The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 961: Chapter 42: Fear of wolves ahead and tigers behind_3

The fishing industry falls under the Fisheries Committee, urban construction under the Urban Planning Committee, the issuance of tavern licenses was originally a private income source for magistrates, but has now become the responsibility of the tax office, and as for medical schools and hospitals, they are all supervised by the Lord Chancellor’s office.

If Scotland Yard managed so many things, we wouldn’t be a subordinate agency of the Home Office, but should be a parallel institution. Our annual office budget wouldn’t just be three hundred thousand pounds, but three million pounds.”

Victor laughed heartily at this and said: ”My friend, if you ask me, it’s not that the police power in Paris is great, but that your Scotland Yard is too constrained. You gather some intelligence and have to keep it hidden, for fear that the higher-ups would find out. But in Paris, we started buying off ’flies’ in large quantities to work for us as early as the 17th century.

I heard that Louis XV loved reading the secret reports of the police, greatly enjoying the discovery of unspeakable, obscene secrets. And to satisfy him, the Paris police at the time were very keen on catching lecherous priests and notable aristocrats in the act.”

Arthur inquired: ”Didn’t any of the subsequent kings have this interest?”

”Subsequent ones?” Victor thought for a moment and shook his head: ”I don’t know about the others, but the current His Majesty the King is keen on arresting those satirical cartoonists, especially those who like to draw pears.”

”Why?”

Victor spoke mysteriously: ”You’ll know when you meet our His Majesty the King. While there’s still time, are you sure you don’t want to find a lady for a dance? Brother, don’t be shy, the girls in Paris are like a flame. They may seem untouchable, but if you actually touch them...”

”What do you mean?”

Victor let out a strange laugh: ”They will devour you whole.”

Arthur was quite absent-minded upon hearing this: ”Mr. Victor, to be honest, I have indeed found a very charming lady, but she is not French.”

”Who?” Victor was about to walk away, but he sat back down after hearing this: ”Brother, don’t worry, aren’t I here with you?”

”Since you say so... how do you think I should win over Lady Levin?”

”Lady Levin?” Victor was stunned at first, then exclaimed: ”Brother, you’re just joining Scotland Yard and already thinking of becoming the commissioner, just got a knighthood and plan to enjoy the treatment of a duke!”

”Right?” Arthur sighed, feigning melancholy: ”I also feel like I have no play. Becoming the commissioner of Scotland Yard is not enough; the authority of the Great Paris Police Hall might barely satisfy her appetite.”

”Can’t you lower your standards a bit? Lady Levin is certainly very good, but young ladies are also very charming!”

Arthur didn’t know how to explain to Victor, and indeed, it wasn’t something that could be explained. Who would have thought his first job at the Foreign Office would involve wrecking someone else’s marriage?

But then again, there was not much left to ruin in Lady Levin’s marriage, as the couple had long since been open about their affairs.

”This...” Arthur’s sudden emotions left Victor, an experienced playboy, also stumped.

After all, in this high-level game, a street player like him was never qualified to participate.

Speaking of Lady Levin’s lovers, the threshold for entry is usually important members of various national cabinets, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that if Lady Levin wanted, she could completely form the most enlightened government in Europe with her lovers.

Seeing his young friend with such grand aspirations, Victor felt quite gratified. However, at the same time, he couldn’t help but advise Arthur to take it one step at a time.

”Brother, Lady Levin is indeed a good choice, and I have no doubt that you have the opportunity to make her notice you despite her busy schedule. However, if you do get tangled with her, I’m afraid you won’t sleep peacefully in the future. You should know that the person in St. Petersburg is already somewhat dissatisfied with Lady Levin, right?”

”What does that have to do with anything?”

”Well... it matters a lot.” Victor advised earnestly: ”You should know that there are many spies in Paris. Some work for Austria, some for Prussia, some for Britain, and naturally, some for Russia.

I’m not in the Security Department anymore, so I don’t have to hold back when I speak. From what I observed at the Security Department, those untrustworthy aristocrats usually have spies from their own countries around them.

Take the simplest example: ever since Napoleon fell from power, even though his family members have fled abroad, we have never trusted them. No matter if it’s Napoleon’s mother, his uncle Fesch, his brothers Lucien, Joseph, and Louis, each member of the Napoleon family has at least three to five French spies around them.

Even when Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena Island, we dispatched a small team of more than a dozen people to secretly monitor him, to prevent Napoleon from making a comeback from overseas. And we not only monitor them personally, but also the Napoleon family’s attendants and chefs are under surveillance.

Unless you want to enjoy the experience of being monitored like Mr. Hugo’s escapades, I suggest you stay away from them. This isn’t Britain, and certainly not your territory. France is never lacking in murder cases and mysterious deaths.”

Just as Victor finished speaking, a sweet voice sounded from behind them.

”Sir Hastings, did you also happen to not find a suitable dance partner?”

Victor turned around, it was a blond, blue-eyed noble lady. If he remembered correctly, this young lady seemed to be the youngest daughter of Mr. DelaSalle, the banker.

”Oh...” Victor showed a subtle smile: ”Indeed, our Arthur is not adept at dealing with such occasions. If you wouldn’t mind, could you lead him in a dance?”