The Shadow of Great Britain

236: Chapter 159: Not a Strong Background, But Don’t Mess With It 236: Chapter 159: Not a Strong Background, But Don’t Mess With It In the alley outside Almack’s Club, Arthur leaned against the white wall, quietly smoking.

As he pondered the idle conversation he had just had with Viscount Melbourne, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocket watch to take a look.

It was four forty-five in the afternoon, and he had already completed his task here; logically, Eld should have come out by now.

But Arthur waited to the left and right, and when he didn’t show up, Arthur finally grew impatient.

He put a bit of force into his back, pushing himself off the wall, and patted the dust off his sleeves, ready to leave.

Just as he was about to reach the mouth of the alley, however, he saw Eld, his face flush with color, walking toward him.

Eld waved and said, “Arthur, how did it go?”

Arthur leaned against a streetlamp at the curb, “Nothing much, I just had a brief chat with my future boss, kindly reminding him that it’s not only me in the higher ranks of Scotland Yard, but even our own Chief Rowan was personally chosen by Sir Peel.

I’m sure with the Viscount’s wisdom, he could clearly recognize that unless he plans to completely overturn Scotland Yard, it’s impossible to fully erase Sir Peel’s imprint from it.

As long as Viscount Melbourne remains neutral in the factional struggles within the Greater London Police Department, that’ll give me time to slowly spar with Chief Rowan.”

Eld pulled a pipe out of his pocket and asked, “What about George Norton becoming the magistrate for Westminster?”

“That?” Arthur threw over a matchbox, “That doesn’t look too optimistic; Viscount Melbourne seems dead set on it.

Although I don’t understand what good it does him to find Mr.

Norton a decent job, he denies it’s out of love, so perhaps it’s out of friendship?

Or maybe there’s something behind it that we don’t know about?”

Eld took a strong puff on his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke, “So you basically didn’t find out anything?

Just made yourself familiar with Viscount Melbourne?”

Arthur shook his head, “Of course, aren’t you quite aware of British social etiquette?

He doesn’t trust me yet, so there is much he is unwilling to discuss openly with me.

And worst of all, I had a one-on-one conversation with him on the second floor after my performance.

If there were ladies present, maybe I could’ve gotten more useful information out of him.

After all, as you know, as soon as there are ladies present, gentlemen always quickly turn the topic to high-end subjects such as history, politics, philosophy, even if they were discussing some unsavory topics just a second earlier.”

Upon hearing this, Eld laughed heartily, “You’re right about that, in a social setting with ladies present, those old rascals could turn a fart into an economic crisis.

Whether they are scholarly or not, in front of the ladies, they always feel obliged to drop a few lines from Shakespeare, or maybe Plato and Aristotle.”

Arthur was feeling just fine, but at these words, he suddenly felt there was something odd, “Are you talking about me?”

Eld dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand, “No, no, no, Arthur, you’re overthinking it, you’re not like them.

Whether in front of ladies or gentlemen, you always talk this way.

But tell me, how did you come up with those bizarre theories of yours?”

“How did I come up with them?” Arthur, leaning against the lamppost, furrowed his brow in recollection, “I can’t quite remember how I reached this conclusion.

But I came to it while chatting with Elisa during the graduation ball, you know that neither I nor Elisa can dance, so we talked all evening that day.”

Upon hearing this, Eld smirked oddly, patting Arthur’s shoulder, “Elisa can’t dance?

How did you come to that conclusion?

I’d bet that Elisa can indeed dance, and probably quite well.”

“What makes you think so?”

Eld spoke mysteriously, “Think about it, although our school is quite unconventional and doesn’t restrict women from auditing classes, when it comes to enrolling women as students, that’s a different story.

Elisa, being an unmarried young lady, yet able to attend classes without missing a single one, what do you think that indicates?”

Arthur glanced at Eld, whose busybody nature was in full swing, then lit his pipe again, “Indicates what?”

Eld covered his mouth with a hand, “It indicates that she’s either rich or noble, from a big merchant family or a noble family.

Most importantly, her family’s home teaching must be relatively liberal, and she is exceedingly cherished.

Have you forgotten what happened to that idiot Professor Dumps when he attempted to lay his hands on her?

That old fool lost his life.”

Although Arthur didn’t understand how Eld connected the two events, he couldn’t very well tell Eld that it was actually he who was responsible for Professor Dumps’s case.

Arthur deftly diverted the question, “Anyway, how did it go for you today?”

“Me?”

Eld didn’t speak directly, but rather fumbled with his pocket, jingling it.

The sound was that of coins clinking against one another.

“Alright then,” Arthur extinguished his smoke, “to speak or not, even if you haven’t hooked a wealthy miss, you must have earned more in this short while than you do in the Royal Navy.”

“There’s still some time before evening.

What should we do next?

How about we call up Alexander and find a theatre to watch a play?”

“Hmm…” Arthur shook his head slightly, “We do need to call Alexander, but not to watch a play.

Instead, we need to find a magazine willing to serialize ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.”

“But do you know anyone at a magazine?” Eld asked.

“I don’t, but Mrs.

Norton does.”

Arthur took out a business card from his breast pocket, “As a return favor for booking a phonograph for Mrs.

Norton, she introduced me to the editor of ‘Blackwood’s’ literary magazine.

Although Mrs.

Norton isn’t yet a well-known author in Britain, she has some connections in literary circles.

At the very least, she’s certainly more popular there than our candidate Disraeli.

With such a connection, I believe ‘Blackwood’s’ would be willing to receive us.”

Having said this, Arthur promptly hailed a carriage.

With the carriage’s wheels turning, Arthur and Eld quickly left King Street, disappearing in front of Almack’s Club.

But shortly after they left, a black carriage with spots of mud on its side from the journey, trundled to a stop in front of Almack’s Club.

The carriage door opened, and a tall, middle-aged man with a neat figure stepped out briskly.

A simplified cutaway coat, linen shirt, fine cravat, and black fitted trousers tucked into his boots, topped with impeccably groomed hair and a top hat.

Anyone would think this man an exacting gentleman with a meticulous attention to detail.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, a guard at Almack’s Club hurried forward to ask, “Sir Brougham, what brings you here today?”

Brougham smoothed his crumpled white gloves.

He didn’t seem in a rush to go in: “Originally, after coming back from York, I wanted to rest properly.

But along the way, I happened to run into a friend’s son, who brought me some rather unsettling news.

So, I felt I needed to hasten to the club to find Lady Copper, or perhaps speak directly with Viscount Melbourne.

Are they here today?”

The guard replied with a smile, “You’re in luck today, both of them are inside.”

“That’s splendid.” Brougham dusted off the dust from his trousers, ready to step inside.

However, before he could enter, he bumped into Viscount Melbourne and Mrs.

Norton, who were on their way home.

Seeing the man who might very likely become the next High Chancellor, Viscount Melbourne couldn’t help but smile and said, “Mr.

Brougham?

Congratulations on your victory in York.

I was just about to discuss some matters with you.”

Upon hearing this, Brougham paused for a moment, but soon he smiled and nodded, “I am always at your disposal for a casual chat, but may I inquire as to in what capacity you wish to speak with me?”

Understanding the implication, Melbourne first signaled for a servant to hail a carriage for Mrs.

Norton, then turned to Brougham and said, “I was hoping as friends.”

Brougham nodded slightly, “Coincidentally, I also have some matters I wish to discuss with you.”

With a smile, Melbourne joked, “Also as friends?”

Brougham gently shook his head, smiling as he shook Melbourne’s hand, “You’re mistaken, Your Excellency.

I wish to speak with you in my capacity as the founder of the University of London and the chairman of its board.”