The Shadow of Great Britain

Capítulo 1430: Chapter 218: Moscow University

“You’re so interested in Moscow University, why don’t we take a stroll around? Don’t you feel stifled staying at home?”

“During Shrovetide, are there people on campus? Can we get in?”

“You don’t have to worry about that, I’m quite familiar with that old porter at the school. Students give him some wine money, and he always accepts respectfully, tending to be drunk more often than sober. We just need to hand him fifty kopecks to buy a bottle of fiery vodka, and everything will be fine.”

Arthur smiled subtly at Herzen’s suggestion; although he found it somewhat abrupt, he was indeed curious about the atmosphere at Moscow University, especially after Herzen’s eloquent depiction of the student-professor conflict.

Arthur watched Herzen put on his coat with the help of a servant and asked, “You haven’t told me, how did you manage to escape the school’s punishment afterwards?”

“Old method.”

Herzen’s tone was like that of a seasoned rogue: “The dean of academic affairs later summoned me and other math department students involved in the Marlov incident. I taught them to deny everything, refuse to admit anything, at most only admit one thing: that we were in the politics department classroom when the incident erupted. Apart from that, don’t say a word more. But some students are timid and nervous, for instance, that chubby Russian-German baron family kid I brought to stir up trouble in the politics department. To such people, I could only give more encouragement.”

Blackwell curiously asked, “How did you encourage him?”

Herzen adjusted his coat: “I told the chubby kid that lying to the school principal and dean for the sake of causing trouble would, at most, get him locked up in confinement for a few days. But if I find out he’s babbling before the dean and implicating others, I’ll make sure the entire class knows and make his life in school unbearable.”

Blackwell couldn’t help but sneer: “Now I finally understand why you could become friends with Sir Arthur Hastings, your methods are exactly alike.”

Arthur denied outright: “When I studied at the University of London, I never did such things, that was Eld’s job.”

“Eld?” Herzen asked, “Eld Carter? The author of ‘St. George’s flag still rises’?”

“Exactly.” Arthur nodded, “He was quite the skilled lad like you. Whenever something happened at school, it was generally him who took the responsibility to ‘persuade’. Eld not only ‘persuaded’ at school but was also eloquent and adept at mediation on the streets of London.”

Herzen had only met two of Arthur’s other friends in Leipzig, one was Heinrich Heine, and the other was Alexander Dumas, so he couldn’t help imagining Eld as someone similar to them.

Though Heine and Great Dumas might not necessarily be upright figures, at least these two guys presented themselves with literary grandeur before young fans from Russia, not letting their thunderous fame be diminished.

As Herzen put on his boots, he said, “You know, serving as the academic director and national special representative at the University of Gottingen will bring you many conveniences at Moscow University.”

Arthur, with a cigar between his lips, asked, “How so? Why would Moscow University respect Gottingen’s academic director?”

Herzen explained, “Moscow University’s professors mainly divide into two factions, and they are agreeable in appearance but disagreeable at heart. One faction is entirely made up of Germans, while the other is non-Germans. Generally speaking, I prefer the German professors because they are mostly kind and knowledgeable, like Loder, Feischer, Hildbrandt, and the former principal Heim, but their common trait is that they don’t understand or refuse to understand Russian and don’t care much about students’ studies. Their minds are filled with Western employment ideas; for them, professorship is merely a respectable job without any other meaning. These people are rigidly conventional, indulge in cigars recklessly, proudly display cross medals on their chest without ever removing them, regardless of the occasion. Moreover, since most of these German professors teach in the field of Natural Philosophy, as you understand, they are all graduates from the University of Gottingen.”

Upon hearing Herzen’s evaluation, Arthur first glanced at the cigar in his hand, then looked down at the Saint Anna Medal ribbon loop around his chest, and jestingly remarked, “Although I only served as academic director at Gottingen for over half a year, I truly seem to have become a proud Gottingen person.”

Herzen laughed out loud: “I didn’t mean to mock you, but I’m depicting a type of people, so I have to find some characteristics, don’t I? I bet that during your visit to Moscow University, you’ll definitely receive a warm welcome from the German professors.”

Arthur felt a headache looming, knowing he was about to meet with these distinguished alumni from the University of Gottingen: “I remember you mentioned the other faction, the non-German professors?”

Herzen replied, “The non-German professors, they are exactly the opposite of the German professors. Beyond Russian, they do not comprehend any other languages. Of course, Latin, which is a language no longer in use, is an exception. In their hearts, national essence always ranks first, and their thoughts are narrow and superficial. Except for a few individuals, none of them hold any status within the school. Although they don’t indulge in cigars recklessly, they do drink in excess.”