The Shadow of Great Britain

454: Chapter 251: The Grandeur of the Sword Saint (5K6)_2 454: Chapter 251: The Grandeur of the Sword Saint (5K6)_2 Louis Bonaparte’s frosty face also softened into a smile, “Indeed, friendship is also very important.”

Bertrand’s face turned red with fervor as he loudly proclaimed, “If one day, my honor comes into conflict with my friendship…”

Upon hearing this, Arthur slowly stood up and recited in English, “Fish, I also desire, and bear’s paws as well.

Both cannot be obtained, he who gives up fish to obtain bear’s paws.

Life, I also desire, and righteousness too.

Both cannot be obtained, he who gives up life to obtain righteousness.”

At this, Bertrand jolted upright, and he couldn’t help but clap and exclaim, “Mr.

Hastings, you’ve really struck a chord with me!

Honor is something I desire, and so is friendship.

If both cannot be had, then I shall forsake honor to gain friendship!

These words are so very philosophical, where did you learn them from?”

Arthur, with a smile, replied, “They are the words of an Eastern philosopher, I’ve merely borrowed them.”

“An Eastern philosopher!

Oh, my God!

Mr.

Hastings, how can we be so alike!”

Bertrand exclaimed in astonishment, “Do you also like Eastern philosophers?

You might not know this, but I do too, it seems we truly have much in common.

Speaking of which, do you know Voltaire, the conscience of Europe, the king of French thought?

I am his admirer.

It was from his works that I came to understand Eastern philosophy.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur just smiled slightly and teased, “Then what is your favorite work of Voltaire?”

“Oh, my God!

There are just too many.”

Bertrand racked his brains, trying to draw himself closer to Arthur.

He felt his mind working faster than it ever had, almost as fast as the swordplay he performed.

Bertrand suddenly slapped his thigh and said, “Voltaire’s works are many, but my favorite is a little anecdote he popularized among the French public, an anecdote about Sir Isaac Newton.”

“Oh?” inquired Arthur curiously, “Voltaire had a connection with Sir Isaac Newton?”

Laughing heartily, Bertrand said, “More precisely, with Sir Isaac Newton’s niece.

Mr.

Voltaire said he heard the story through her.

One day, while Newton was walking in the gardens of his old residence at Cambridge University, he saw an apple fall from a tree and hit him on the head, which sparked his revelation on the origin of gravity.”

At this, Arthur couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, “Turns out this story originated from Voltaire’s mouth?”

Bertrand didn’t catch what Arthur said and leaned in, asking, “What was that?”

“Nothing important,” Arthur replied with a smile.

“I’m saying that the very apple that hit Newton is now displayed in a shop on Jermyn Street.

If you have time one day, I’ll take you there for a look.”

“That apple is still around?” Bertrand was shocked at the news.

Even Louis Bonaparte was surprised, asking, “Sir, are you serious?”

Taking a sip of tea, Arthur paused slightly and said, “More than that, the apple has started to rot.

Although I can’t guarantee that the worm inside has met Voltaire, it most likely has seen Newton’s niece.”

Taking the words with solemnity, Bertrand said, “If that is the case, it seems I have no choice but to make a pilgrimage there.

Compared to this connection with Voltaire, my honor is indeed trivial.”

Waving his hand gently, Arthur said, “No, Mr.

Bertrand, please don’t misunderstand.

I didn’t intend for you to lose your honor completely; from the beginning, I’ve said I am just here to make friends with you.”

“Hm?” Bertrand frowned slightly, “What do you mean?”

Snapping his fingers, Arthur called out, “Louis.”

Louis Bonaparte reopened the briefcase and pulled out two neat and clean file folders from beneath the stacks of cash, placing them on the table.

Explaining, he said, “As you can see, there are two file folders here.

The one on the left contains the script for your victory, and the one on the right contains Mr.

Hastings’s victory script.

As Mr.

Hastings said, our purpose is to put on a good match, not to disappoint the audience with the outcome, rather than to fixate on a simple win or loss.

Moreover, Mr.

Hastings has to play the second piano piece he has been preparing for many days after the duel, so he absolutely cannot injure his arm, or rather, he can’t actually harm his arm.

You can choose to have a real duel with Mr.

Hastings here today, and the result of today’s duel will determine what scene the audience will see on the day of the performance.”

Having heard this, the last of Bertrand’s doubts vanished without a trace.

He turned to look at Arthur, who nodded slightly at him, and a sense of respect beyond words welled up in his heart.

“Mr.

Hastings, I…I apologize, I previously thought too lowly of you.

I should have realized, a righteous officer from Scotland Yard, a respected nemesis of evil, how could he engage in such an act of bribing someone with money?

You…

You are not trying to bribe me, but genuinely considering the audience.

I have no objections to your method, please allow me to apologize, I, Francois-Joseph Bertrand, will accept your proposal right here and now!”