The Shadow of Great Britain

45: Chapter 7 The Strange Priest 45: Chapter 7 The Strange Priest Greenwich Police Station, in Arthur’s office.

Arthur and the rumored unexpected visitor were sitting at opposite ends of the desk.

Just as the police officer who had delivered the message to Arthur described, the guest was wearing a black cloak over a white collared shirt, with a silver cross hanging on his chest, his gaunt face adorned with a high nose bridge, and his clean hands bore no calluses, a clear sign that he had never engaged in heavy physical labor.

All the information suggested that the guest must have come from a middle-class or higher family and had received a considerable education.

Unclear about the visitor’s intentions, Arthur asked in the friendliest tone he could muster, “I believe I do not know you, how should I address you?”

The visitor also smiled politely and said, “Mr.

Hastings, I apologize for showing up unannounced.

I am the priest of St.

Mary’s Parish at Oxford University and also a special researcher at the Oriel College of Oxford University—John Newman.

You can simply call me Priest, Mr.

Newman, or if you prefer, you can just call me John.”

Oxford University?

Priest?

Arthur couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

For him, dealing with one of these was already difficult enough, how could he handle both combined in one person?

Worse yet, this visitor was also a researcher at Oriel College, Oxford University.

If Oxford University was the conservative stronghold of all Britain, then Oriel College, which specifically taught theology and trained priests for the Church of England, was essentially the stronghold within the stronghold.

Exaggerated as it might seem, by Arthur’s values and his understanding of Oriel College, all the people there deserved the death penalty, which even had to be implemented repeatedly for effectiveness.

Fortunately, Arthur had already met Darwin, a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, so he managed to maintain a composed expression while facing Mr.

Newman from Oriel College, Oxford University.

However, this did not prevent the Red Devil sitting at the office desk from bursting into loud laughter.

Agares pointed at Arthur’s face, laughing so hard that his tears nearly came out.

“Arthur, look at that face of yours, not knowing whether to cry or to laugh, anyone unaware would think you’ve just smelt the dung at Baal’s farmyard.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur merely snorted and muttered under his breath, “Agares, I won’t allow you to insult dung like that.”

However, the Priest Newman sitting across didn’t catch Arthur’s words and said perplexed, “What did you say?”

Arthur quickly put on a smile, “Nothing important, I just mentioned how the rain today makes the office lack light.”

Seizing the moment while Newman was still not pondering deeply, Arthur hastily changed the subject, “What exactly brings you here today?”

Upon hearing this, Newman took out two books from the leather bag he carried and placed them on Arthur’s desk.

Arthur glanced down and saw the two books were Thomas Paine’s ‘Human Rights’ and ‘Common Sense’.

His eyebrows twitched as he asked, “May I confirm again your profession?

Are you a priest?”

Newman nodded, “Yes, indeed.”

Arthur asked further, “And you graduated from Oxford University?”

Newman nodded again, “Graduated in 1820.”

Arthur took a deep breath, pinching his mouth with one hand as he looked at Newman, then back at the two books.

After a long look, he finally said, “Honestly, Mr.

Newman, I’m a bit perplexed by you, as I really can’t link a priest who graduated from Oxford with these two books.”

At this, Newman suddenly revealed a slight smile, “Indeed, you have read these two books.”

Arthur shook his head and firmly denied, “I haven’t read them.”

Newman was taken aback, “Then how do you know you can’t associate an Oxford priest with these two books?”

Arthur took a sip from the teacup on the table, “Due to Scotland Yard’s regulations, the least I can do is deny having read them.

Although these two books are no longer considered illegal publications, it has been only a year since their ban was lifted.

Moreover, we members of Scotland Yard are, at least nominally, still directly under His Majesty the King’s command, and you should be very aware of how King George III is referred to in these books.”

“Are you talking about this passage?”

Newman picked up ‘Common Sense,’ deftly flipping to the page marked by a bookmark, and read out the content in a normal tone.

‘George III is nothing but a royal beast of Royal Great Britain, the chief instigator of the North American incident.

The British Royal Family is not sacred, for according to the history of the conquest of the British Isles, the ancestor of the English kings was merely the ringleader among a band of villains.’

Arthur’s lips twitched, he breathed in and out, and it took him a long time to forcibly pull his lips back into place.

Arthur rubbed his hands over his face, and spoke calmly, “Mr.

Newman, some things are best read and not spoken aloud.

If you want me to lose my job, just say it straightforwardly, using such means is really despicable.”

“Lose your job?

Why would you lose your job over this?”

Newman stood up, pointing to the text in ‘Common Sense’ and said in confusion, “Isn’t this the truth after all?”

Arthur glanced at the line of text, his lips pursed, his voice trembling as he spoke.

“Mr.

Newman, you must understand that in most cases, the truth is the most hurtful.”

The Red Devil took the opportunity to pat his shoulder, pretending to console Arthur, “Arthur, laugh if you want to laugh.

It’s not good for your health to keep it all in.”

Newman sat back down in his chair, deflated.

“To be honest, before reading these books, I always thought Thomas Paine was a misanthropic evil person.

But now, I’m convinced by him.

He may be a non-believer, but his actions and ideals resemble those of a devout believer more than anyone else.”

“You forgive him just like that?”

Arthur said, “I remember he also criticized the church, saying ‘The Christian system in religion is an insult to common sense’.

He also said, ‘They call that book known as the Bible the word of God, which is a complete blasphemy.

It is a book full of lies and contradictions, a history of bad times and bad people.’

Because of these words, I remember Oxford University was dragging him out for criticism every now and then!”

Newman puzzledly said, “Perhaps others think that way, but I believe it’s because they don’t understand Thomas Paine.

Look at the ideas he expressed, look at his contributions.

He proposed public education, set minimum wage standards, criticized George III, and had to leave Britain as a result.

He helped the North American colonies break free from Great Britain, participated in combat personally, and every American soldier had a copy of ‘Common Sense’; they could recite his words by heart.

But after the independence of the United States, he was marginalized and dismissed for exposing scandals within the government, and left the United States in disgrace.

He participated in the French Revolution, yet had to leave France because he opposed Robespierre’s execution of Louis XVI and their bloody policies.

He opposed Napoleon’s declaration as emperor, declined his draft and invitation, yet that didn’t diminish Napoleon’s admiration for him.

Often, he could have lived a secure and prosperous life by just keeping his mouth shut, instead of dying alone and destitute in a rented cottage.

But he didn’t, he never stopped speaking out, he only stuck to what he believed was right, and he continued his virtues, just as you did previously in court.

Is he really a non-believer?

I think he is a truly devout believer.

Unfortunately, Paine is already dead and can no longer answer my questions.

But I’m reassured to have seen you in the newspaper.

That’s why I came here today, to ask you, who like him refuses to be silenced, how do you view these issues?”