The Shadow of Great Britain

544: Chapter 282: Anti-smuggling Inspector_2 544: Chapter 282: Anti-smuggling Inspector_2 Having said that, the Red Devil snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air.

Arthur put down the newspaper in his hand and turned his head to look at the spot where Agares had just been sitting by the train window.

“Hume?”

He was pondering what Agares meant, when suddenly someone patted him on the shoulder.

Arthur turned around to see that it was the excited Great Dumas, who had been pacing back and forth in the train carriage.

“I had long heard that the train was a remarkable new invention, but it wasn’t until today, when I boarded it myself, that I realized just how amazing this thing really is!

From London to Liverpool, 200 miles, it only takes five and a half hours to reach our destination.

Arthur, do you realize what this means?

It means that if I organized Rebels in Marseille, I would only need half a day to get to Paris!

Then it would only take me half an hour to grab Louis Philippe by the neck and toss him from his throne in the Tuileries Palace into the Seine River.”

Listening in, Louis Bonaparte couldn’t help but add, “My dear Alexander, if you start a rebellion in Marseille, then I will march from Zurich in Switzerland.

Based on my estimates of the train’s speed and capacity, I would only need three Rocket locomotives to transport hundreds of cannons to Paris within nine hours.

After that, I will precede you in organizing the citizens to build barricades and artillery positions along the Champs-Elysees, and launch the first attack on the Paris City Hall.”

Out of a bit of respect for Louis Philippe, who led the French troops to defeat Austria during the early years of the Great Revolution, I would allow him to pick his favorite type of shells, from solid shot, canister shot, and grapeshot.

However, because of my contempt for his later desertion to Austria, I won’t allow him to choose the caliber; in my opinion, he must take a 16-pounder.”

If it were anyone else speaking, Arthur might just have laughed it off.

But knowing the trajectory of history, he knew that these two French Rebels were not just talking.

One already had a history of such actions, while the other was always ready to add to his own criminal record.

Upon hearing this, Arthur hesitated for a long time, and finally could only shake his head and sigh softly, “It seems I should consider writing a letter to Mister Victor in Paris, to see if he can convince the French government to temporarily suspend the railroad construction plans on the grounds of jeopardizing Paris’s safety.”

Sitting at a nearby table looking at the scenery, Heine heard this and just waved his hand dismissively, “Arthur, there’s no need for such drastic measures.

As far as I know, between the two of them and me, we couldn’t even afford your Colt Revolver tucked away in your waistband, let alone a hundred cannons.”

“Oh?

Running out of money so soon?”

Arthur lifted his teacup and raised an eyebrow, “I can understand Alexander being out of cash, as he’s always been extravagant.

Ever since ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ made money, he has paid double for shoeshines and laundry.

A couple of days ago, when he saw someone not tipping, he deliberately pulled out an extra Guinea Gold Coin to embarrass them.

As for Louis, I can understand him being out of money, seeing as he is living on a Second Class Patrolman’s salary, and it would be hard to maintain a royal family’s standards without his uncle’s financial support.

But you, Heinrich, why are you out of money?

I remember the day before yesterday, the editorial department had just settled the first volume of the royalties for ‘Travel Sketches.’ Even in London, twenty pounds should be enough for a decent gentleman to live comfortably for three to five months.”

Upon hearing this, Heine, frustrated, clutched his head and complained, “Twenty pounds is indeed a lot of money for simply living.

But you see, I was misled by Alexander.

A while back, when we got bored of watching plays, Alexander took me to a casino.

He even told me that someone had made a fortune there a couple of years ago.

We played our hearts out, and as you can guess, we both went in with our wallets full and left almost without our trousers.”

Upon hearing this, Great Dumas couldn’t contain his irritation, “Heinrich!

You told me you were an old hand and that’s why I took you!

If I had known you were so bad at playing cards, I never would have taken you to the casino.

There are plenty of charities in London, we might as well have donated our money to the street beggars than to the casino!”

Unconvinced, Heine retorted, “I didn’t lie!

When I was traveling on Normandy Island in Saxony, I was a regular in the casinos.

And you saw as well, we were winning at the start!”

Great Dumas countered, “You won money on Normandy Island?”

“No, that I did not.” Heine admitted candidly, “I lost fifty Quintals over four weeks.

Even though I’m the most educated man in Germany, I have to admit that I’m as dumb as a donkey the moment I step into a casino.

That time on Normandy Island, I even had to borrow money from friends to get home.

This time in London, unless the second volume’s royalties are released, I reckon I won’t have the money to return to Paris.”

Heine’s story of the German gambling misadventure made Arthur furrow his brow; suddenly, it seemed he remembered something, “Wait a minute, the casino you two visited isn’t the one on St.

James Street, is it?”

Hearing this, Heine was startled at first but then suspiciously asked, “Have you been having us followed?”