The Shadow of Great Britain

”What? He went to see you?”

”Yes.” Disraeli replied bluntly, ”And more than once.”

Disraeli pressed his cigar into the ashtray to extinguish it: ”Honestly, I thought after Strasbourg, he would have understood. A failed coup, an ill-timed gamble, anyone with common sense would choose to lay low for a while... but our Louis is clearly not an ordinary person.”

”It’s unavoidable, he’s blinded by the glory of his uncle, especially after the death of his cousin, the King of Rome, Napoleon’s only legitimate offspring. He feels he has become the leading figure among the second generation of the Bonaparte family, and the historical mission of reviving Napoleon’s cause rests on his shoulders.” Arthur’s gaze fell upon the car window beside him: ”What did he say to you?”

”Not much, but I could smell it.” Disraeli fretted, ”He talked to me about the 1832 uprising in Paris, about when he escorted Napoleon’s coffin back to Paris, and the enthusiasm of the Parisian populace for Napoleon. He said the reason he chose to initiate the coup in Strasbourg was because he firmly believed that, as long as he could march on Paris like Napoleon did during the Hundred Days, the French people would rise and join his camp.”

”But the facts proved him wrong.” Arthur took a drag on his cigarette, ”Despite occupying the City Hall, the troops stationed in Strasbourg clearly weren’t as supportive as he imagined, which led to his eventual arrest.”

”You should say those words directly to Louis; I can’t bring myself to speak in front of him.” Disraeli sighed, ”Louis still believes the French people support him because his accomplices in Alsace were all acquitted during the public trial and released on the spot. He also told me that from the two uprisings of the Lyon workers, the French people have become increasingly intolerant of the July Monarchy’s rule. He is convinced that if given another chance, in a different location and manner, the outcome would be completely different. One day, he will return to France.”

The carriage slowed at a junction, then picked up speed again.

Arthur was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: ”So, you think he’s planning a new move?”

”I don’t think.” Disraeli corrected, ”I am certain. Moreover, this time, he is clearly more patient and willing to listen to others’ advice.”

Disraeli thought Arthur would praise Louis’ progress, but unexpectedly the highest officer of Britain’s internal affairs system shook his head: ”If even we can see he is plotting something, then his actions cannot possibly succeed. Matters are achieved through secrecy and fail through divulging, success comes from reflection, plans come from thorough consideration, this principle he still doesn’t understand.”

Upon hearing this, Disraeli laughed: ”So you don’t have faith in him?”

”It’s not that I don’t have faith in him.” Arthur finally spoke, ”It’s that I know him too well.”

Disraeli raised an eyebrow: ”Care to elaborate.”

”Louis’ problem never lies in courage, nor in ambition. He always thinks of revolution as a moral stance rather than a technical issue. But you can’t blame him, this is a common problem among the young.” Arthur gently exhaled smoke, which slowly dissipated in the carriage: ”The July Monarchy might be unpopular, but it’s still alive. The army is drawing pay, officials are working, and bread is delivered into Paris every day. Under such circumstances, anyone attempting to replicate Napoleon’s Hundred Days will be seen as a poor imitator.”

Disraeli laughed heartily at these words: ”Your assessment of him doesn’t sound like that of a friend at all.”

”Precisely because I am a friend, I say this. If Louis were a stranger to me, rather than a friend, I would simply wish him good luck.” Arthur said blandly, ”You see, Louis Philippe let him off once after Strasbourg, such lenience will never happen again.”

Disraeli’s smile gradually faded.

He lit a cigar again but did not immediately smoke it, merely held it between his fingers, letting the tip smolder slightly red: ”If that’s the case, I’m not sure whether I should say this...”

”What is it?”

Disraeli leaned back into his seat: ”Louis is quite likely to go see Soult soon.”

Arthur did not immediately show surprise, merely raised his hand to bring the cigarette to his mouth, slowly inhaling: ”How do you know?”

Disraeli replied helplessly, ”Recently, every time I visit his home, I encounter several French political exiles there, most of whom were officers during Napoleon’s imperial period and are now discontented with the July Monarchy.”

Upon saying this, Disraeli paused: ”I spoke with some of them and found that they all seemed to have served under Soult.”

”That’s not necessarily bad news.” He said.

Disraeli was momentarily taken aback, instinctively raising his eyes to look at him: ”Are you serious?”

”Of course.” Arthur was unusually certain after discussing with Soult all the way: ”If Louis is not going to see Soult now, then I would really start to worry.”

Disraeli furrowed his brows: ”I thought you would consider this very dangerous.”

”Whether it’s dangerous depends on what he will do next.” Arthur sarcastically shook his finger, ”You and I both know that Louis is never short of people urging him on. That group is all counting on him for personal gain and advancement. Those exiled officers and frustrated politicians are solely skilled at dressing up failure as victory yet to come. But Soult is different from those political failures; he doesn’t need to agree with Louis because he already has everything he needs. Perhaps, for Napoleon’s sake, he won’t be too harsh on Louis, but that doesn’t mean he will give Louis a pleasant face.”