Shadow of great britain

If you ask a British person, where do the rich people in London live?

Then he will definitely tell you that the rich people in London live in the West End of London.

But if the person answering the question is a true old Londoner, then he will definitely narrow the range a little further.

Old London will tell you: "Only those mud-legged upstarts will gather in places like Kensington, Chelsea, and Notting Hill, while the real old London aristocrats usually live in Mayfair."

As the old Londoners say, Mayfair is the earliest developed wealthy area in London. It not only has convenient transportation conditions, but also sits in the most luxurious and upscale commercial and art area in London.

Regent's Crescent, Sotheby's Auction House, Royal Academy of Arts, and of course London's three major shopping districts - Burlington Arcade, famous for selling high-end jewelry and luxury goods, and famous for making high-end clothing The famous Piccadilly Street, and Bond Street, which is mainly dedicated to the appreciation of antiques and art.

In addition to attracting a large number of nobles with strong spending power to settle here, a large number of high-end commercial real estate has also led to the establishment of a number of foreign embassies in the area, one of which is the Embassy of the Russian Empire in the United Kingdom.

As the wife of Count Leven, the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mrs. Leven's residence is naturally located in the embassy.

This previously heavily guarded embassy area naturally raised its security level during the London Conference. Although it was already dusk, the military police standing guard in front of the embassy still did not dare to relax their vigilance.

Where the military and police officers did not notice, Arthur was sitting in a public carriage slowly circling the embassy.

Next to Arthur, sitting next to Arthur, was Royal Navy cartographer Elder, who was holding a set ruler, looking up at the embassy from time to time, and drawing a map of the embassy's topography and structure one stroke at a time. The other one was so nervous that his palms trembled. Khan's little devil Pinkerton.

According to Arthur's understanding of the history of British architecture, since many large-scale epidemics broke out in London in the 18th century, the concept of ventilation has quickly become popular in the UK, and high-end residences such as embassies must be equipped with large wooden of bellows and vents.

When the carriage made its third circle around the embassy, ​​Arthur finally discovered an inconspicuous square hole behind the eaves of the embassy's back door. Judging from its size of nearly half a meter wide, this should be a vent. wrong.

A vent of this size is mostly inaccessible to adults, but if it were a child whose growth was delayed due to malnutrition, it should be barely possible.

Arthur pointed to the vent, lowered his voice and asked Pinkerton: "That's what I mentioned to you. Have you ever done any work in this area before?"

Pinkerton looked at the vent, and after a long time, he slowly nodded and said: "I...I have swept chimneys for people before. This vent looks similar to a chimney. I should be able to climb in. It's just that I have swept chimneys for others." …”

"But what?" Arthur asked softly: "Aaron, if you have any questions, ask them now, don't hesitate. It's better to say it now than to get stuck in the vent after the operation starts. Even if you think this operation will fail, I should say it outright, and while I still have time, I can think of other ways."

When Pinkerton heard this, he quickly waved his hands and said: "No, sir, you misunderstood. I'm not backing down. I just want to know that there shouldn't be anyone lighting a bonfire under this vent, right? I used to sweep chimneys for people. I was most afraid of this now. In order to urge us to finish the work as quickly as possible, some hosts would light a fire directly under the chimney. Once the choking smoke rose, I would have nowhere to run. There were several children like this in our place. Smoked to death."

Elder, who was drawing a picture, heard Pinkerton's statement and couldn't help but curse: "Did those idiot employers drink too much Thames water? When you were sweeping the chimney, he set a fire underneath? Is this the same as intentional homicide? There’s no difference, right?”

Pinkerton just smiled reluctantly: "There is nothing we can do about it, sir. Children who know how to sweep chimneys either have their parents dead, or they are the kind whose parents are better off alive. Even if we are No one will care if he is smoked to death, and the employer can solve the problem by paying a sum of money."

When Pinkerton said this, he couldn't help but lower his head. He thought of his current situation again.

Seeing his appearance, Arthur just put his hand on his head and shook it hard: "Alan, I'm sorry to hear what happened to your fellow chimney workers, but I can't do anything about it, at least for the time being. But Just because I don't have the ability to uphold justice for them doesn't mean I can't protect you. You have to remember that you are now my employee, an employee of the London District Temporary Bureau of Survey and Statistics.

To be against you is to be against me. To be against me is to be against Scotland Yard and the University of London. To be against Scotland Yard and the University of London is to be against the Home Office and the Chancery. To be against the Home Office and the Chancery is to be against the whole society. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against.

I will not allow anyone to pose a life threat to the little guy under me, or even if we take 10,000 steps back, if something bad happens to you one day, even if I can't save you, I will definitely send the murderer's family to be hanged. , on this point, you have to have confidence in me. "

After saying this, Arthur extended his right little finger towards Pinkerton. Pinkerton was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered what Officer Tom had told him about Arthur's life experience in the past few days. He felt guilty just now. I was suddenly filled with courage.

He also stretched out his little finger and hooked it with Arthur and pulled gently, and the two thumbs pressed together hard. In the children's innocent and simple behavior and language, this represented that the oath between them was officially established.

Pinkerton took off the new felt hat Arthur had just bought for him, with a smile on his face: "Sir, I believe you."

When Elder heard what Arthur said, he couldn't help but whistle. He joked: "Arthur, what you said made me excited. If I can't survive another day, I might as well vote for you." ? What a pity. You are the Superintendent of Scotland Yard. The officers and sailors of the Royal Navy dream of having a superior like you. If the Fleet Commander and the leaders of the Admiralty are willing to protect them like you, even with the navies of all Europe at the same time. If a war breaks out, we are confident that we can win.”

When Arthur heard this, he just joked: "Come on, Elder, although I don't know the Royal Navy, but I know that their goal in building the army is to be able to cope with wars with four maritime powers at the same time. If Scotland Yard With such a strong strength, do I still worry about getting in through the vents to steal things every day? With a wave of my hand, General Codrington's naval guns can level the Russian Embassy until the smoke clears. , I can just go in through the front door and pick up my things."

Elder shrugged and said: "If you are willing to take the responsibility for General Codrington, he might really agree to help you like this. After all, the Ottoman Turkish fleet is like paper in front of him. Maybe he doesn't need to take part in such a small matter as opening the Russian embassy. You can just let General Cochran, who is unemployed at home, do it. After all, he is thinking about using bomb ships to sneak attack the enemy more than once. For blasting matters, he That’s the most professional one.”

Arthur just smiled, patted Pinkerton on the shoulder, and patiently explained to him: "I brought you here today to let you observe the nearby terrain first. I know you are a serious 'craftsman' , your superb skills, even the old Eugene of St. Giles praised you. If not, I would not have thought of you in this matter.

Of course, I don't ask you to do this job just to kill you. The vent is different from the chimney. There is no campfire underneath it. Normally, it should lead to a wooden blower that speeds up the air circulation. But I still don’t know which room the blower is placed in, and how far the room where the blower is placed is from the bedroom where the intelligence may be stored.

So today, your task is to crawl in along the vent to get a feel for the situation outside when I enter the embassy. I will try my best to help you attract the attention of the embassy staff, so you have enough time to figure out these things, take your time and don't rush.

Even if no valuable information is collected, it's not a big deal. Although this mission is important, it is not necessary to complete, so safety comes first. "

Arthur didn't take him out of the car with confidence until he was sure that Pinkerton understood what he said.

He first looked around at the passers-by, then when no one was paying attention, he picked up Pinkerton and jumped into the back door of the embassy. He held the kid's butt and stepped on the window edge to send him into the vent. He jumped out again.

Arthur lit his pipe outside the wall, and while smoking, he watched Pinkerton's butt disappear at the end of the vent. Until he could no longer be seen, Arthur safely picked up the gramophone at his feet and left. When I arrived at the main entrance of the embassy, ​​I smiled and handed my business card to the military police stationed on guard.

"Please inform Mrs. Leven that Arthur Hastings is visiting."

Unexpectedly, the military policeman carrying a musket didn't even look at the business card. He just stared at Arthur's face for a while, then laughed and said.

"I didn't expect that the Hastings Mrs. Leven mentioned was really you. Please come in quickly. Madam is waiting for guests inside. You should be able to see her immediately if you go over now."

Seeing that the military police actually knew him, Arthur couldn't help but asked curiously: "Who are you?"

The military policeman didn't say much. He just stood at attention and saluted: "The murder and body theft case was handled beautifully. I am very happy to have fought side by side with you. At the same time, please allow me to express my gratitude to you in person, because My brother's body was dug out by those rats, and you gave me a good opportunity to take revenge."

When Arthur heard this, he just smiled softly. At this time, he also remembered who the other party was: "I also thank you for your dedication to your duties. As far as I know, there is no coward in the Fifth Royal Guards Infantry Regiment. Welling The reputation of the Dun Guard is not in vain.”

The military policeman smiled and made way for Arthur: "Superintendent Hastings, please pass."

Arthur nodded in return, and then walked into the embassy. In fact, it was an embassy, ​​but it was more like a luxurious private residence.

There is an outside garden with a stone-paved walkway, and several marble statues are erected on both sides of the walkway as decoration.

However, some of these stone sculptures have been completed, some have only carved half of their bodies, and some of them look like they have just started, with only a rough outline drawn on the brick surface with a pen on the outside.

It seems that these statues may not be the work of professional stonemasons, but the work of stone carving enthusiasts.

He looked up at the marble statues and then at the color of the gravel road under his feet, and he seemed to understand something in an instant.

Sure enough, geniuses are always in the minority. No matter what period it is, people's addiction to food is always the main theme.

Arthur thought about these things, and soon jumped over the dozens of meters of stone walkway, followed the steps and walked up to the front hall supported by four stone pillars more than three meters high.

Two military attachés from the embassy wearing Tsarist Russian officer uniforms, with long swords tied around their waists, and bearded people standing by the door chatting. When they saw the guests, one immediately turned back to report the news, and the other took the initiative to step forward with his belt. He questioned Arthur in exotic English.

Fortunately, the cross-examination did not last long, and the military attache who went back to report the news returned soon.

He said: "Mr. Hastings, please wait a moment. The head maid said that Mrs. Levine is putting on makeup. You can go to the lounge and sit for a while."

When Arthur heard this, he remembered what the military police stationed at the door had said to him.

Isn't Mrs. Levin receiving guests? Why are you putting on makeup?

However, Arthur did not directly express his question. Instead, he smiled and took out the iron box containing the cut tobacco from his pocket and asked: "Would you like some of this? Tobacco produced in Saint-Domingue, West Indies. The taste is quite pure. The tobacco there is usually used to make cigars. If I hadn't had a friend who worked on the plantation there, a little policeman like me wouldn't have been able to get such a good thing."

The two military attachés originally planned to refuse, but when they heard that the tobacco was produced in West India, they hesitated for a while and then readily agreed: "Then we are not welcome."

Arthur handed the iron box over, and after a while, he saw a puff of smoke outside the embassy's front hall.

While puffing on his cigarette, the bearded military attache gave a thumbs up and praised: "It is indeed much stronger than the Russian cut tobacco. Our place is not suitable for growing tobacco."

Another bearded military attache who spoke in broken English laughed without saying anything: "Sir, you said you are a policeman? What a coincidence. I can also be regarded as a policeman. If so, we are still traveling together. of."

When Arthur heard this, he took two puffs of cigarette and asked, "Really? Are you a police officer from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

The bearded man waved his hand: "You know Russia quite well. I used to be a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but after the department reform a few years ago, I was transferred out of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

"Really? Then I have to congratulate you." Arthur joked: "The police job is not easy, even if you are transferred to other departments to clean, it can be considered a promotion."

"Hahaha!" Arthur's words could be said to have reached the heart of the bearded man. He also joked: "I would rather be a cleaner. You may not know that after the department reform, my job has changed." It’s harder than before.”

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Why?" The bearded man exhaled a big puff of smoke: "Of course it's because I entered the third fucking hall of the imperial office. Although I mainly deal with documents now, there are too many damn documents."

The third hall of the imperial office?

When Arthur heard the name, the smile on his face suddenly became brighter.

It seemed that the rough-looking bearded military attache in front of him really wasn't lying. He and Arthur were indeed traveling together.

The third hall of the imperial office, perhaps the name sounds too formal and is not easy to understand.

In Russia, local people usually call them - the Tsar's secret police.