The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1459: Chapter 230: The Constitutional Soldiers’ Method of Judgment (Part 2)

Shubinsky looked absent-minded; he heard someone calling him and took a while to react: ”Arthur, what a coincidence?”

Shubinsky dismounted from his horse, first exchanging a few simple pleasantries with Arthur, then quickly steering the conversation towards the previous matter with Druiysk, hinting: ”Hutter should have told you by now, right? Brother, it’s not that I’m saying this, but you’ve been too careless. Think about it, we’ve climbed to this position step by step, using all our energy to get here. Luckily, we were both shrewd this time, otherwise we would have ended up in the gutter. Just for such a small matter, losing our prospects would indeed be too undeserving.”

At this, Shubinsky didn’t forget to warmly invite Arthur to his home for a short visit: ”Care to join me for some tea?”

”Now?” Arthur pretended to be surprised: ”My friend, who has time for tea at a time like this? Don’t you know what’s been happening in Moscow these past few days?”

”So you know as well?” Shubinsky laughed silently, shaking his head: ”Never mind, it’s only natural that such things can’t be kept from you. In no time, it’s sure to cause a stir throughout the city.”

Arthur took out a tin box of Virginia tobacco from his pocket, gesturing for Shubinsky to take some.

The Constitutional Soldier Colonel filled his pipe while grumbling: ”Brother, look at my life of toil. It was supposed to be a good day, a day to reunite with my wife and children and parents-in-law in St. Petersburg. After working hard the whole year, finally being able to sit by the fireplace, holding a cup of kvass, and having a few bites of sweet pastry. But then, the Emperor gets angry, Count Benkendorf bangs the table, and I must obediently rush back to Moscow to perform my duties. Tell me, is this even a life? Working at Scotland Yard can’t be as exhausting as being a Constitutional Soldier, can it?”

Arthur smiled in agreement: ”Both jobs have their own kind of exhaustion. At Scotland Yard, for those below, the exhaustion mainly comes from the endless patrols. For the Criminal Investigation Department, it’s more about using one’s wits. However, the ones managing us are not His Majesty the Tsar, but the Home Secretary. Regardless of whether a case is handled well or poorly, at least we wouldn’t be exiled to Siberia.”

”Indeed.” Shubinsky was full of grievances and complained to Arthur: ”When the Emperor gets mad, it’s no joke in Russia.”

”So, who on earth made him angry?”

Shubinsky took a puff of smoke: ”Well, it’s actually quite simple. It started because the Third Bureau received a report that at a private party in Moscow earlier this year, the guests sang some inflammatory songs.”

Arthur was curious: ”Inflammatory songs? What did they sing?”

”I can’t tell you that.” Shubinsky removed his pipe and said, ”Brother, if I sang them, I’d end up in jail too. In short, they were some subversive poems satirizing the current Emperor. Even worse, the organizer of that party was a student from Moscow University. You know, Moscow University is within my jurisdiction; if not handled well, it could...”

The Constitutional Soldier Colonel rubbed his forehead, praying to God for a bit of luck: ”This time, Volkov (Moscow Constabulary Commander) is bound to call me and give me a scolding, and as usual, he’ll probably flaunt how he solved student cases back when he was at Moscow University... That old bastard, son of a bitch...”

Arthur consoled: ”Well, there’s nothing you can do, he’s got grounds this time and won’t miss the chance to flaunt it. Endure a moment of peace, if he capitalizes on this event to make a big deal, it could end up in a misconduct charge against you.”

”To be honest, brother, I’ve actually considered that possibility. That old bastard knows I’m eyeing his position, and he’s eyeing a few department head positions at the Third Bureau’s headquarters. When Von Walker died two years ago, he thought his chance had come, so he worked his connections in St. Petersburg. However, doesn’t he see his own qualifications, thinking he deserves Von Walker’s position?”

At this, Shubinsky didn’t forget to lift Arthur up: ”Brother, do you know Von Walker? He’s the soul of Russia’s entire complex security police apparatus, not only well-educated with rich social activities experience but also always focused on policing. Although Count Benkendorf was the highest official of the Third Bureau, privately I’ve always thought Von Walker was the true symbol of the Third Bureau. The 5,000-person informant team was entirely organized and constructed by him! He is to the Third Bureau what you are to Scotland Yard.”

Arthur wasn’t much inclined to talk extensively about his experience at Scotland Yard, especially with Herzen still in the carriage behind him.

Arthur asked: ”Sergei, I think you’re in quite a risky spot right now. If things are indeed as you say, I reckon Volkov plans to use this opportunity, stepping on your back to move himself from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Of course, whether he can successfully do so depends on what the Tsar has in mind. If something goes wrong at Moscow University, you’re the first person held accountable, but Volkov, as the Moscow Constabulary Commander, can’t escape his leadership responsibilities either.”

Shubinsky was filled with anger: ”Indeed! He can’t escape either. So, as is his nature, he’s likely planning to handle this ’funeral happily’, sensationalizing the case and thus boosting his own achievements.”

Arthur didn’t understand what he meant: ”What are you saying?”

”Oh, brother! Have you forgotten what I told you before? Volkov’s specialty! To draw an analogy with Scotland Yard, it would be like turning a theft case into a home robbery, turning defaming the Royal Family into a conspiracy for an uprising. Although I haven’t talked with Volkov specifically since I returned from St. Petersburg, I’ve already sensed it.”

At this, Shubinsky lowered his voice: ”You know we arrested a batch of young people allegedly attending that party yesterday, right?”

Arthur nodded slightly: ”I heard about it from others.”

Shubinsky chuckled disdainfully: ”I can say clearly, if this case were handled by you, you wouldn’t dare directly arrest anyone, because it wouldn’t comply with your Scotland Yard regulations — we don’t have solid evidence at all.”

Arthur’s expression changed upon hearing this, as a seasoned British detective, he certainly understood the risk involved: ”Are you saying your people and the Moscow police arrest first and then find evidence? If you don’t find evidence from their homes, and those arrested refuse to confess, what do you plan to do?”

Shubinsky took a puff of smoke: ”So this is the most screwed-up part of the situation. If usually done this way, I could easily report Volkov to the Emperor and get him removed from his position as Moscow Constabulary Commander. But the problem is, the order to arrest criminals came from the Emperor. The Emperor didn’t specify who the criminals were, so Volkov exploited the situation, arresting a few he found suspicious. Normally, the Moscow police wouldn’t obey his commands. But now, not arresting is considered defying the Emperor, and no one wants to bear that sin. As for if they’ve caught the wrong person... yes, I admit, Volkov can’t possibly get it right in one go. But this is where the old fox is crafty; he first takes people away, then through confounding, deceiving, coaxing, and intimidating... ha, don’t doubt it, Arthur, the Constitutional Soldiers have plenty of means to make people confess and plead guilty.”