The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1010: Chapter 62: Restaurant Riot

”Work for me?”

Clara looked at this foolish university student and just found it amusing: ”If I were one of those high-society ladies, just based on your few nice words, I would gladly take you on as a footman to drive my carriage or carry my train. But I’m not; I’m a woman who mingles in the underworld. Usually, it’s others who pity me, not the other way around.”

Arthur didn’t respond to Clara immediately; instead, he stared at the small blackboard behind the bartender and raised his hand: ”Please bring me the Marengo Chicken; I’ve heard it’s a famous Parisian dish, but I’ve never had it.”

Clara heard Arthur ordering a dish despite having money, and she was instantly enraged; she lifted her beer glass, almost unable to stop herself from splashing it on Arthur’s face.

”Kid, are you playing me? Do you think the girls in Paris all have good tempers?”

Arthur pulled out his one and only livre silver coin from his pocket and wiped it with the washed-out sleeve of his shirt, his eyes twitching with the pain: ”If it’s not too much trouble, please split my chicken into two portions, with half for Miss Clara.”

Clara saw Arthur was so considerate and the curses that had rushed to her throat went back down into her stomach. She tossed her beer glass back onto the tabletop: ”You’re really a strange guy.”

Arthur felt as though he’d been caught off guard, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; he stood up excitedly and clarified: ”Ma’am, I am not a strange person. You say this as if I’m a reclusive hermit or a provincial bumpkin. You must know, when I was at university, I was quite popular. I was a prominent figure in the school club, wrote many articles for the campus newspaper, and even won awards. Of course, I can’t say everyone liked me, but none of those who dared to disdain me ever defeated me in a duel.”

Young, hot-blooded, self-demeaning yet also arrogant, possessing nothing but strong self-esteem—Clara had seen many young people like that, but she didn’t particularly dislike them; instead, she found them somewhat endearing.

The reason was simple: she had been through this stage as well.

It was just that a girl’s self-esteem differed from a boy’s, and moreover, when she came to Paris back then, it wasn’t to study but merely to make a living.

At that time, she didn’t know anything about clubs, nor understood poetry and novels.

She could very well understand the predicament the young man before her was facing; although he earnestly denied being a provincial bumpkin, unfortunately, his words had already betrayed him. True Parisians wouldn’t bring up these things.”

”Are you from the provinces?”

”No, I’m not.” Arthur denied vehemently, but his face flushed red like a rotten grape, and anyone could see he was lying at a glance.

Clara seemed intent on teasing the young lad; she spoke to herself.

”Alright, you are a Parisian, but I’m actually a country girl. You know, when I was in the village, even my Sunday church apparel was just rough cloth clothes and coarse woolen gowns. So, when I saw Mana, from the same village, come back from Paris wearing silk skirts, lace hats, colorful ribbons, and silver-edged shoes, I was envious almost to the point of jealousy.

Mana enthusiastically invited me to go to Paris with her. She painted a picture of Paris as a splendid place — cemeteries, lions, kings, Royal Family, spectacular performances, and operas, to put it simply, Parisian-style entertainment in abundance. This stirred my youthful curiosity, and filled my little head.

Back then, as a country girl with little knowledge, I didn’t know these things were manufactured in factories, but naively thought they grew in Paris. Thus, I became determined to go there to enjoy them. Now, thinking back, this thought seems truly ridiculous.

On the way, she initially held herself with elegance and restraint, then told us silly girls that some country girls had distinguished themselves, and their relatives also benefited. It was all because they maintained their chastity and then offered their virginity to their employers, who consequently married them, letting them live lives with carriages, fine clothes, and good food. If lucky, some even became noblewomen.

She gave us some examples, telling us these things require hardly any effort; just good luck will do. However, when we arrived in Paris, we discovered everything isn’t that simple. The myriad signs seen everywhere in Paris are traps for a fifteen-year-old girl. You come here looking for a maid’s job, yet first, you have to pay someone money.

Whether or not you truly get a maid’s job depends on your luck because most of the so-called employers just want to sell you for a decent price. Kid, do you understand what I mean now?”

Of course, Arthur understood Mana’s meaning; such situations don’t just happen in Paris; there are quite a few cases in London too.

During his three years at Scotland Yard, he handled quite a few cases like this.

However, while solving these cases wasn’t difficult, discovering them posed a great challenge.

Because those people traffickers, who act like procurers, usually select their targets with great care, they often prefer orphans who have lost their parents.