Shadow of great britain

Hastings House, 36 Lancaster Gate, Bayswater, London.

Disraeli sat at the dining table and tapped the table with two fingers excitedly. This gentleman who claimed that excellence was his nature finally tasted victory for the first time after so many years of misfortune.

His joy was clearly written on his face. This gentleman who had always tried to perfect his image as a gentleman with his decent appearance, fashionable clothes, and cool and taciturn attitude suddenly transformed into a talkative man.

From the moment he walked into Arthur's house, he couldn't stop talking.

"Damn it! All the 1,500 copies of the first issue of "British" were sold out, and an additional 1,000 copies had to be temporarily printed, although this included 800 copies given out for free at the Coburg Theater. product, but for a magazine that has just been launched, this is still a great victory! I knew that the reason why the "Representative" I ran before failed was entirely because of that son of a bitch Morrie. . How can it be so difficult to run a newspaper or magazine?"

Dickens, who temporarily acted as the accountant of "The Englishman", chewed his pen on the side. He looked at the accounts in front of him and said: "Not only did we sell 2,500 copies, but we also received more than 100 one-year long-term copies. Subscription application. Maybe we can start thinking about hiring a few newspaper couriers."

When Arthur heard this, he read the newspaper and said: "Maybe there is no need to be so anxious. I have a certain amount of free postal benefits at the General Post Office every year. I haven't used this year's share at all. It's already eleven now." It's been months, and my share should be enough to cover this year's magazine mailing volume.

Wait until next year, if the circulation grows, maybe we can also consider using Rothschild's courier delivery business. Everyone says that apart from the banking industry, the Rothschild family is the best in postal services. And we have an equity relationship with them, so I believe they will be happy to take this order. "

When Elder heard this, he couldn't help but whistled: "Arthur, can you stop being so petty? The first issue sold two thousand and five thousand copies, the next issue sold five thousand copies, and the next issue sold ten thousand copies." , we will soon be a big magazine, we just hire two postmen, what’s the big deal?”

Darwin on the side heard this and couldn't help but question: "Why are you so confident?"

Elder patted his chest and said proudly: "Of course it's because of my strong sales strength! Don't you know? Of the 2,500 copies in the first issue, I sold 200 copies!"

"ha?"

When everyone heard this, they all put down their work and looked at Elder.

Dickens also quickly turned over the accounts at hand. He took a look and immediately exclaimed: "It's really like this. Mr. Carter has sold a total of two hundred and sixty-two volumes in the past few days. This sales figure has almost reached the highest sales volume." Twice as good as a good bookstore.”

Arthur looked at Elder's expression with such arrogance that his butt almost flew to the sky. He held his chin and thought for a while, and then spoke.

"Elder, I thought I had valued you very much in the past, but now that I think about it, I may have underestimated you. Judging from your level of promoting literary magazines, the education in the Department of Classical Literature at the University of London has something to say. One, it’s really good. Can you tell me how you did it?”

Darwin couldn't help but give him a high look: "I have to admit, Elder, your status in my mind is now higher than that of monkeys."

Hearing this, Elder stood up with a grin and put his hand on his chest and gave a slight salute: "There is no need to thank me. I just made a small contribution."

Alexandre Dumas took out a steel coin from his pocket and threw it at his head: "Stop being such a jerk, tell me how you did it!"

Elder grabbed the steel ball and glared at Dumas: "Fat man, I'm in a good mood today, so I won't argue with you. If you are so rude next time, I will..."

Alexandre Dumas leaned on the chair with his hands behind his head and shook his legs: "Just tell everyone about it. That night you were with Miss Coconut Tree at the Coburg Theater..."

Elder heard this and interrupted him quickly. He turned to Arthur and said, "Do you remember the old man who sold one-penny newspapers on Christmas Road in Greenwich that I told you before?"

When Arthur heard this, he just repeated what Elder had said to him before: "Enter Christmas Road from Central Street, walk about two hundred feet and then turn left. There is a small building with two chimneys. In the alley, every Wednesday from 3 to 5 pm, as long as there is no heavy rain, there will be a man in his 50s wearing a gray hat and a black coat..."

Hearing this, Elder smiled mischievously and said, "You did go."

Arthur just shrugged and said: "Elder, I used to be the police inspector of Greenwich. Vendors like this selling newspapers without stamps must be illegal in the eyes of the police."

Elder was stunned and said: "You captured him? No, he was still there when I went there two days ago!"

Arthur said: "I saw that he had a good attitude in pleading guilty, so I didn't have any major fight with him. However, in order to prevent him from returning to his old ways, I asked him to make a routine report to me every Wednesday to confirm his recent criminal status. "

When Elder heard this, he couldn't help but sigh: "Damn it, you are treated better than me!"

Arthur knocked on the table and emphasized: "This is different, Elder, I am conducting a routine review."

Alexandre Dumas also nodded and said: "I am responsible for conducting routine reviews."

"Fuck you two." Elder glared and said, "Don't think about me for this kind of thing. I won't lend you anything good next time!"

Seeing that the topic was going astray, Arthur quickly urged: "Stop talking so much. How on earth did you sell so many magazines?"

Elder tugged on his collar with dissatisfaction: "Sales is like the art of debate in parliament. As a top student in the Department of Classical Literature, I have a unique advantage in rhetoric.

In addition, I have a small network of contacts in the industry. I know many senior people who have been engaged in newspaper sales for many years, and I know some secret sales locations that only various professional enthusiasts know about.

And the articles that I have reviewed and commented on have always been widely favored by fans, so naturally I don’t sell them. Once I sell them, they sell like hotcakes.

I have told you before that articles with titles such as "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Pickwick Papers", "The Young Duke", or something like "The Monkey's Tale" are completely unworkable in this field. Therefore, in order to increase sales, I made some reasonable decorations and modifications to the title of the article. "

Hearing this, Alexandre Dumas seemed to have come to his senses: "So, what did you change the title of our article to?"

Elder snorted and said: "I think that if you want to sell well, you still have to start from the readers' curiosity and desire for knowledge. Subjects such as counts and dukes, because similar subjects have been written a lot in recent years. , there are many cases that can be used as a reference. Just adding some love history, secret words, etc. after the status is enough to make everyone pay.

As for "The Pickwick Papers", a story like a civilian's travelogue requires more work on my part. The first thing I thought of was Lord Byron's unfinished "Don Juan". As we all know, Don Juan was a famous romantic figure in Spanish history. He dealt with countless noble ladies in his life, even in Spain. People like to use Don Juan to refer to a lecherous person.

It is natural that Lord Byron adapted the novel based on Don Juan and achieved commercial success. Therefore, in order to emulate Lord Byron's successful path, I promoted "The Pickwick Papers" as a "Don Juan's Travels in Britain". As expected, many customers were already impatient and ready to pay without even hearing my description of the contents.

Of course, what I am most proud of is the sales description of "Monkey Story". I did not add any extravagance in this regard. I clearly told them that this is a popular science story describing the relationship between humans and monkeys. , coupled with an expression that says, "Everyone understands, but if you don't understand, it's useless to tell you."

Although customers one by one express that they are not interested in this aspect, after purchasing other newspapers, they always say at the end: Get me another copy of "The British". I think the cover and packaging are quite good. Exquisite. "

When Darwin heard this, he looked at Elder with a complicated face: "Elder, the purpose of writing this is to popularize science for everyone, so that everyone can stay away from ignorance and embrace civilization, but look what you have done. ?”

Elder shrugged innocently and said, "That's right! I told them this was a popular science article, but what's the use if they don't believe it?"

Arthur said calmly: "Elder."

"What's wrong?"

"Quickly tell me you graduated from Oxford."

Elder sternly refused: "No, no, it's Cambridge's turn this month."

"What about King's College?"

"King's College?" Elder said disdainfully: "Those little bastards, stay back a little bit."

Faced with such a clear-cut salesman, Elder Carter, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Disraeli, out of the original intention of caring for his capable employees, hurriedly came to smooth things over.

He moved the heavy suitcase at his feet to the table. There was only a click, the lid of the suitcase was opened, and everyone's mouths were finally blocked by piles of banknotes.

Disraeli smiled and said with sweat on his forehead: "Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of the Bank of England, Barings Bank and Rothschild Bank, let's settle the royalties for the first issue."

When a fluttering check was placed in front of Dumas, after struggling for a while, the weight as light as a feather finally bent the French writer's heavy back.

He put the check away and put it in his coat pocket, sighed softly and confessed to God: "Originally I planned to refuse, but the money offered is really too much."

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but ask: "Alexander, are you free tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night? Do you have any projects tomorrow night?" Alexandre Dumas smiled and shook the check in his hands: "As long as the cost does not exceed this amount."

"No, tomorrow night is free." Arthur put his arms on the table: "I don't think it's a good idea for you to hide from XZ like this. As long as the French government doesn't withdraw the wanted order against you, there will always be several ideas. I'm going to make a fortune. So, are you interested in following me to meet Talleyrand?"

"Talleyrand?" Alexandre Dumas heard the name, and his smile suddenly froze on his face: "Why should I go to see him? A person who does not even have the most basic moral character, I have nothing to talk about."

Arthur just smiled and shook his head when he heard this: "I don't know or understand whether he has moral character. But I know that he can help withdraw the wanted order against you. Alexander, I know that you are a romantic writer, but life is still Be realistic, there’s no harm in following me to meet him.”

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, there was a knock on the door at home.

Alexandre Dumas seemed unwilling to answer Arthur's question. He took this opportunity to stand up and leave the table. After opening the door, what appeared outside was Sheriff Charles Field, who was neatly dressed in a tuxedo uniform.

Perhaps because he was too excited, Chief Field spoke in a vibrato: "Is Superintendent Hastings at home?"

Arthur's head popped up from behind Alexandre Dumas, but before he could ask any questions, Sheriff Field already smiled and said: "You'd better stop asking, you'll know after you open it and take a look."

Arthur opened the document bag, although from Chief Field's expression, he had already read the general content of the document.

But when the documents were placed in front of me, the stone hanging in my heart finally fell to the ground safely.

There are two documents with very concise and clear titles. One is approved by the Kingdom Privy Council, and the other is stamped by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Relevant documents regarding the reorganization of the London Regional Provisional Bureau of Surveying and Statistics into the London Police Intelligence Bureau"

"Recommendations for the nomination of Superintendent Arthur Hastings of the Metropolitan Police as proposed Director of the Metropolitan Police Intelligence Service"

When Alexandre Dumas saw these two documents, he just patted Arthur on the shoulder: "In your words just now, I thought you wanted to become Talleyrand, but now it seems that you are more likely to become Fouche. Bigger. But I personally think that Fouche is probably worse than Talleyrand."

Chief Field was stunned when he heard this: "Fouche? Mr. Dumas, are you talking about your French Minister of Police?"

"That's right." Alexandre Dumas said: "Napoleon holds the secrets of France, and Fouche holds the secrets of Napoleon. He and Talleyrand are Napoleon's right-hand men, and they were even together when they conspired against Napoleon."

Arthur just shook his head when he heard this: "Alexander, I will not put all the opponents into the house and bombard them."

"Oh?" Alexander joked: "Is it because you don't have a cannon?"

"It's okay if you insist on understanding it this way." Arthur just smiled and shook his head: "So, I will not be Fouche of France, I will just be Hastings of Britain."

When Alexandre Dumas heard this, he just smiled, then put his arm around his shoulders and said, "I hope so. In that case, I will accompany you to meet Talleyrand tomorrow."

There's more tonight