The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1346: Chapter 188: Is the Colonel Under House Arrest? (Part 2)

Area: Second District

Document Number: № 7825

Issue Date: May 20, 1832

Job Description: As an officer of the Imperial Constabulary, Richard Hoot is responsible for law enforcement and maintaining order, especially in controlling political prisoners, ensuring national security, suppressing illegal activities, and monitoring counter-revolutionary actions. He is authorized to participate in criminal investigations, assist in local military operations, and execute special orders from the central government.

Work Area:

This document authorizes Richard Hoot to enforce laws across the entire Empire, especially in the eastern and remote areas that require heightened order, including regions like Siberia and Poland.

Validity: This document is valid from the date of issuance until it is updated or terminated.

Signature and Stamp:

Issuer:

Alexander Hristoforovich Benkendorf, Director of the Third Bureau of the Imperial Office, Commander of the Constitutional Guard, Cavalry Admiral

Date: May 20, 1832

Location: Saint Petersburg

The prison guard’s hand trembled gently as he held the document, murmuring softly: ”Another officer of the Constabulary...”

Richard Hoot frowned slightly upon hearing this, his sharp eyes like knives instantly fixed on the guard: ”You’re dissatisfied with the Constabulary?”

The guard shivered with fright, returning the document with both hands: ”No, of course not, Captain! I just thought it was a coincidence because there is a Constabulary Colonel visiting this city.”

”Colonel?” Hoot’s mind immediately conjured a few familiar faces at the mention of the word.

There aren’t many Colonels in the Constitutional Guard; those who bear the Colonel title are either the Constabulary Commander of a province or a deputy Constabulary Inspector.

With only around 50 administrative units at the provincial level in Russia, the number of Constabulary Colonels doesn’t exceed a hundred.

Although Hoot dares not claim to know all the Constabulary Colonels, he is at least familiar with those from the First and Second Districts. Even for those he hasn’t met, Hoot has at least seen their names on the official roster.

With this thought, Hoot couldn’t help but consider paying a visit, and he asked: ”What is that gentleman’s name?”

The guard dared not deceive the Constabulary Captain, and he answered truthfully: ”It’s Colonel Hestingov from Saint Petersburg.”

Hoot thought carefully but couldn’t recall anyone by that name.

He tucked the document back into his chest, calmly observing the guard who still had his head bowed.

”From Saint Petersburg?” Hoot repeated softly, a hint of suspicion flickering in his eyes.

Several names flitted through Hoot’s mind—people with deep backgrounds in the Constitutional Guard or recent elite transfers from border areas.

However, the name Hestingov hadn’t left a significant impression on his memory.

This suggested that the person might be a newly emerging star or a lesser-known figure who had yet to occupy a prominent position in the vast bureaucratic system of the Empire.

”Could it be a new appointment?” Hoot furrowed his brows slightly, attempting to piece together more clues in his mind: ”Perhaps he’s transferred from the east or the Caucasus.”

Suddenly, Hoot remembered the turbulent times in Russia these years, especially under the new Tsar Nicholas I, where the power of the Constabulary was almost all-encompassing, and a minor incident anywhere could trigger larger power struggles.

As a young officer keen on advancing within the system, Hoot had reason to suspect that the arrival of the obscure Colonel Hestingov might herald deeper internal machinations within the Constitutional Guard.

Whose man was he?

Benkendorf’s new favorite?

Or a confidant of the ’double-faced’ Master Dubelt who was gaining favor before the Tsar?

”If he is indeed newly appointed... then perhaps he doesn’t know me.” Hoot muttered softly, a wave of unease arising in him.

As the only Briton in the Russian Constabulary system, he had already established a certain standing within it.

While he generally didn’t concern himself with power struggles, he could not afford to overlook any threat, however minor, posed by the arrival of a newly promoted Colonel.

Even as a foreigner, he faced no risk of exile by the Tsar...

Nevertheless, if he crossed someone he shouldn’t in a power struggle, he still faced losing the hard-earned benefits of his Russian nobility status, including his military rank, salary, and other advantages.

Having tasted the delight of being addressed as ’Mr. Hoot,’ returning to the position of a junior employee at a company, left to carry out errands at the behest of a manager, would be too cruel a mental blow.

Even if both roles involved legwork, the distinction between running errands for the Tsar and for a manager was immense.

”I should go meet him.”

Standing before the cold prison building, Hoot took a deep breath of icy air, glancing at the guard before finally speaking: ”That Colonel Hestingov, is he staying in this city?”

The guard was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Hoot to suddenly mention Hestingov, showing some hesitation. But he dared not conceal anything and replied softly: ”Yes, Captain, Colonel Hestingov is currently lodging at the Mayor’s Mansion.”

Hoot slightly furrowed his brow, asking quietly: ”The Mayor’s Mansion? When did he arrive? Did he have any meetings with local officials?”

The guard evidently knew these questions were tricky, but he didn’t try to avoid them, simply answering honestly: ”Colonel Hestingov arrived last week. He had several meetings with the Mayor, the judge, and the inspector. However, it seems the Colonel was carrying a secret mission from the Emperor, so he didn’t reveal his identity for the first five days and instead found a small hotel to stay in. During that time, the Colonel was dressed casually and went to places like the City Hall, Police Department, and City Court for investigation every day, only revealing his identity and startling the Mayor and others after he had sorted everything out.”