The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1020: Chapter 66: Illegitimate Child

”Is there anything special about this Arthur Hastings?”

”Well...”

Emily held the outdated business card and swept her eyes over the dazzling titles on it. She couldn’t quite figure out what she felt inside.

Assistant Police Director of the Greater London Police Department, Principal of London Police Academy, Deputy Police Prosecutor of the London District Attorney’s Office, Executive Commissioner of the British Publishing Committee, Conductor of the Second Orchestra of the London Philharmonic Association, Secretary of the University of London Alumni Association...

Arthur indeed did not lie to her; the elegant gentleman from Britain indeed had held long-term positions in the police department.

However, based on Emily’s shallow understanding gained from the ”Hastings Case Files,” British police clearly did not have the esteemed status of French police.

Compared to the long-standing tradition of France’s police, British police not only had considerably less power, but their higher positions seemed not to be held by prominent political figures.

During the Republic and Imperial Era periods, France’s police department had set up a dedicated Minister of Police or Minister for Police to manage.

And those who could occupy this position were none other than the most shrewd, capable, or most trusted individuals by the rulers of France at the time.

For example, Joseph Fouche, who was as brilliant as Talleyrand and personally built France’s domestic spy network.

After Fouche plotted to overthrow Napoleon, the loyalist Savary, who was trusted by Napoleon, succeeded Fouche as the Minister for Police.

Upon the Bourbon Restoration, Louis XVIII appointed Elie Decazes, and Charles X appointed Jules de Polignac.

These people were not only nobles but also powerful figures, and more importantly, their relationship with the King was often closer than that between the Prime Minister and the King.

Thus, France’s police were never a subordinate of any department, but were equal with departments like the Foreign Office, Treasury, etc., and they even had a slight edge in power over several other departments.

In comparison with these French counterparts, Scotland Yard, founded in 1829, clearly had a much more difficult existence.

Firstly, they were a subordinate administrative agency of the Home Office, lower in administrative rank from the start.

The highest officers of Scotland Yard, Police Chief Charles Rowan and Deputy Chief Richard Mayne, were both retired Colonels from the Army, which couldn’t be compared to the high-status favored treatment of France’s top police ministers who were often Dukes and Princes.

And regarding actual power, it was even less favorable.

In the ”Hastings Case Files,” cracking a case involving a member of Parliament required much effort, while such achievements would only be a minor listing on the French police’s ’honor list’.

Would British nobles let their sons become policemen?

Emily thought it would be hard for respectable families to make such decisions on their children’s futures.

But the contents on the business card clearly conflicted with her inner suspicions, she hesitantly asked, ”Is he perhaps a commoner? My dear uncle, to me, his demeanor at the banquet was undoubtedly noble.”

”Oh, the banquet...”

Just a single word made the old uncle understand what had happened, and he laughed, ”My dear Emily, at a banquet, whose demeanor isn’t noble? Even a pig farmer dressed in appropriate clothes, surrounded by elite gentlemen and beautiful ladies, could appear like a prince.”

”No, uncle.” Emily replied firmly, ”Not everyone possesses the appearance and mannerisms cultivated by high society during social interactions, he seemed to frequent such places often. His words were very appropriate, and his speech was well-mannered. I bet you, he is surely a noble.”

The old uncle teased his niece, ”Perhaps it’s because you didn’t have ample time to observe him closely.”

Emily retorted, ”You weren’t there at the time, I chatted with him for quite a while, and we even rode home together.”

”Oh, rode home together?”

Emily’s face turned red, and her uncle embarrassed her for several minutes, before laughing and finally speaking.

”Emily, you know I love you like my own child, because among our DelaSalle Family, only you have the highborn pride expected of noble descent. Heaven knows! My niece, how you grew into a figure with the demeanor of a princess. Well, since you’re so interested in Mr. Hastings, let me advise you. Honestly, I do know some anecdotes about him in London.”

”What do you know?” Emily’s grey-blue eyes lit up.

”Sir Arthur Hastings is indeed a trendsetter in London, everyone is fascinated by his experiences, not because he hails from some ancient family or possesses a distinguished lineage, but precisely because his background is as clean and gentle as blank paper. Just like Paris, Londoners aren’t interested in the grandees from noble backgrounds, but they are fond of stories of commoners rising from the citizen ranks.”

The old uncle calmly recounted several events that caused a stir over the years concerning Arthur in London. Emily listened, sometimes feeling anxious, sometimes excited, her hands tightly clenching the hem of her dress, almost wrinkling the luxurious attire that was just recently tailored.

But upon hearing the end, Emily couldn’t help but exhale slightly, her eyes carrying a hint of regret and disappointment, ”He is indeed an exceptional person, not of noble birth yet accomplished many things that even nobles couldn’t achieve. But...”