The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1588: Chapter 14: I’m a Person of Principle (Part 2)

Arthur gave a wry smile, ”For a politician, principles are a luxury.”

Lord Brougham sighed, ”Unfortunately, you’ve experienced this luxury twice already.”

Arthur did not argue; he slowly began, ”I understand that in politics, no one applauds another’s motivation. They only seek accountability once results come to pass. And in this matter, I indeed took a wrong step. Regardless of motivation, I am willing to bear the consequences.”

Brougham raised an eyebrow, looking at him slightly surprised, ”Are you saying... you’re planning to step down from the political arena?”

”To be precise, it’s not a plan, I’ve already done so,” Arthur calmly said, ”Sorry for not informing you earlier; I submitted my resignation to Viscount Palmerston last week under my own name, and assured the Foreign Office I would remain silent during the parliamentary investigation. I don’t want this to affect Earl Dalmo, nor do I want to give anyone from the Eckett side an opportunity.”

”This decision... was somewhat beyond my expectations.”

Brougham was silent for a long while. He initially only intended for Arthur to reflect, yet didn’t expect his protégé to have such a resolute temperament. But things having come to this point, the chance to make Arthur bow to Palmerston for retention had passed.

Brougham asked, ”Then what do you plan to do afterward? I guess you won’t remain idle.”

Talking about his future life, Arthur finally exhibited a bit of youthful vitality typical of the young, ”Of course not. I still have to support a group of talented but terribly lazy writers. Over at the publishing house, ’Spark’ has just launched, and ’Britisher’ is going to start preparing for the next phase of revamps. The brand-new sales system is just starting, advertising contacts, printing royalties, regional distributions... all are troubles, but also opportunities.”

Hearing this, Brougham couldn’t help but smile, as if an old blacksmith finally saw the sword he had forged over months coming to fruition.

”Not bad, I’ve long thought that you have more talent in publishing than in drafting bills...”

Suddenly, Lord Brougham changed the topic, looking at Arthur thoughtfully, ”Speaking of which, it reminds me. The University of London’s management committee just met the day before yesterday, and we’re seeking a new Dean of Academic Affairs. The previous dean voluntarily resigned due to health reasons. Some senior professors on the committee heard you returned to London and mentioned your name because you have experience in the Academic Director role. Do you have any interest in returning to your alma mater and perhaps taking a part-time position?”

Arthur was slightly taken aback, ”Me?”

”Who else?”

Brougham nodded confidently, ”Don’t be surprised. You did a great job at the University of Gottingen. The European Electromagnetism Congress with such a constellation of participants isn’t something just anyone can organize... Securing figures from the French Academy of Sciences, Berlin Academy of Sciences, and the royal societies from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and launching a scientific journal like ’Nature’ isn’t something every old PhD could handle as an Academic Director. You understand cross-sector governance, comprehending both politics and publishing. Most importantly, you’re at a period where ’a time of settling’ is necessary. You’re not someone exiled by the times, Arthur. You’ve just been pushed by fate onto a mountain path leading to higher peaks. You need to learn to gain a foothold before continuing upward. After this path, I don’t worry about whether you can return to the political arena. What I am more curious about is whether next time you return, you’ll be more than just Sir Arthur Hastings.”

At this point, Lord Brougham insisted on saying, ”You have a decent relationship with Faraday; if you become Dean of Academic Affairs, you must exhaust every means to recruit him as our Lab Director. You can tell Faraday that if he’s willing, we’re prepared to add 20% to the previous salary offer, with the annual salary set at twelve hundred pounds, and the first year’s salary could be paid in a lump sum.”

Hearing this, Arthur quickly motioned to halt, ”Based on my understanding of Mr. Faraday, money isn’t the issue, no matter how many times we try to recruit him, it will be refused the same way.”

”Wait, did you just say ’we’?” Lord Brougham slowly repeated, with a teasing smile, ”Sounds like you’ve already considered yourself one of us. So, my dear Arthur, does this mean you’ve tacitly agreed to the Dean position?”

Arthur gave a somewhat helpless wry smile, ”I’m a student of the University of London, Your Excellency. Strictly speaking, I’ve never really left. The first book I read in London was borrowed from the University Library, which required personal handwritten registration back then. My first formal speech was at Hackney Lecture Hall, where I was so nervous I sweated through my palms. The first article I ever published was in the ’London University Journal’ under a pseudonym because I wasn’t very confident. Your Excellency, I hope you understand, I’ve always belonged to the University of London, irrespective of whether I take on the Dean position.”

Brougham looked at him, eyes full of a trace of satisfaction and pride.

He suddenly chuckled and joked, ”Arthur, there’s no need to think so lowly of your ’firsts.’ When I was young, during my first public speech at Edinburgh University, my fingers trembled so much that I couldn’t hold my speech notes. I also thought I was a nobody, that no one would listen to me... Yet that evening, I didn’t receive applause but rather a hot water bottle handed over by an old lecturer. He said, ’Young man, you did well, just remember not to catch a cold next time.’”

Lord Brougham’s sudden humor made Arthur burst into laughter.

Brougham looked at him, immediately smiling and extending his hand, ”So, are you coming back as the Dean of Academic Affairs?”

Regarding Brougham’s invitation, Arthur couldn’t find any reason for refusal.

Although he knew this position would likely be very busy, the title of Dean of Academic Affairs not only would provide him with a stable income but could also boost his ranking on the candidate list for the Kensington Palace home tutor position.

Most importantly, this was an invitation from the University of London; both sentimentally and rationally, Arthur had no grounds for refusal.

He nodded slightly, ”Your Excellency, I understand the weight of this. Since ’we’ have already become a habit, then I shall no longer refuse. I’m willing to accept this appointment and willing to commit all I have for the University of London and for this era.”

After hearing this, Lord Brougham displayed a satisfied smile, ”Very well, Arthur. In that case, your first task is to tell Faraday that the offer is always on the table, that everything is negotiable as long as he joins us. Nothing else matters.”

Seeing Brougham’s persistent pursuit of Faraday, Arthur could only reluctantly agree for now: ”I can go and talk to Mr. Faraday. He may be hard to sway, but I believe if we show enough sincerity and patience, maybe one day he’ll consider it.”

Upon hearing these words, Brougham put on his hat, ”The same applies to you, Arthur; as long as you have enough sincerity and patience, one day you will return to the center stage. And whether that day comes sooner or later depends entirely on your initiative.”

With that, Lord Brougham gently tapped on the carriage wall, indicating to the coachman to stop, then turned around with a pseudo-smile, ”Today’s carriage ride isn’t just taking you home, Arthur. Normally, this should fall to me, but given you’ve agreed to be the Dean of London University, let’s start the handover today, shall we?”

He gestured slightly outside the window, ”The Royal Society is right ahead, and Faraday is in the lab conducting experiments today; I’ve already made inquiries in advance.”

Arthur turned his head to look out at the familiar scenery; Gresham College, the location of the Royal Society, hadn’t changed a bit these past few years: ”Your Excellency, I’ve just accepted the position for less than ten minutes, and I’m already being asked to persuade Britain’s most stubborn Natural Philosopher? You may be a bit too eager.”

”Exactly because you’ve just accepted, I need to strike while the iron is hot,” Brougham said with a smile: ”Didn’t you just say you’re willing to dedicate all you have for this era? Then let’s start with a cup of electrolyzed water.”