The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1576: Chapter 13: The Princess’s Electromagnetism Teacher? (2)

Arthur put his hands in his pockets, seemingly still savoring the conversation with Palmerston: ”He even gave me a lesson on morality, including but not limited to: not meddling, not inciting, not taking sides, not being responsible. If we were to summarize this conversation in diplomatic terms, it would be nothing more than ’full exchange of views, both sides exchanged concerns frankly’.”

”So, put more plainly?”

Arthur paused, a mischievous smile appearing at the corners of his mouth: ”I probably hinted to him, if there were another Peterloo, I’d rather order the police to shoot not at the rioters, but at the politicians who ordered the army forward.”

Schneider heard Arthur’s words ”rather shoot politicians,” and instantly clicked his tongue, like he’d just taken a sip of watered-down gin: ”Are you planning to throw everything away and quit being a Civil Servant? Come on, buddy, if you plan to run for Parliament later, you can’t say such things there.”

Arthur spoke while leisurely tidying his coat collar, ”Don’t worry, I didn’t say it in Parliament. I only said it to you on the steps of the Foreign Office. Besides, I said ’if there were another’, purely hypothetical mood, flawlessly used.”

Schneider glanced at him sideways: ”Honestly, are you really planning to run? We’ve known each other for a while, but frankly, the Caucasus affairs don’t seem like something you’d get involved in. If it’s not creating a public opinion wave for running for Parliament, I really can’t figure out why else you’d do it.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow, didn’t directly answer, but instead laughed: ”Nowadays, saying someone’s ’preparing to run’ is just like saying they’re preparing to get married, a kind of kindly insult. August, you know well that Parliament isn’t a place civilized people should stay.”

”It’s nothing, I just feel... your calm yet somewhat provocative stance today really suits you for sitting in the Lower House and banging tables with the others.”

Arthur stood before the gates of Number 15 Downing Street, looking up at the smoke-covered sky above the Foreign Office: ”August, you overestimate me. I’m just an old policeman with some obsession. Compared to you bunch of professional Diplomats, I haven’t learned how to win respect without taking a stand.”

Schneider patted his shoulder comfortingly: ”Don’t be disheartened, buddy, I don’t understand what you’ve been through in Russia. But, if you want to appear more professional, it’s actually not that hard, just lower your bottom line a bit more. As for Sir David Eckett, hmm... if you trust me, best stay away from him. You know, those sincere idealists are often more unpredictable than opportunists because they’d rather lose their positions than their principles.”

Arthur took off his hat, smiling as he bid Schneider farewell: ”That’s still better than ’losing both position and principles’. Next week, I’ll treat you to a meal, you pick the place, I’ll cover the bill. That’s all for today, August.”

Arthur stepped into the carriage, hadn’t even sat down, when a slightly sarcastic complaint sounded to his left: ”You finally came out slowly, I’ve almost turned into a wax figure sitting in this car.”

Arthur instinctively turned his head to look, in the dimly lit space inside the car, Mr. Benjamin Disraeli was sitting with legs crossed, fiddling with an ivory-handled cane, his expression was as forlorn as a neglected Persian cat.

Arthur closed the car door, leisurely sitting down opposite him: ”Why are you here?”

”Of course, to see the joke of you, the rebellious Diplomat.” Disraeli blinked: ”And also to remind you, dear friend, haven’t you forgotten something?”

”Did I forget to bring a bouquet to Palmerston?”

”You forgot to ask Peel and the Duke of Wellington about switching my electoral district!”

Disraeli jumped up in frustration, nearly knocking over the cane at his feet.

”I knew it!” He grumbled indignantly: ”You promised two nights ago to subtly drop hints during the talk, but what happened? You completely forgot my script. Instead, you turned the Foreign Office into the stage, delivering lines with Palmerston!”

Arthur patted his forehead, then rubbed his temples, a bit awkwardly replied: ”Benjamin, this... indeed is my fault. So much has happened these days, the Caucasus and Kensington Palace are crammed in my head, and it forced you out.”

Disraeli was about to get angry but quickly furrowed his brows: ”I know about the Caucasus, what’s going on with Kensington Palace?”

”In general terms, it’s a private job, only the clients all have official status. Or more bluntly, they plan to send me to Kensington Palace.”

Disraeli was no fool, so after a bit of thought, he understood the kind of task his old friend got caught up in, especially since they’d talked about the complex family relationships within the Royal Family before.

Disraeli widened his eyes, almost unable to close his mouth: ”You... Arthur, you’re saying, they want you to infiltrate...”

Arthur raised a finger to his lips, signaling Disraeli to calm down: ”Benjamin, keep it down, I’m currently a free man with no official duties and have no intention of entering politics anytime soon.”

”No intention of entering politics?” Disraeli lowered his voice, but it was still evident from his expressive face that he was itching to shout: ”Do you know what’s the most dangerous thing on this island? Not Russian spies! Not Parisian showgirls! But those who sit beside the throne and say they have ’no intention of entering politics’!”