Shadow of great britain

In the officers' mess in Portsmouth Harbor, there was a delicacy in front of Arthur that he had heard of many times but saw for the first time.

The dish looks like freshly baked bread with a golden crust from the outside, but when Arthur cuts open its crust with a knife, he discovers its inner qualities.

'Toasted bread' is divided into three layers. The outer layer is mushroom puree mixed with foie gras brushed with egg wash, the second layer is a layer of dark red prosciutto that has been marinated for just the right time, and the middle layer is Tender and juicy prime filet mignon.

Because this dish was the favorite of the Duke of Wellington, it naturally got an appropriate name in British restaurants - Steak Wellington.

Arthur cut off a piece of steak, put the fork into his mouth and chewed it twice.

Elder, who was sitting aside, raised his eyebrows and asked, "How does it taste?"

Arthur put down his fork and nodded: "It's hard to believe that this is actually a British dish. You know, the chefs in most civilian restaurants in London can't even cook a simple vegetable soup."

After saying this, Arthur cut off a portion of the steak and placed it on the empty dinner plate next to him, and placed it on the window edge.

Darwin, who was sitting opposite, saw him and couldn't help but asked curiously: "What are you doing?"

Arthur pretended to draw a cross on his chest: "Charles, you know, I am a devout Catholic fundamentalist. According to the teachings I believe in, when you get good things, you should share them. I hope to make Pots The seagulls in Mouth share this surprise with me."

Darwin scratched his head in confusion. As a priest who graduated from the Divinity School of Cambridge University, he had always been suspicious of the Catholic fundamentalism in Arthur's mouth, because those dogmas and principles sounded like Arthur's creation. of.

Darwin said with concern, "Arthur, are you sure you don't believe in the wrong thing? You must not join the wrong church or go down any evil path."

Arthur nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Charles, I haven't joined any church at all. I haven't met a priest or priest that I feel convinced of yet, but, I think you are pretty good. In this way, After you complete your global voyage, you will find a church to be the pastor and hold a baptism for me when you are not busy."

Darwin couldn't help feeling a little touched when he heard this: "Arthur, you actually believe in me so much and are even willing to convert to the state religion with my help. I...I really don't know how to evaluate you. Arthur, you are really my good brother. ."

Arthur picked up the tablecloth on the table and wiped his mouth. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course, Charles, you don't have to be polite to me. We are all good brothers. Even if one day you suddenly have a whim and declare that you no longer believe in religion, I will still support you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a raven with red eyes roared past the window. It stretched out its paws, grabbed the steak on the dinner plate and flew away.

When Elder saw it, he couldn't help but whistled: "Oh! It seems that the seagulls were unlucky today, and all the steaks fell into the crow's mouth."

Arthur glanced at him and said calmly: "Elder, I'll bet you a penny that if the steak doesn't fall into the crow's mouth, it will probably be stuffed into the devil's belly."

"You're kidding me again."

While stirring the black tea cup with a spoon, Elder asked: "By the way, how did you get General Codrington to think so highly of you today? Look at his appearance today, with his old face smiling. It's like wearing boot leather for more than ten years, as if you wish you could marry your granddaughter to you. If I hadn't known his identity, I would have thought he was a mentally ill man who ran away from Bethlem Royal Hospital."

While cutting the steak, Arthur said: "It's no big deal, I just published a paper at the Royal Society. Coincidentally, the paper was co-signed with Michael Faraday, so General Codrington mistakenly thought I was He has attainments comparable to Mr. Faraday’s in the field of electromagnetism.”

Elder frowned when he heard this, and he pondered: "Does General Codrington like things in the scientific field? Then... Arthur, see if you can..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Arthur raising his palm to signal him to stop.

Arthur said: "With my little scientific level, I can teach you how to deceive a young girl who is not familiar with the world. But if you want to use it to deceive General Codrington, I'm afraid he will stuff you into the gun barrel of the Conqueror." Here. Besides, if you really want to do some scientific research and write some shocking papers, there is obviously a person here who is more suitable to teach you than me."

"who?"

Arthur pointed at Darwin opposite, and he said to Elder: "If you can hug Charles' lap, I guarantee that you will immediately replace your uncle and become the most promising person in the Carter family."

When Elder heard this, he first glanced at Darwin with disdain, and then glanced at Dickens next to him with even more disdain.

He asked carelessly: "Which Charles are you talking about?"

Arthur spread his hands towards Elder, then leaned back on the chair and said, "Which one can you hug? I think both of them can do it."

When the two Charles heard this, they almost replied in unison: "Arthur, you really flatter me. I still need to learn more than you."

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and said to Elder: "Now, Elder, take a good look at it. This is why people can become big people. While they study seriously, they are also extremely humble."

Having said this, Arthur turned to Dickens and asked: "Charles, you said before that there was something wrong with the opening ceremony. What happened?"

Upon hearing this, Dickens put down the knife and fork in his hand and took a deep breath: "Arthur, you don't know. Fortunately, you were not responsible for the security of the opening ceremony today, otherwise this blame would definitely be placed on your head. "

When Darwin heard this, he couldn't help but ask: "The train derailed?"

Dickens shook his head: "It's worse than that."

Elder held his chin and said, "Did the Duke of Wellington who attended the ceremony cheat on him?"

Dickens hesitated: "It is indeed related to the Duke of Wellington."

Elder took a breath and said, "Could it be that the Duke of Wellington had an affair with William Huskisson, the former minister of state who attended the ceremony?"

Arthur couldn't stand listening anymore: "I don't think the two of them should have that kind of relationship. If they were really that good, there would be no need for the Duke of Wellington to go to Mr. Huskisson through the opening ceremony. Reconciled.”

Dickens sighed: "That's right. They both wanted to take this opportunity to announce to the outside world that the Huskisson faction would return to the Tory camp.

Things developed smoothly. The two Your Excellencies boarded the first train together. The Duke of Wellington was still excited about the amazing speed of the "Northumberland" train.

I heard from colleagues who went to report that Mr. Huskisson was very excited about the successful opening of the railway, and Mr. Duke even shouted excitedly on the train, "This speed is really incredible." This thing is flying like a cannonball. Just as fast, but running slightly slower than the French. "

Hearing this, Elder couldn't help but cover his mouth: "Isn't this great? It sounds like the atmosphere at the opening ceremony was very lively!"

Dickens nodded and said: "If things develop according to this trend, it will indeed be a perfect opening ceremony. But I never expected that after the train arrived at the station, the Duke of Wellington was standing on the carriage talking to the train. Mr. Huskisson talks below.

But at this moment, the late-departing Rocket train suddenly arrived. At this time, Mr. Huskisson was standing on the tracks. He saw the Rocket heading towards him and was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.

Although the Rocket had braked very hard, it inevitably knocked Mr. Huskisson away more than ten meters. "

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but take a deep breath: "What happened to Mr. Huskisson?"

Dickens lamented and sighed: "Don't mention it. Although Mr. Huskisson was carried onto the train and sent to a nearby hospital for rescue as quickly as possible, he still died of excessive blood loss a few hours later.

The Huskisson MPs were furious, and some of them suspected whether Mr Huskison's death was a conspiracy.

They questioned why no one from the police in charge of security work or the engineers who designed the railway warned Mr. Huskisson not to stand on the tracks, nor did anyone tell him that a train was about to arrive behind him.

The Duke of Wellington is already very busy because of this matter. Scotland Yard and the railway company have also launched an investigation into Mr. Huskisson's death under pressure from the Huskisson faction.

So, Arthur, you are really very lucky today. When I heard the news, I thought you were doomed. I later learned that the person in charge of Scotland Yard's security at the venue had been temporarily replaced. Thank God. "

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly looked up at the coastline outside the window and asked.

"Who is the top commander of the Scotland Yard team responsible for the security work at the opening ceremony today?"

When Dickens heard this, he took out his notes from his bag. After flipping through a few pages, he finally answered with certainty.

"Ah! Found it. The person in charge of today's Scotland Yard opening ceremony is Superintendent Tyler Clemens."