Shadow of great britain

The boxes of the Astrid Amphitheater were filled with celebrities.

Among the dignitaries, those who could show off their status in front of the citizens, such as former members of parliament or Westminster magistrates, have now become nothing more than unknown pawns.

Former Congressman Bernie Harrison and Justice of the Peace George Norton crowded into this six-square-meter box, leaning against the window to watch the splendid performance on the stage, where the protagonist Edmund of "The Count of Monte Cristo" was being performed. The plot of Dantès being framed and arrested at the wedding.

When Norton saw this scene, he just wrinkled his nose and cursed in a low voice: "Dantes' fiancée, Maestro Tess, is a bitch. I don't believe she knew nothing about the plan to frame Dantes. Dantes suffered After being framed, this bitch didn't even have any suspicion. Instead, she turned around and married her cousin Fernand, one of the murderers who framed Dantès. She actually married without any psychological pressure. Such a fisherman!

Dantès is so blind, how could he fall in love with such a heartless Catalan bitch! As a shrewd and capable sailor, he became the first mate at a young age. However, because of his misunderstanding with a woman, all his good years were ruined in the island prison. If he hadn't received the help of a noble man like Father Faria, he would probably have died there for the rest of his life.

Ah! If Mr. Dumas does not arrange for Dantès to take revenge on this bitch in the next story, I will definitely write a letter to the editorial office of "The Anglican" to protest! "

Harrison leaned against the table holding the wine glass: "Oh, George, it sounds like you must have not watched the latest issue of "The British"."

When Norton heard this, he replied with a dark face: "I originally bought the latest issue, but the day before yesterday, Caroline and I had an argument. I threw a fork and plate at her, and she went crazy and tore up all my magazines. I threw it into the fireplace. When I calmed down and wanted to buy another copy of "The Brit", all the bookstores had sold out signs. Damn it! Why are their sales so good? , I would say that this group of people is really too cautious in their management, they can definitely print more! If they don’t make money, are there any brain problems among the shareholders and owners of "The British"?"

Harrison heard Norton's series of negative remarks. To the extent that he knew his friend thoroughly, he knew that with a few more words of guidance, he could get what he wanted.

He smiled and picked up the bottle and added some more wine for Norton: "George, I think you should not read the latest episode, otherwise you may be disappointed and angry."

"What's wrong?"

Norton drained the wine in his glass in one gulp: "I remember it was not previewed in the last issue. Will Dantès take revenge on his bitch fiancée Mei Se Tess? I have been waiting for this part for a long time. Dantès Did Si kill Tess Mermaid and Fernand's son with one shot in a duel?"

Harrison smiled and shook his head. He sighed and said: "It's a pity, George, that Melody came to Dantès to plead for mercy before the duel, and our Count of Monte Cristo, Mr. Dantès, was so tough and tender that he finally chose Let this former fiancée and the son of my enemy go."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Norton slammed the wine glass on the small table angrily: "Bernie, I swear to you, "The Count of Monte Cristo" is the worst novel I have ever read! Alexander Dumas is one A shameless person who uses his pen to cheat money! Damn it, I used to regard him as a giant in the literary world, but now it seems that he is no different from other effeminate fashion novelists!

I really don’t know who would be willing to compliment him. Anyway, they are definitely not well-educated scholars, philosophers or accomplished gentlemen. Only the blacksmiths wielding sledgehammers and hammering horseshoes, the shopkeepers of tailor shops immersed in needlework, or the employees of small companies who are poor, fastidious and pretend to be lavish will praise him to the sky. Lion of Paris, how did they come up with this nickname for Dumas? "

Harrison pretended to drink to cover up his embarrassment: "George, don't be angry. Not everyone has been to the London Zoo, and not everyone has seen the grasslands of Africa, so naturally not everyone knows what a lion looks like. Yes. But I agree with you. Dantès is indeed a bad person. Just like Socrates said: A good woman can turn a man into a happy person. A bad woman can turn a man into a happy person. A bad woman can turn a man into a happy person. Become a philosopher. George, you are almost becoming a philosopher now.”

After hearing this, Norton couldn't help laughing at himself: "Bernie, thank you for your compliment, but my philosophical level is completely incomparable with Socrates. The only thing he and I have in common is that we both married a Let the shrew be my wife. She doesn’t know anything, she doesn’t understand anything, and yet she likes to disagree with me on her political views.

As the hostess of the Norton family, she only needs to treat the family gently and considerately, and receive guests decently and generously. But she just likes to write her bullshit novels, and she also hopes to publish her Whig views in social situations. She also likes to point fingers when it comes to children's education. I really embarrass her!

Sigh... I was really confused when I was at the dance. Why did I fall in love with such a woman? Free love, I didn’t realize how stupid this idea was until now. If I had followed my family's arrangements and looked for a good match among other established Tory families, I might have become prosperous by now. Instead of being forced from the House of Commons to the courts after losing the election. "

Harrison comforted: "George, look what you said, the status of judges is not lower than that of members. You also know that in Britain, no one is allowed to interfere with judicial trials, not even the Prime Minister. As long as it is in court, Your word is the golden rule. Isn’t that better than being scolded by a bunch of big shots in the caucus?”

Norton snorted: "Bernie, you think about things too simply. If you don't seek progress, you just want to live a stable life in this position, coveting the income of one thousand pounds a year and the benefits after retirement." Pension, then indeed, you don't need to pay attention to those big shots who are bossing you around. Just be careful not to offend His Majesty the King.

However, if you want to go further, then there is actually no difference between working in the court and working in the parliament. Maybe I don’t have to deal with the prime minister and cabinet ministers on the surface, and I just need to be responsible to the royal justice. But... the appointment and dismissal of the Royal Justices is decided by the Prime Minister, so as long as I continue to want to move up, I will inevitably have to flatter them.

Bernie, I'm not even thirty yet. Do you think I should accept my fate at this age? I still have a long way to go. "

When Harrison heard Norton's words, his palm holding the wine glass couldn't help but tighten. He finally managed to get over the mood of wanting to beat him up, and asked instead: "George, no matter what, you are much better than me. .Look at what I have become now. My political career is over. When they first collected political donations from me, the Tories ignored me like precious stones. Now they treat me like a jewel because of a small mistake. Throw them away like worn-out shoes. It's just to meet some personal needs, and I spend my own money. As a result, look, haha, what have I become now?"

Norton heard this and said: "Bernie, you are too careless. Why did you go to those people standing on the street? Aren't there several regular brothels in London? The prostitutes there... Oh, no, you can't call me now They are whores.

Bernie, because of your case and the storm of public opinion caused by the Bishop of Exeter, now we must call them wanderers, or prostitutes, otherwise it will be suspected of insulting the character of these ladies.

The group of fake moralists in the parliament only act fastest at this time. Just a fucking title issue, and a special bill has to be promulgated to clearly stipulate it. It's like if the name were changed, there would be no prostitutes in London. "

Harrison tolerated him for a long time, and finally couldn't help but said: "Yes, George, you are different from them, you can do practical things. When Parliament introduced the "Oxford University Prostitution Bill", you, the Oxford University Outstanding graduates are leading the charge.

All ordinary prostitutes and street prostitutes wandering on public sidewalks, streets or roads within the jurisdiction of Oxford University without sufficient reasons to prove that they have a legitimate purpose will be regarded as lawless idlers and constitute a crime. He should be arrested in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Vagrancy Act of 1824, and the penalty is imprisonment with hard labor for not more than one month.

Take a look at the provisions of this law. It is clear and precise, and there is no scope for ambiguous interpretation. It gives full play to the results of your study at Lincoln's Inn, and also eliminates moral hazards and disease risks for your descendants who study at Oxford University. . Before I quit the Tory Party, many new MP candidates with Oxford education background couldn't help but give a thumbs up when they mentioned you.

Sir Peel is so ignorant that he would reprimand someone as capable as you and make you turn to the law. The loss of you by the Tories will be as great a loss as the loss of Viscount Palmerston. "

Norton was a little flattered by the praise. He said modestly: "I am very ashamed. I just did a small thing. But I also deeply regret that I cannot continue to stay in Parliament and shine for Britain. When I was studying in Oxford, I just suffered from these prostitutes...well, no, promiscuous women.

I still remember that when I first entered Oxford to study, before I even set foot on campus, groups of ladies came up to me and held my arms, saying a series of enthusiastic compliments and asking me if I needed anything. Help, and the little devils following them will take the opportunity to attack your belongings, and these ladies themselves usually have dirty little hands.

I was still a student at that time, and as the saying goes, ‘If you are not in your position, you will not be involved in politics’, so I just took care of myself at that time. But now that I have become a member of Parliament, I will naturally make great efforts to rectify this long-standing bad habit. "

Harrison applauded repeatedly: "As expected of you, George, with ideals and abilities."

I don’t know if it was the effect of alcohol or Norton being so praised that he couldn’t distinguish between north and south. He said with a big mouth: "Tsk... But I seem to have been destined to be with prostitutes in my life. I first took the lead in introducing this bill in the parliament and got married. At that time, she was also unfortunate enough to marry a shameless prostitute. That bitch Caroline, she was tricked by Viscount Melbourne, but she still naively thought she had really found love. Oh, did she think Melbourne was What a good person?"

Harrison heard Norton take the initiative to mention his wife, so he continued: "Speaking of which, didn't you say before that you wanted Caroline to help you with the matter of going to the London District Attorney's Office? What's the progress of that matter? How's it going?"

When Norton heard this, his mood that had just improved suddenly fell back to the bottom: "If she succeeds, will I hold on to her behaviors? Bernie, you also know that my concept is usually More open-minded. If Caroline really feels that staying with me is not suitable, then she can pursue what she wants, but the premise of everything is that her behavior does not affect me.

But now, it was obvious that she must have said something bad in the ears of Viscount Melbourne. It stands to reason that the position of magistrate is much more popular than that of the London District Attorney's Office. If I hadn't wanted to do something big and valued my long-term development, I wouldn't have taken the initiative to give up the high salary of a judge and work in such a new department.

Logically speaking, going from high to low should work well. But I was inexplicably rejected time and time again. Apart from Caroline whispering in Viscount Melbourne's ears, I really couldn't think of any other possibility. I really don’t know what kind of consequences she could get from treating her husband like this. Not to mention, she tore up my copy of The Brit! "

Seeing that the atmosphere was almost brewing, Harrison finally said what he had been thinking about for a long time.

"George, it turns out that for the sake of your family harmony and marriage stability, I didn't want to say this. But after hearing what you said, I feel that as your good friend, I can't just watch you fall into this mud."

Norton raised his glass slightly and said, "Bernie, you mean..."

"call……"

Harrison took off his hat and rubbed his hair: "Okay, George, I won't hide it from you. In fact, when I just entered the theater, I saw Caroline and Viscount Melbourne. They were on the third floor. I used to I have also been to the Astley Theater to watch a play, so... you know, the box on the third floor has a lounge, and... um... there are beds inside, and I think it should be enough for two people. "

Harrison thought Norton would be furious after saying this.

But what he didn't expect was that a smile actually appeared on the other person's face.

Harrison felt a little embarrassed and asked, "George, are you crazy?"

Norton shook his head slightly and said: "No, Bernie, I have been mentally prepared for this matter. Although I also asked Caroline personally, she refused to admit it, and I have never caught anything crucial. Evidence. In addition, Viscount Melbourne had been quite friendly to me before, which made me feel that he might be of some use to me.

But unfortunately, I have to admit that I may have been overly cautious before. He probably regarded me, George Norton, as some kind of soft persimmon, and he thought he could refuse my request casually. Since he insists on doing this, I don't mind giving him some color. "

Harrison asked, "What are you going to do?"

Norton said: "Actually, I have been paying attention to Caroline's every move early in the morning. I know that she locked all the letters between her and Melbourne in a box in the attic. I found someone to match the key to that box a while ago. I have seen everything in it. I have to say that these two immoral and honorless men and women are really careful, and the words in the letter are really cryptic. Maybe they were guarding against me early on. They thought they were doing this , I can’t do anything about them. But thank you, Bernie, you really helped me a lot today. Come on, let’s go and see if they are really that innocent.”

Harrison asked: "What if they are indeed innocent?"

Norton took out a handkerchief and put it to his mouth and spit: "Then don't I still have those letters in my hand? If everyone really wants to break up, I'm not afraid of them."

Harrison nodded slightly and said, "Okay, George, you just have to figure everything out."

"I've figured it out a long time ago." Norton sneered and said, "It's just Melbourne that I don't understand now. It's just a matter of sending a prosecutor to the London District Attorney's Office. Is it so difficult to do this?"

After saying this, Norton took Harrison out of the box.

Only a click was heard, and the door closed gently.

In the silence, only the sound of the tape recorder could be heard.

Not long after, the box door opened again. Louis Bonaparte calmly walked to the closet and pressed the stop button. He held the small wooden box and looked at it for a long time, then held his chin and nodded slightly to comment.

"It's really the right time to work in the Police Intelligence Bureau. You can meet new surprises every day. Whether it is Fouche, the then Minister of Police of the French Empire, or Vidocq, who is now the Security Brigade of the Paris Police Department, everyone should be able to You've never seen such a magical gadget, have you? Arthur Hastings, masters the core technology. Gee, on this point alone, he really isn't bragging."