible from afar. Even people who had not come to visit, even those who couldn't afford to visit, now saw the brightly shining building from nearly an hour's distance by carriage.

"Dear Lord, what is this...? It's the Moulin Rouge! It's like a castle suspended in the sky!" André, who had just stepped out of the laboratory at the University of Paris, saw the Moulin Rouge from a distance. Amidst the pitch-black surroundings, the Moulin Rouge stood out brightly, and from André's vantage point, it truly appeared to be floating in the night sky.

"It's absolutely beautiful!" At the University of Paris, at the Place du Dieu de la Guerre, and all over Paris, people gazed toward the Moulin Rouge and marveled at this breathtaking sight.

"Ah, but Joseph and Monsieur Bonaparte always want me to keep a low profile. Otherwise, my 'Paradise Palace' could be just as much of a sensation." From his own balcony, Lucien gazed at the brilliantly lit Moulin Rouge not far away and couldn't help but sigh.

In the vicinity, people were left speechless, overwhelmed by the radiance. They initially fell into silence, then began uttering various strange noises—mostly incoherent exclamations.

After a while, these spectators gradually regained their composure.

"It's a miracle, an absolute miracle!"

"Oh Lord, let your kingdom come!" A bishop, who had arrived in disguise seeking amusement, inadvertently shouted this.

"Look at the fountains!" someone suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone turned their attention to the fountains and saw multicolored beams of light illuminating the water jets. The fountains danced in time with the music, as if they were a group of dancing maidens.

"This is... simply beautiful..."

Among those present were many self-proclaimed or aspiring artists and poets. Yet, at this moment, they felt that words had lost their power. Their attempts to express their awe resulted in only one thing—a simple exclamation of admiration.

This design was undoubtedly Joseph's creation, and while music fountains like this became common in the future, they were truly a marvel in this era.

What set these fountains apart was their reliance on human intelligence rather than artificial intelligence. Talented musicians played the music, and every movement of the fountains was guided by humans with intellect far surpassing that of any computer.

At this moment, the doors of the Moulin Rouge swung open, and once again, a radiant light emerged. Gazing inside, the hall was brilliantly illuminated, with giant crystal chandeliers and wall lamps casting a dreamlike atmosphere.

"Gentlemen, please join us, and step into this dreamy stage of a new era," Mr. Hotin exclaimed.

Finally, people began to regain their senses. Following the two figures, they entered the Moulin Rouge, still discussing the miraculous lights.

It wasn't until he stepped through the doors of the Moulin Rouge that Cadreus snapped out of his stupor. He saw Mr. Hotin preparing to leave before the performance even started and quickly caught up to him.

"Mr. Hotin, Mr. Hotin..."

Hotin halted and glanced at him, then smiled and said, "Mr. Cadreus, I know what you want to ask, but please allow me to keep this secret for one more night. You'll find out everything you want to know in the morning papers."

With those words, Hotin reached for a glass of wine, gleaming like a ruby, from a nearby waiter's tray. He raised it, showing it to Cadreus and the others, and said, "Gentlemen, eat, drink, sing, and enjoy yourselves to the fullest! I must take my leave for now."

Cadreus couldn't help but think, "Is it really necessary to keep secrets at a time like this? We're not even in competition. They're the lions, and at best, we're just vultures."

He then examined the hall's decorations meticulously, noting that they had undergone significant changes. He kept a mental record of each change and pondered their costs. "Everything else is fine, and I can manage the expenses, but these lights... I wonder how much they cost."

Cadreus wasn't the only one engaging in such calculations. In a short ten minutes, he encountered several colleagues who were continually surveying the surroundings. Suspicion and envy were evident in their gazes as they looked at each other.

Next, Cadreus spotted another noteworthy figure—Mr. Bonaventure, the banker. He was casually seated on a sofa, watching the performance.

"Why is he here?" Cadreus wondered. "Mr. Bonaventure isn't the type to enjoy these things. He must know something, and perhaps he has investments in this. But isn't he in financial straits right now? What could be more fortunate than running into a banker when you're strapped for cash?"

Cadreus hurried over to greet him. "Mr. Bonaventure, it's quite a surprise to run into you here."

"Well, I've invested some money here. I couldn't sleep without personally witnessing the results," Bonaventure replied. "Mr. Cadreus, you and Mr. Hotin are colleagues. Do you think the renovations at the Moulin Rouge will improve his business?"

"It most certainly will. Mr. Bonaventure, while the Moulin Rouge's capacity won't increase, people will be more willing to spend their money here."

"You're right. I share the same sentiment. Cadreus, what brings you here?"

"Naturally, it's for learning purposes. May I take a seat here?"

"Please do," Bonaventure said.

Cadreus swiftly took a seat beside Bonaventure.