The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1787: Chapter 97: Even Among Bastards, There Are Differences

The Royal London Metropolitan Police Hall placed great importance on this case. To uncover the truth, Minister Charles Rowan delegated the case to the Police Intelligence Department for comprehensive handling and specifically appointed Superintendent Ledley King from the Fifth Division of the Police Intelligence Department to lead.

For this reason, Rowan also specially granted Ledley a week-long vacation.

Of course, whether Ledley himself would actually want to take this vacation is another matter.

Regardless, this promising young man, as always, maintained his high efficiency, and apart from his fear of being involved in a royal case and concerns about his own future, he kept the investigation process strictly confidential. Except for Sir Arthur Hastings, Ledley did not disclose the investigation findings to anyone.

According to Ledley’s investigation report, he first looked into the friends of General Thomas Gath during his lifetime and confirmed that this close minister from the time of George III had long served as Chief Knight of the Royal Court.

Just from the title alone, one can tell that the Chief Knight of the Royal Court is an inner court position exclusively held by senior officers, privileged with direct access to royal conferences or attendance occasions, and is the Guard Commander most trusted by the King during daily travels. Meanwhile, he also oversaw the Knight Attendant Office, leading the entire staff of knight attendants.

In terms of rank, the Chief Knight of the Royal Court was below the Chief Stable Master, but its honorary level was very high, typically listed first among the royal entourage in the court yearbook.

In summary, this position could only be held by favored or close ministers of the King.

That Thomas Gath could assume this position speaks volumes about the trust George III placed in him; he was even appointed as the guardian of Princess Charlotte (who was once Britain’s first heir to the throne and the late wife of Leopold I, who died from childbirth). After Princess Charlotte’s marriage, Regent King George IV rewarded Gath with a silver plate for his long-standing loyal service to the royal family.

A figure like him, even though he has been deceased for six years, is still remembered by many old folks in London.

But Thomas Gath, like many members of British nobility, although he lived to the age of 85, didn’t leave behind a single legitimate heir.

When old Gath passed away in 1829, his will was executed by his nephew.

According to old Gath’s wish, his estate was divided into three parts: two parts were left to two nephews, while the mansion at 32 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair District, was left to his illegitimate son, young Thomas Gath.

Indeed, old Gath had only this one illegitimate child, or it could be said, this was the only child he valued.

Considering the rumors, if old Gath really had an affair with Princess Sophia, then the fruit of their love could only be this young Thomas Gath who inherited the property.

Since Ledley already knew where the target lived, the subsequent tasks naturally became much simpler.

The specialty of the Police Intelligence Department was tracking, surveillance, and deducing the lifestyle habits, temperaments, and hobbies of the monitored individuals through their daily travel routes and living garbage.

Young Thomas Gath did not disappoint the people of London in their usual expectations of the ”upper-class playboys.”

According to Ledley’s investigation report, Mr. Gath seldom left his house before 5 p.m., and when he did, he always wore a wine-red velvet coat with edging and carried a gold-handled cane. High-end clubs in the Soho District or box seats at the Covent Garden Theatre were regular features of his lifestyle.

Every weekend, accompanied by a group of friends whose nicknames were more prominent than their names, he would spend the night at certain casinos southwest of Westminster. His card skills were poor, and his dice rolls had been unlucky lately. Yet, Mr. Gath never seemed troubled about his wallet.

Additionally, his most frequently visited location was a private theatre named Atlantis on Piccadilly Street. The theatre ostensibly ran Shakespeare plays but secretly hosted other activities; certain retained plays and social gatherings were a sanctum for retired officers and bankrupt nobility to engage in ”deep art.”

Of course, Mr. Gath didn’t always indulge in high-end places. Officers from the fifth division of the Police Intelligence Department had repeatedly witnessed him enter a South Oxford Street apartment late at night with suspicious street women, staying anywhere from one to two hours, during which he often sent servants to fetch champagne or mint drinks.

In short, young Thomas Gath’s life was all about wild indulgences, debauchery, and excessive luxury, even more so than Eld’s lifestyle.

Yet, puzzlingly, young Thomas Gath was extravagant, but no news ever emerged of him borrowing from banks, mortgaging property, or pawning items.

Old Gath, despite having considerable wealth, mainly left the Mayfair mansion to this illegitimate son. As for bonds, stocks, estates, and similar assets, they were bequeathed to two nephews.

Then where did he obtain the funds for his daily expenditures?

To uncover the truth, Ledley went to great lengths, disguising himself and infiltrating a tavern frequently visited by Gath’s servants. By offering them drinks, he eventually extracted the reason why young Thomas Gath was so wealthy.