Shadow of great britain

In the coffee shop opposite the police station in Greenwich District, light rain was falling outside the window, and the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the coffee shop covered the window glass with a light mist.

Arthur stirred the tea cup in front of him, and the sugar cubes gradually melted in the light red tea.

In front of him, the belated guest was taking off his hat and coat, revealing a light red suspender vest hidden under the coat and a tired expression on his face.

Arthur smiled and asked: "Mr. Disraeli, looking at the rain on you, your speech in Hyde Park today may not go well, right?"

When Disraeli heard this, he felt a little angry. What this proud young man hated most was being looked down upon by others.

"Mr. Hastings, if you invite me here today just to mock me, then there is no need. But if you insist on doing so, I don't mind making another enemy for myself. You may not know that I am I don’t have many friends, but I have many enemies.”

Arthur shrugged, he smiled and said: "No, no, no, you misunderstood me. Not only did I not come to ridicule you today, but I wanted to talk to you about friendship. After all, when I moved that day, You have done a lot for me. Even considering that matter, it is still necessary to treat you to a meal."

Disraeli's face was full of disbelief, and he asked: "In that case, why don't you invite me to your home? Didn't you say that you hired a French cook at your home? I really want to try his cooking."

Arthur covered his forehead and leaned back on the chair: "Unfortunately, I didn't invite you home on purpose. It was because my French cook and the manservant from Nottingham went to the theater together. , and I forgot to bring my key, so now I can’t even go home.

What's worse is that I didn't have much money in my pocket when I went out, so I didn't dare to go to a fancy restaurant, so I had to condescend you to come here. Because I am familiar with the boss here, he believes in my good credit, so he allows me to buy some meals from him on credit. "

After saying this, Arthur opened his pockets quite frankly. Disraeli looked up and saw that Arthur had indeed not lied to him. He only had three shillings on his body. If the fare home was deducted, it was indeed not enough. What's left.

But Disraeli still had doubts about Arthur's words: "Even if the cook and the footman went to the theater, couldn't the bald tutor open the door for you? By the way, I almost forgot to ask you , you have hired a tutor, what about your children and wife?"

Arthur took a sip of tea: "The bald man is not the tutor I hired. He is the tutor I hired for all mankind, although this teacher still pays me three shillings a week. Besides, how did you do it? Do you think I have a family?"

Disraeli pulled open the seat opposite Arthur and took a look at the eccentric Superintendent of Scotland Yard.

"Can't you just say that the man with signs of premature baldness is your tenant? As for why I think you have a family, of course it is based on your financial situation. Although the social trend in Britain in recent years is late marriage and late childbearing, Generally speaking, if British men are ready financially and career-wise, they don't mind getting married earlier.

It seems to me that you have become a superintendent of Scotland Yard at such a young age, and you are obviously very successful in terms of career and income. Even if you're planning on causing trouble for yourself, it's not surprising that you're thinking about getting married or something. "

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but smile: "It seems that I was right. You do have a lot of dissatisfaction with this society. I felt this way when I read your masterpiece "Vivian Gray" . This also explains why you want to come out to elect members."

When Disraeli heard this, he almost choked on the black tea he just drank.

He coughed repeatedly, taking a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth, and looking at Arthur from time to time.

After all, anyone who is familiar with the British literary and art circles basically knows that this anonymous satirical novel "Vivian Gray" is his dark history. For this book, his partner, friend and satirical target Mr. Morrie I almost went to court with him directly.

Since Mr. Murray is extremely influential in the publishing industry and is even called the "No. 2 figure in British publishing", when his authorship was revealed by others, the literary review magazines "Blackwood" and "Literature Fan" He was mercilessly criticized as a clown who did funny things to attract attention and attract people's attention, and he was ridiculed as a nobody that everyone hated.

Arrogant, ignorant, hypocritical, a liar, and a scoundrel, Disraeli himself could not even count how many labels he had been labeled by those in the publishing industry.

The investment business resulted in a huge loss of 7,000 pounds, and he suffered such a heavy blow when he first entered the literary world. During that period, Disraeli was extremely decadent and even suffered from serious mental illness.

He still remembers the frightening ticking sounds in his ears every time the disease broke out, and he could only relieve his emotions by writing in a diary after staying up all night.

——This is the first time I have suffered such a severe blow, and my heart is so weak. It is so ridiculous that I really want to die immediately. My ears were filled with the ticking of clocks, like bells whining in a storm... I could hardly think. As I moved around the room, its sound grew louder and louder, deafening like a roaring flood.

Arthur stared at this early human 'victim of cyber violence' and saw beads of sweat on his forehead getting thicker and thicker, even his lips gradually turned white, and the hand holding the handkerchief was trembling slightly.

Arthur changed his words and said: "To be honest, Mr. Disraeli. Before I met you, I thought you were as hateful as you were described in those literary review magazines. But after actual contact, I felt that you This guy is quite nice. At least you're willing to move things for me for free. You know, it's so rare these days to help others without asking for anything in return."

Disraeli originally planned to accuse Arthur of tricking him into moving things, but when he heard this, he somehow swallowed the complaint that came to his lips.

Disraeli nodded and said: "Yes, Mr. Hastings, you will understand what kind of person I am if you get in touch with me. The writers of "Blackwood" and "The Literary Aficionado" are a group of people who gave Morrie Ass lickers. They have no idea what good things Morrie did to me!

I spent a lot of money to invest in a newspaper he founded, but within half a year, the newspaper went bankrupt. Can you imagine? The number two figure in British publishing opened and closed newspapers as if he did not have the resources and capabilities to do so.

But when I started to attack him, all his friends in the publishing industry came out. He had the money and the mind to figure out how to buy "Blackwood" and "Literary Aficionado", but he couldn't manage it. Home newspaper office. Was what I said about him in "Vivian Gray" wrong?

He wants to use this to destroy me so that his dark history can be wiped out, but let him dream! I have to be elected as a congressman and punish that idiot! I also want him to taste the grievances and anxieties I have suffered! "

As soon as Disraeli said this, he immediately realized that he had let something slip.

He hurriedly explained: "Mr. Hastings, don't get me wrong, I don't exactly mean that."

Arthur shrugged, put down the tea cup and said: "It doesn't matter even if you mean exactly that. Scotland Yard police officers don't have the right to vote anyway. Don't say that you are just scolding Mr. Morrie, even if you are scolding me, I will What can I do to you?"

Disraeli was startled when he heard this, and then his disappointment was palpable: "So...you don't have the right to vote?"

Arthur pursed his lips and smiled: "Did I waste your time?"

Disraeli breathed a sigh of relief. He loosened his collar to make himself more comfortable: "Why are you wasting my time? It would be better if you didn't have the right to vote, so I can speak freely! To be honest, the whole Those words I said in Hyde Park almost made my mouth numb. It’s good to chat with you to change my mood. You don’t have to worry about me scolding you, and I’m not afraid that you won’t vote for me. We are all equal. fair."

Arthur looked at him and smiled: "It seems that although you want to be a member of Parliament, you are actually not used to playing this game of power."

Disraeli replied as he picked up an oyster and pried its shell with a knife at the table.

"Who would get used to that kind of thing? During this time, I finally understood that if you want to be a member of parliament, you can't have your own opinions. You can say whatever people like to hear. Only in this way will you attract a few idle listeners.

Treat workers by telling them you are going to shorten their working hours.

When dealing with farmers, you tell them that you want to lower land rents.

When dealing with factory owners, we need to start talking about import and export tariffs.

To the noble Lord, it is that I will never yield on the question of amending the Corn Laws.

As for the priests, you are right to talk about ancient moral spirits and principles.

But most of the time I'm talking about the latter, because workers and farmers didn't go to Hyde Park very much, and they didn't have the right to vote.

To be honest, sometimes I feel a little uneasy about doing this. But there is no way. You should remember what I said to you that day. I have no party support and stand independently.

The Tory and Whig MPs were duplicitous enough, so in order to be elected I had to be more 'flexible' than they were. "

Arthur couldn't help but nodded when he heard the words: "If a person's wish is to become something other than himself, such as being a parliamentarian, a prosperous grocer, a famous lawyer, a judge, or something equally boring, he can always You get what you want. But as punishment, whoever wants these masks must wear them first. Mr. Disraeli, you accepted this early on, so I believe you should succeed."

Disraeli took a sip of the oyster juice.

Suck it~

He sighed: "Really? Then I really want to lend you some good advice."