The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1452: Chapter 227: Russia Overseas Intelligence Station_2

But, there was still a doubt in his heart: ”Sir, why are you so sure those young people will be reckless?”

Arthur stepped on the carriage pedal and looked back at him: ”Henry, what do you think young means? Doing things without considering the consequences, that’s young! When you have a secret to tell or need someone’s help, you’d better tell a young person, seek help from the young. Only unless absolutely necessary, don’t seek help from middle-aged people, and never seek help from the elderly, as they often lack patience due to a shortage of time, thus many are scoundrels.”

Blackwell followed him onto the carriage, promptly adding: ”Are you saying, you are one of them?”

Yet rarely, Arthur didn’t refute this time, instead he gave him a meaningful look.

However, that look made Blackwell’s heart suddenly tighten.

Although he often bantered with the Sir, as long as the Sir refuted, everyone could take it as a joke.

But if the Sir doesn’t even refute, it only means he took it seriously.

Blackwell hurried to make amends: ”Sir, that’s not what I meant.”

”So, you’re saying I’m young, saying I’m unreliable?”

As soon as Arthur said this, Blackwell instantly found himself caught in a bind.

He regretted deeply why he had to tease the Sir with word games, especially since – he knew full well he couldn’t outplay an old hand at Scotland Yard.

Fortunately, Arthur didn’t delve deeply into his mistake, he just wanted to give the kid a lesson.

Henry Blackwell, this young man, though possessing many faults, still has a clever mind.

More importantly, there is no secretary with less background than Blackwell in the entire British Embassy in Russia.

Of course, if Arthur wanted, he could totally hire a private secretary locally who knows English, but who can guarantee that the one he hires is a genuine secretary and not an agent sent by the Third Bureau?

Because of this distrust, Arthur not only didn’t seek a private secretary through social recruitment but also didn’t even hire a single servant locally.

Although this odd behavior drew the attention of the entire embassy, even the Earl of Dalmo once privately inquired about Arthur’s personal life, expressing that if he truly was in financial straits, the Russian Embassy could reimburse the servant hiring expenses.

But Arthur still politely refused his mentor’s kindness, consistently upholding the frugality tradition of the old York people.

However, this just made things harder for Blackwell.

He had been in St. Petersburg for so long, this was the first time he saw an advisor handing over laundry to a private secretary for handling.

Luckily, the Sir paid money for it.

Therefore, Blackwell didn’t have to wash them himself, he could get some laundresses by the Neva River to help handle this problem.

At this thought, Blackwell couldn’t help but care about Arthur’s lifelong affair.

In his view, if the Sir married a wife, his burden would surely lighten considerably.

Because even if the Sir himself was unwilling to hire servants, the Madam would urge him to hire. According to Russian customs, the lady’s family would certainly bring a lot of money, land, estates, and household staff as dowry.

Blackwell often went hunting in the woods near St. Petersburg during his holidays, he often saw convoys of noble ladies and maidens on the way.

Once, he stopped at a village when he saw the lady of the place inspecting the village head’s work to straighten out order on the manor.

Now that was impressive.

The dirt road outside the village entrance was filled with a whole convoy, the lady rode a sedan chair, the doctor in a covered carriage, laundresses and cleaning women in another covered carriage, and the cook in a covered carriage loaded with cookware. Besides these lightweight carriages, several more covered carriages followed behind, escorted by the housekeeper, carrying clothes and dinnerware.

Before the lady had even alighted, the servants scrambled to hang clean bedsheets in the dining and accommodation houses in advance, lay carpets, set up and arrange travel tables, and even the maids accompanying the lady to dine had to wear lace short-sleeved dresses.

It’s just that, the lady seemed to have quite a bad temper.

Perhaps because she realized she had unlimited power over the peasants, she was harsh and domineering to the point of almost being rude.

The most frequent words Blackwell heard from her mouth were — I kill as I please, pardon as I wish!

Even towards her own children, though she loved them, she disciplined the young master much like training new recruits.

When her young son tearily asked why his mother beat him, the lady firmly said: ”You know better than I do, guess why.”

What exactly was it?

Not to mention the kid, even Blackwell as an adult didn’t figure it out.

To a straightforward peasant standing before such a lady, his legs would be trembling.

The chief inspector came to greet, not even daring to hang bells on the carriage, fearing to disturb the lady and to be scolded by her.

Though Blackwell surely couldn’t handle such a lady.

But, he thought if Sir Arthur Hastings could marry such a formidable lady, indeed, you know, that would be something!

She would manage everything at home in perfect order, sound reveille every morning, and dare you take laundry outside to wash, you probably have a death wish!

As he savored the Sir’s ’happy life’ after marriage, Blackwell casually interjected: ”Did anyone leave a deep impression on you at the banquet? I remember Lady Maria Hoflina praised your wit, and Miss Helena and Miss Moldovnova, the two of them were practically by your side all evening.”

Arthur recalled and associated the family backgrounds of these Moscow socialites: ”How could I forget, Lady Hoflina’s brother is Moscow’s deputy police chief, Miss Helena’s father is a school inspector in Moscow. As for Miss Moldovnova, although it’s unfair to others, most of my attention that day was actually on her.”

”Oh!” Blackwell sensed there might be something, quickly probing: ”I also thought she stood out the most, especially her...”

Arthur hadn’t expected this guy to share his opinion, he nodded in agreement: ”Especially her father is Count Bendendorf’s deputy, Mr. Moldovnov, the head of the Tsar’s Imperial Office Third Bureau.”

Blackwell originally intended to discuss Miss Moldovnova’s demeanor and conversation, talking about her father wouldn’t hurt though.

After all, the daughter of a spy chief, she must have inherited some of her dad’s genes.

Blackwell rummaged through the pile of invitations in his briefcase, it didn’t take long to find an invitation with Miss Moldovnova’s name on the guest list.

”What do you think of this?”

Arthur glanced at the invitation, for once feeling amazed at Blackwell’s efficiency: ”Henry, have you turned over a new leaf?”

Blackwell didn’t hide his little scheming, but he had a grand excuse: ”Sir, in my view, being unmarried is incompetent as a diplomat. In diplomatic circles, having a capable wife to manage social ties is fundamental. If you don’t have a family establishment, many occasions wouldn’t invite you.”

Arthur flicked his pipe: ”Really? I suggest you write this into a report and submit it to Fifteen Downing Street, directly to our Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston. Henry, I know what you’re thinking, but don’t deceive yourself. Do you think a young girl in a diplomatic venue will consider her love affairs? Don’t be foolish, she’s thinking about gaining advantages for her brothers. Of course, if you think it helps work, I won’t argue, but if not handled well, she could be harmful too.”