The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1630: Chapter 34: Bastard Hastings (Part 3)

Aside from the Thames River Police and patrolmen from Tower Hamlets, the only person who could make them reconcile was the dockworker foreman who came to recruit workers.

As soon as the foreman appeared, chaos would break out on the docks, and soon thereafter, countless hands would shoot up into the air vying for his attention.

Everyone knew that with just a nod from this gentleman, work opportunities could follow.

Some would climb onto others’ backs to stand above the rest, attracting the foreman’s eye, and everyone would shout loudly in competition.

After the foreman selected enough workers, many who were not chosen would still linger in the waiting area, holding out hope for a ship delayed by the tide, which would then give them a chance to work as porters.

Despite the fierce competition among hundreds for six or seven job slots, the payment offered was merely 4 to 5 pennies per hour.

Lizzy’s brother was evidently an unfortunate lucky one; he worked hard to secure a position that day, only to encounter a work accident.

Investigating a worker injured at the West Indies Pier was clearly not an easy task, as almost every day there would be accidents of various sizes. Although Chief Charles Field worked diligently to ascertain the truth, even a few days of investigation time was still too hurried.

Fortunately, Old Fagin previously mentioned another clue: Lizzy’s brother lost his source of income due to the work injury and thus was confined by the creditors to the Sponge House (named for squeezing money out of debtors like a sponge), and subsequently, for failing to pay, he was sent to debtors prison on Fleet Street.

In London, there was no shortage of Sponge Houses forcing people to repay their debts, making Field’s investigations naturally challenging, but if they went through a debtors prison, investigating would be much simpler for Field.

Field not only tracked down Lizzy’s brother but also witnessed Lizzy’s process of bailing her brother out of prison. Following the trail, he sent someone to tail Lizzy for several days to confirm the true identity of this girl.

She was not a maid of the royal family, but indeed had some connections with it.

Because her mistress was the granddaughter of the Indian Conqueror Baron Robert Clive, the daughter of Earl Edward Clive—Duchess Charlotte Percy of Northumberland.

The Duchess of Northumberland was actually a tutor of noble etiquette to Princess Victoria.

However, although the Duchess of Northumberland was one of Kensington Palace’s tutors, it was obvious that you must not equate her status with those of dancer Mary Taglioni, musician Luigi Lablache, and others.

This was not only due to the Duchess of Northumberland’s illustrious family background but also because she was officially appointed by the royal family and government as the Crown Prince’s appointed female tutor, carrying an official status.

Therefore, compared to other tutors, this lady was equivalent to a skilled worker in the dockyard, while Taglioni and others were only temporary workers.

Within Kensington Palace, there was another tutor with a unique status like the Duchess of Northumberland, and that was Lady Leisen of the Kingdom of Hanover.

But Lady Leisen’s status was even more complex than the Duchess’s, as her greatest support did not come from the British royal family and government, but rather from Belgium. She could be considered the confidante of Belgian King Leopold I, uncle to Princess Victoria.

Arthur did not immediately expose the matter of the ivory writing box, naturally considering the Duchess of Northumberland’s unique status.

For her husband, Hugh Percy, Duke of Northumberland, was a moderate Tory, generally having a good personal relationship with Sir Robert Peel and had once served as Governor of Ireland during the Wellington Cabinet from 1825-1826.

If Arthur rashly revealed the matter, it truly would be an unintended ”help” in creating a Tory version of the Caucasian incident for the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel.

Arthur might have kept silent but that did not mean he was oblivious to the fact that the ”Caucasian incident” he hastily orchestrated in Russia was very amateurish, nor did he want to create a second major mishap harmful to his professional image in a short time.

Therefore, both publicly and privately, by emotion and reason, Arthur had to competently handle the bomb he unwittingly unearthed.

Of course, if Lizzy cooperated, Arthur might even want to exploit this situation to advance his narrative.

”Miss Lizzy, first of all, I must candidly say, your behavior is truly reckless.”

Arthur’s voice was measured perfectly, calm without the slightest anger yet filled with pressure: ”I can understand your feelings and understand that what you did was for noble reasons. I know you did this out of caring for your family, trying every possible way to seek assistance for your brother, but you should also consider that if recklessness gets many noble people involved, it’s irresponsible to your brother, and it could also land yourself in an irreparable predicament.”

Upon hearing those words, Lizzy’s complexion instantly turned pale, and though Arthur spoke tactfully, the meaning in his words was unmistakably clear. This former diplomat knew everything.

”Sir... I...”

Seeing this, Arthur sternly stood up: ”If I were to detain you here now, I believe you wouldn’t utter a single complaint, would you?”

Lizzy bit her lip, resignedly bowed her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and her eyes welled up: ”I... have no complaints... but, I hope you wouldn’t implicate...”

Having already read the script, Old Fagin also cooperated in the performance; the old thief’s head trembled as he extended his hand, interrupting Lizzy’s words: ”Sir, but Miss Lizzy did it with reasons! Look at this! Oh, God! What kind of world is this that drives the poor to such a point?”

Detecting Lizzy’s guilt and tension, Arthur paused for a moment, sighed, and even his tone became much warmer: ”Ah... yes! If only I weren’t aware of the sequence of events.”

He slightly adjusted his stance, lightly tapping his fingertips twice on the tabletop as if wrestling with something.

In the end, he was seen slightly shaking his head and instructing Becky: ”Go fetch the letter from my bedroom desk.”

Becky didn’t understand why the atmosphere turned so heavy when she went to the kitchen to prepare tea, seemingly finding it rare to be speechless, dutifully going upstairs to retrieve the letter: ”Sir, is this the one? The letter addressed to Professor Masden of the University of London’s medical faculty?”

Without explaining, Arthur pushed the letter in front of Lizzy: ”You can take this letter with your brother to London Free General Hospital on Greville Street. Once they receive it, they’ll arrange follow-up treatment.”

Lizzy’s eyes froze, she looked up at Arthur, stunned for a long time, her tear-studded eyes showing surprise: ”You... this... can this really be?”

Arthur gently waved his hand: ”I believe, not only I, but any gentleman with ability and conscience, upon learning of your misfortune, would lend a hand. Such as the Duke of Northumberland, who originally was your optimal solution.”

Getting to here, Arthur once again placed his hand on the writing box: ”After today, you haven’t seen me, I haven’t seen you, as for this writing box, we’ll pretend it never happened.”

”But...” Lizzy was grateful for Arthur’s leniency but also worried about his difficult position: ”But how will you explain on your side?”

This naive girl thought that the matter of the stolen writing box had already been exposed, and Arthur was sent out to investigate the case.

How could Arthur, a cunning man, possibly tear down this little piece of window paper?

A gentleman of Scotland Yard ought to let every girl he meets live in a fairy tale; why bother bringing them back to reality?

Arthur’s expression didn’t change as he slightly shook his head: ”You only need to remember my words, and for the rest, leave everything to me. No matter what happens, do not disclose a word outside. Lizzy, remember, only this way can you save your brother, and only this way can save yourself.”