The Shadow of Great Britain

230: Chapter 155 I Haven’t Even Gotten on the Car Yet 230: Chapter 155 I Haven’t Even Gotten on the Car Yet In the cafe, time flew by rapidly.

As the conversation between Viscount Melbourne and Mrs.

Norton deepened, and with Eld’s supplements about the upper-class relations, the blank paper in front of Arthur gradually filled with various pieces of information.

Name: George Norton

Social Relations: Born into the renowned Tory family, the Norton Family, younger brother of the third generation Lord Grantley, grandfather the first Lord Grantley, Fletcher Norton, who once served as the Speaker of the House of Commons

Social Identity: Former Tory Member of Parliament for the York constituency, practicing lawyer

Political Leanings: Right-wing conservative of the Tory Party, active supporter of the former High Chancellor and Tory conservative figure, Earl Eldon

Education: Graduated from Balliol College, Oxford University, followed by Lincoln’s Inn, University of London

…

Name: Caroline Elizabeth Norton

Social Relations: Born into a merchant family, the Sheridan Family, grandfather was the famous British writer of comic dramas, Richard Sheridan.

Note: Richard Sheridan had served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for the Whig Party’s Fox faction, and during the 1806-1807 coalition cabinet period formed by the Tory Party and Whig Party’s Fox faction, he held the office of Financial Secretary to the Navy.

Social Identity: Lesser-known female author, member of the Bluestocking Society

Political Leanings: Left-wing radical of the Whig Party

Education: Attended a girls’ grammar school in the suburbs of London

…

Arthur had written up to this point when he suddenly stopped his pen, muttering with the cap in his mouth, “I didn’t expect that Mr.

George Norton was the former MP for the York constituency…”

Eld, focused on prising open oyster shells, responded, “Yes!

I thought you knew him, aren’t you from York?

To think you don’t even recognize the representative from your own hometown.”

Arthur frowned and said, “I didn’t vote for him, I don’t even have the right to vote, how would I know who represents me.

The way you put it, it’s as if you know the representatives from your hometown of Nottingham.”

“Of course, I do,” Eld slurped the oyster juice, “It’s George Bentinck from the Whig Party, he just recently announced his victory in Nottingham.”

“Who?”

Eld, observing Arthur’s puzzled expression, swallowed the oyster and wiped his hands with a handkerchief, “George Bentinck, the youngest son of the Duke of Portland, distant relative of Lady Copper and Viscount Melbourne.

Even if you don’t know him, surely you must know of the hereditary Duke of Portland’s Bentinck family?

They, along with the hereditary Dukes of Devonshire from the Cavendish family and the Spencer-Churchill family of the hereditary Dukes of Marlborough, are referred to as the traditional three great ducal families within the Whig Party.”

Arthur nodded, stroking his chin, “Churchill I do know, he later became the Prime Minister.”

“Prime Minister?

No, no.”

Eld waved his hand, “The Churchill family’s heyday didn’t have a Prime Minister, but the power of the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, was indeed comparable to a Prime Minister.

He joined forces with Prince Eugene of the Holy Roman Empire and really gave France’s Louis XIV a tough time.”

Arthur pondered over these things Eld mentioned, and it took him a while to snap back to the topic, “Where was I?

How did you change the topic?

Right, I was talking about Mrs.

Norton…

her husband was the former MP from York.

Did Mr.

Mil mention he was planning to visit York this afternoon?”

Eld, struck by a sudden realization, slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Ah!

How could I have forgotten that?

Does that young fellow Mil know the newly elected representative in York?

The one who defeated Mr.

Norton?”

Arthur, frowning, asked, “Do you have the list of candidates for York’s parliamentary election?”

“I don’t have that sort of thing, but if you want, I can ask at the Navy Department after we eat.”

Seeing that he didn’t have it, Arthur waved his hand and said, “Never mind then, I’ll just wait for the next issue of the London Gazette.

The results of the election should be published by then, a little wait won’t hurt.”

The two were chatting idly when suddenly, the conversation at the next table ceased.

Viscount Melbourne picked up the hat from the table and resettled it on his head, comforting Mrs.

Norton gently, “My dear lady, wait for my good news.

I happen to be meeting Henry at Almack’s Club today, and I will inquire if there is news about the next High Chancellor.

Although we don’t yet know who will secure the position, I assure you, whoever becomes the High Chancellor, I will request a judgeship on behalf of your happy family life, and if possible, I will try to arrange it in London.

Why don’t you come with me?

I’ll introduce you to Henry when we’re there.

He’s a warm person, and I believe he would be willing to help you with this favor.”

“I…” Mrs.

Norton looked somewhat uneasy: “I haven’t received an invitation to Almack’s Club, and by the rules, I suppose I shouldn’t be able to enter such a place?

Almack’s rules are always strict, I heard that even Duke Wellington was once locked out for arriving too late…

Wi…

William, you’ve already helped me so much, perhaps we should not bother with Almack’s…”

Viscount Melbourne just smiled and extended his hand to Mrs.

Norton, “Don’t worry, my sister is also there today.

Did you know?

She is one of the seven ladies who form the committee of hostesses at Almack’s.

She can grant you permission, and then you can come in.”

“This…”

Viscount Melbourne saw her hesitating, but only smiled, taking her hand as he rose, “It doesn’t matter, Caroline, be confident.

It’s not about whether you’re worthy of Ormac, but whether Ormac is worthy of you.”

“William…”

Eld and Arthur pressed their hats down and tucked their necks into their collars.

Under the watchful eyes of two pairs of gloomy eyes, Viscount Melbourne left the café with Mrs.

Norton and climbed into the black carriage parked outside.

Upon seeing them depart, Eld abruptly extended his head from his collar, slammed his hat onto the table, and sighed in relief, “Done!

Although we didn’t see Mr.

Bentham today, it wasn’t a wasted trip, as we got to watch a realism family ethics drama that’s not even available at the Old Vic Theatre.”

But Arthur, sitting opposite, evidently did not share Eld’s good mood, his hand resting on his brow, his expression fluctuating.

A vacancy for a judge?

And in London?

Damn, he just happened to know one who fits the bill.

Arthur’s hand slipped, and he involuntarily grasped his temple’s hair, muttering softly, “Damn!”

“What’s wrong?” Eld asked.

Arthur pursed his lips and replied, “Eld, trouble is brewing.

The magistrate in Westminster just retired; if George Norton fills his position, I might as well resign and not bother competing with Rowan any longer.”

Eld scratched his head, “Is it that serious?”

Arthur muttered under his breath, “Of course!

Have you forgotten?

George Norton is a supporter of the former High Chancellor, Eldon.

After the Peterloo Massacre, Eldon was a strong proponent of the six acts that suppressed the subsequent labor movements.

During the Great Revolution period, Prime Minister Pitt the Younger banned political assemblies and censor publications under his leadership.

Besides, he opposed the emancipation of Catholics, the abolition of the slave trade, and the amendment of the ‘Bloody Act.’ I’ve never seen him agree to anything in my lifetime.

To soften him on amending the ‘Bloody Act,’ Sir Peel had to defend him daily in the House of Commons and the newspapers, always speaking well of him, which finally made the old man happy enough to sign the resolution.”

Now the Tory Party has stepped down, and so has Eldon.

I thought it would be easier to pass some legislations in the future, but who thought that after sending Eldon off, I’d have to face his staunch supporter George Norton directly in the Magistrates’ Court.

What’s worse is that I was planning to recruit some capable students from the University of London to fill the police force.

What’s the Tory hardliners’ stance on the University of London?

They wouldn’t even grant us the Royal Charter.

If our people stand in the prosecutor’s booth, would Tory hardline judges give us a fair trial?”

The more Arthur spoke, the colder Eld’s heart felt, “This doesn’t seem good.”

He turned his head and looked at Viscount Melbourne who had just left, slapping his thigh, “Ah, Viscount!

What a blunder!

A Whig Party member, yet advocating for a die-hard Tory to obtain a judgeship, has love clouded his judgment?”

Arthur quickly picked up his coat from the back of the chair, slinging on his overcoat, “Whether he’s clouded by something is none of my business, but I need to follow up and figure out what’s next.”

“Where are you going?”

“To Almack’s Club, of course,” Arthur said.

“Didn’t you hear the Viscount say they were going there?”

Eld curled his lips and made a circle with his thumb and index finger, flicking a small black pearl beside the oyster shell away disdainfully, “But do you have an entry permit?

Almack’s Club isn’t a place just anyone can enter.”

Arthur didn’t waste time arguing and simply grabbed Eld by the collar, hoisting him up, “You don’t worry about that.

When we get there, just do as I say, and if I say we can get in, we can get in.”

Eld shrugged, skeptical, “Huh?

Arthur, although I always respect you and know you handle a sword well, I advise you not to think about storming in.

The guards there are very strict.

More importantly, the guys responsible for security there are armed with flintlock guns.

Arthur, listen to me, don’t risk your life for pride.

Normally, I wouldn’t need to persuade you about this; you should be sensible.

But…

given your proposal, does that mean…”

Eld’s eyes brightened, and he clapped his hands, pointing at Arthur, “Right, I almost forgot about your part-time job.

LPS, you’re in intelligence; are you planning to sneak in, or do you have an inside man already in place at Almack’s Club?”

Arthur gave him a look as if he were looking at an idiot, but the situation was urgent, and he couldn’t bother with whatever was going on in Eld’s head.

Arthur dragged him toward the door, “When we get there, follow my lead, don’t say anything out of line, don’t do anything foolish.

I tell you to do something, and you do it—no questions, no excuses.

If you can promise me that, I can definitely take you to Almack’s Club for a whirl today.”

Upon hearing this, Eld swatted away Arthur’s hand from his collar, straightened his attire righteously, and proclaimed, “It’s not about whether it’s Almack’s or not; it’s about our past camaraderie.

Arthur, for you, I’m all in this time!”

Lowering his voice, Eld then muttered, “Are you sure we can really get in?”

Arthur said nothing, waved down a public carriage, stepped in, and slammed the door shut, “To Almack’s Club, please.”

Then, under Eld’s astonished gaze, the carriage splashed water as it sped away.

After a while, Eld finally snapped out of it, “Hey!

I didn’t even get on yet!”