Just after lunch the next day, a servant came in to report. Mr. Ferd and Mrs. Johnson asked to meet. Evan was talking about some art-related matters with the Duke. Hearing this report, the atmosphere between the two instantly became a little bit different. Be subtle.
Duke Wilson glanced at Evan, who lowered his eyebrows and said nothing, and wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say a word, only said, "Welcome them to the living room, and I'll come out right away."
The servant bowed and stepped back, but Duke Wilson walked over to Evan, looked down at Evan, and said softly, "I'll go down with you, I'm also a donor of the church, and I still have the right to intervene in this matter. "
Evan raised his head and glanced at Duke Wilson. His handsome profile was generally hidden in the shadows, with a strange beauty. The corner of Evan's mouth was slightly hooked, but his face showed a grateful expression: "Thank you very much. Your generosity."
Duke Wilson smiled indifferently, lifted Evan from the soft chair, and walked downstairs.
Evan's wound has almost recovered at this time, but he still needs to be careful when going downstairs. He deliberately leaned most of his body on Duke Wilson and walked downstairs with his strength.
Duke Wilson froze as soon as Evan approached his arms. During the process of going downstairs, he moved even more. He was at a loss like a hairy boy, and Evan's eyes showed a trace. A secret smile, just such a small act, can make Duke Wilson so chaotic, it seems that his plan has been 90% successful, and the remaining 10% depends on his own means .
Duke Wilson kept helping Evan down the stairs, and when he finally sat down, Evan said apologetically: "My lord, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Duke Wilson wished that he would trouble himself more, he waved his hand ridiculously, and said in a shaky tone: "You... You are too polite, it's nothing... "
His voice was soft and floaty, and by the end of the last sentence, almost no one could hear what he was saying.
Evan couldn't help laughing when he looked at him like this. Duke Wilson was so emotionally young, it was beyond his expectations.
At this time, Ferd and Mrs. Johnson were also led in by their servants. To Evan's surprise, Sheriff Chandler also came in. He looked at this scene and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Mr. Sheriff?" Duke Wilson frowned and said first: "Why are you here? Does this matter require the intervention of the police?"
Duke Wilson's trust in the police can be said to have been reduced to the dust, and he did not even have a good impression of Sheriff Chandler.
Sheriff Chandler looked a little dejected, at least much more dejected than the high-spirited look before. He pinched the already outdated brim, glanced at the frail Evan, and whispered: "Lord Duke, Johnson The case of Mr. has not yet come to a conclusion, I am here this time to visit Pastor Bruce, and at the same time to get some advice from Mr. Pastor."
Sheriff Chandler tasted the sweetness of the last time, and this time the incident made him devastated and without results, he naturally thought of Evan again.
Evan hesitated a little when he heard this, and looked at Sheriff Chandler in surprise: "Oh, Mr. Sheriff, you really think highly of me. I don't know much about this matter than you."
Sheriff Chandler was a little afraid of Duke Wilson, but he was very close to Evan. Hearing him say this at this time, he quickly said: "You helped me in the last case, and this time, please help me again. Once, this matter has not been resolved so far, Scotland Yard is already very dissatisfied with me, if the police detectives are sent over, I am afraid the matter will be more complicated."
Hearing him talking about this, the Duke's eyebrows could not help wrinkling, he glanced at the calm-faced Ferd, and the expressionless Mrs. Johnson, suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and finally whispered: "Don't say these things. The matter is over, please sit down, the three of you, let’s settle the main matters of the day first.”
Speaking of this, Ferd finally had the time to interject and said with a smile: "Today, I would like to thank the Duke for your generosity, so that we can talk about this in your manor."
Duke Wilson gave Ferd a cold look, and said coldly, "Pastor Bruce is my friend, and this trivial matter is nothing to worry about."
Ferd's smile immediately stiffened.
Duke Wilson no longer looked at him, and turned to Mrs. Johnson, who was sitting at the far end of the sofa, with a black veil covering her face, and whispered, "Madam, since you are here today, what Mr. Johnson did before How do you plan to compensate?"
Mrs. Johnson glanced at Duke Wilson almost nervously. She took off the hat on her head. The face behind the black veil was pale and a little scary, not the calm and rational woman from a few days ago.
She looked straight at Duke Wilson, with a hint of madness and anxiety in her eyes.
"I don't know anything about what he did, and I have never seen his money. I cannot satisfy your request."
Mrs. Johnson's voice was still a little trembling, but everyone sitting in the room was shocked by her, especially Evan, who half got up and looked at Mrs. Johnson, and said in a stern tone: "Madam, before you Didn't I return the money to the church as I promised? Why should I go back on my word now?"
Mrs. Johnson didn't look at Evan at all, she quickly lowered her head, put her hands on her head, and murmured in pain: "Pastor Bruce, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, I can't help it either, I thought he left the property, but now I can't find any trace of property at all, and I can't help it..."
Mrs. Johnson was choked up in her last tone of voice. Her life was indeed not very good these days. The gazes of people around her, the pointing of people in the town, and the frequent bombardment of tabloid reporters, Her mind was on the verge of collapse at this time.
Evan frowned, looking at Mrs. Johnson, a bit of uncertainty in his eyes.
Duke Wilson walked over to Evan, stroked his shoulder, and whispered, "Sit down first, don't crack the wound."
Evan sat back on the soft sofa again. At this time, he was in a great mood and didn't react, but Ferd, who was sitting opposite, had a flash of light in his eyes.
"Mrs. Johnson." Ferd said without waiting for others to say, "No matter what you say, your husband's embezzlement of church property is a fact, there is no doubt about it, if you don't cooperate well now Yes, then this matter will be handed over to the court, they will freeze your property, auction off your house, and then use it to repay the church's deficit, if you don't want things to develop to this point, I still advise you , it is best to cooperate with our work.”
After all, Ferd was someone sent by the church, and it was natural for him to threaten people.
Mrs. Johnson couldn't help trembling when she heard this. She looked at Ferd in horror, as if looking at a devil.
"You... you can't do this..." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Mr. Verde, you are a gentleman, do you really want to embarrass a widow like this?"
Evan squinted at the poor woman with tears streaming down his face. He couldn't tell why, but he always felt a little weird.
"It's embarrassing?" Ferd looked at Mrs. Johnson and smiled: "How can I embarrass you? Everything I said is based on the law, which is stipulated by the law, even if it is you, a noble Madam, you must also abide by it. I will tell you the consequences of this incident. I just want you to know the seriousness of this incident. I also ask you to stop saying these irresponsible words. The property of the church, you must return."
Mrs. Johnson couldn't help trembling when she heard this. She clenched her skirt tightly, bit her lower lip, and looked at Ferd with deep fear in her eyes.
Sheriff Chandler watched and couldn't help but say, "Mr. Ferd, do you have to be so heartless? Mrs. Johnson is also a poor victim!"
Ford looked at Sheriff Chandler and sneered: "Victim?" There was a hint of arrogance in his eyes: "She is a victim, so does the church deserve to lose? You must know that the property of the church is used for Come to serve God, are we going to use this money to feed a greedy demon?"
Sheriff Chandler was not good at debating, so he choked up and couldn't say a word. Mrs. Johnson looked at Evan with pleading eyes.
Evan was originally a little embarrassed about his position on this matter. At this time, when she saw her naked and pitiful eyes, his situation suddenly became more difficult, and Evan only felt that his scalp was numb.
He couldn't ignore Mrs. Johnson's pitiful gaze, because he was a 'kind' pastor, but if he turned against the church in matters of the church, he might not be far from the end.
Evan's heart was tangled like a mess, but he couldn't say a word. Now the eyes of the whole scene were on him, and he just felt like a thousand fingers.
Evan looked up at Ferd, and the sarcastic smile at the corner of his mouth made Evan's heart skip a beat.
He did it on purpose!
This is Evan's only idea. To force himself to such a point, Ford really did what he said. Otherwise, his hypocritical face will be revealed, or else the punishment of the church will follow him, which is really a vicious method.
Evan's heart was full of hatred for Ferd, but at this time, under this kind of scene, he couldn't say a word. Evan clenched his sweaty palm and said warmly: "Madam, you..."
"The church is in charge of this matter, and Pastor Bruce is probably powerless."
Suddenly, Duke Wilson interrupted Evan's words, he looked at the poor Mrs. Johnson with a cold face, and continued to say coldly: "Madam, you are asking for help to Pastor Bruce, but you are looking at his kindness, but this is not the case. It's up to the church to decide, and I'm afraid Pastor Bruce can't do more for you, so please solve this matter yourself."
With Duke Wilson coming out, Evan was instantly relieved, but he didn't dare to relax, so he could only look at Mrs. Johnson helplessly, with a trace of pity in his eyes.
"My dear lady." His tone was very soft: "I fully understand your situation, but this matter is beyond my purview, I really can't do more for you, please rest assured, I will If you write to the bishop about your matter, the bishop is merciful and will definitely make the right decision."
Fortunately, there is a church, otherwise this matter is really difficult to handle.