The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1597: Chapter 21: Why Didn’t You Tell Me Sooner About This Good Deal? (Part 3)

After speaking, Arthur picked up the gloves on the table and called the owner over to settle the bill.

Seeing Arthur about to leave, Wheatstone’s eyes darted, and he immediately used the same trick Arthur had previously played on him. He feigned a sarcastic provocation, ”Arthur, if you can’t find a suitable place, just say so. I know you’re not what you used to be; even those policemen don’t listen to you anymore. Even if I want to stay in the ’Safe House’ for a while, you don’t have the power to invite me in. Suddenly asking you to find a house for me — indeed, it’s beyond your capability. But, for such a trivial matter, dragging our friendship into this is just...”

Arthur heard this and played along. He slammed the table, pretending to be angry, ”Charles, I’m not Assistant Commissioner anymore, and even the diplomat tag has been stripped from me, but that doesn’t mean I’m a useless good-for-nothing! If I say there’s such a house, then there is! And the place is serene, far from the slaughterhouse, and no street vendors—at most, just a few sparrows.”

Instead of getting angry at Arthur’s rebuke, Wheatstone chuckled inwardly.

How many years has it been!

Finally, Wheatstone had the chance to outwit that bastard Hastings!

”That’s more like it, Arthur!” he earnestly exclaimed, with a hint of admiration in his tone, ”I thought your temper had been worn down after all those diplomatic parties over the past two years. I didn’t expect you to still have that stubborn streak from your Scotland Yard days.”

”That stubbornness is reserved for old friends.” Arthur scoffed, ”Deep down, you still look down on me. At the end of the day, you think I’m just a fool who can only make things convenient with his power.”

”Not at all.” Wheatstone quickly waved his hand, ”By the way, where’s this place you mentioned, and is the rent expensive?”

Arthur appeared quite angry. He took off his hat, fanning himself as he replied, ”Rent? With me stepping in, why need rent? To be honest, the University of London is setting up a physics laboratory. Initially, the committee had appointed Mr. Faraday as the lab director, but from his attitude, he seems reluctant to leave the Royal Society. So now, they are mainly targeting William Sturgeon and David Brewster. Of course, if possible, their top priority is Mr. John Dalton.”

”John Dalton?!” Wheatstone nearly choked on his tea, coughing several times, ”Isn’t that old man the gem of Manchester University? Why would he come to London? Besides, he’s nearly deaf, practically unable to hear his own experiments explode; he’d hate to move.”

At this point, Wheatstone began to criticize the other two candidates: ”As for David Brewster, his ’Edinburgh Encyclopedia’ is indeed well-compiled, but he’s a Scotsman and his relations with universities here in England aren’t very close. As for Mr. Sturgeon... he does have some insights on electromagnetism, but in terms of academic systematicness, he’s somewhat lacking.”

Arthur chuckled, ”So they’re all unsuitable, and only you’re suitable?”

”Oh, come on,” Wheatstone immediately put on a humble facade. ”Arthur, my dear brother, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t say I was suitable. I’m just saying that compared to them, I’m ’slightly’ less unsuitable.”

Arthur glanced up at him, ”What you said is no different from ’I’m not perfect, but I’m better than all of you.’”

”That shows you understood.” Wheatstone unabashedly spread his hands, ”Logically speaking, Arthur, I’m not afraid of solitude, not afraid of loneliness, not afraid of lacking funds; I’m only afraid of the vulgar noises of cattle and commerce. Do you think I’m suitable for that place? Besides, if I go to the University of London, I’m not saying I’d be more useful than those three, but at least I’d be the most obedient.”

”Obedient?” Arthur noticed the shift in momentum and immediately returned Wheatstone’s earlier arrogant demeanor in full measure. ”You’re talking nonsense with your eyes open. When the Royal Society had you speak publicly, not a single fart came out of those three whacks. Although the role of a physics lab director doesn’t require frequent lectures, you still need to train a few apprentices. Are you sure you have that ability?”

”Public speaking isn’t my strength, but training apprentices, well, that’s another matter...”

Wheatstone held up a finger, pledging confidently, ”I know I’m not very patient, my tongue isn’t sweet, but are we in academia for those superficial things? Aren’t we in it to pass on knowledge, have a place to research, and get some results? You give me such a place, and I promise you, I’ll have results in five years and successors in ten. I guarantee you, if I truly have that quiet spot, I’ll eventually stir up some noise. Try recommending me to them; you know me. I may talk too much, but I have a good heart and even better work ethic.”

Arthur took a sip of his tea before slowly responding, ”I can try to convey your words to the committee, but whether it works out... I can’t promise.”

”Of course, you’re no longer Assistant Commissioner, nor a diplomat. To put it bluntly, you’re an outsider at the University of London now.” Wheatstone muttered in a low voice, then immediately put on a smiling face, ”You’re right, we shouldn’t force things in such matters. We should be content with what we have.”

”Don’t pull that on me.” Arthur shook his head, putting his hat back on. ”I said I’d try, and that’s that. Don’t get your hopes up too high; the committee is still run by those old veterans who drag their feet. If you’re counting on them to approve right away, I suggest you go back to the barn and dream.”