Shadow of great britain

Faced with Mill's inquiry, Arthur did not continue to hide his intentions.

He knew exactly how to deal with an intelligent scholar like Mill.

Unlike those tactful officials who engage in intrigues and test each other, when facing young people like Mill who have lived in ivory towers for a long time, honesty is an important way to gain their trust.

After listening to Arthur's introduction, Mill roughly understood the ins and outs of the matter.

He murmured: "Mr. Malthus was actually sent to help investigate Liverpool's tariff problem? This... is really unusual..."

Arthur asked: "I also feel that given Mr. Malthus's status, sending him to do this kind of work is really overqualified. Account checking is a task that tests eyesight and physical strength. In this regard, a sixty or seventy-year-old The old man may not be able to do any better than your apprentice accountant."

Mill nodded and said: "Yes, in the accountant profession, auditing and accounting are the most unskilled..."

"Really? I don't know much about this industry." Arthur took a sip of tea and asked, "What is the most advanced job in this industry?"

Hearing this, Mill smiled self-deprecatingly: "Although it may not be good to say this in front of a Scotland Yard police officer, but, Arthur, I don't want to lie to you. In the accounting profession, the most respected The guys are usually very good at making fake accounts, and they can make the fake accounts look like the real ones.”

Arthur smiled when he heard this: "Don't pay too much attention, John, Scotland Yard does not have an economic crime investigation department. So, leave this matter to Parliament and the courts to worry about. Okay, let's not talk so much. You and Your father is both a member of the East India Company, and both your father and son have been active in the British economics community for a long time. You yourself were trained at Haileybury College, so do you know much about Mr. Malthus?"

Mill originally seemed a little resistant to mentioning Malthus, but Arthur's frank and frank attitude still made him lose face.

He hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed and said: "Okay, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you. But you have to promise me first that you can't tell anyone else what I said here today. .”

Arthur crossed his fingers and put his elbows on the table and replied with a smile: "Of course, this is the basic morality of being a police officer. Although Scotland Yard has no clear regulations in this regard, as far as I am concerned, even if It was a private conversation between the criminal and me, and I will not easily use it as evidence. I have many secrets in my heart, and I will not even tell Minister Rowan, the Minister of the Interior, and the Prime Minister about these secrets. .”

Mill thought for a while and nodded: "Well, after all, you graduated from the University of London, and Mr. Bentham also praised you highly. For graduates of the University of London, you should have some sensitive views than others. It’s better to accept it.”

Having said this, Mill took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and began to introduce his relationship with Malthus, or the intricate relationship between the entire British economic community.

In fact, half a century ago, economics, like law and natural sciences, was not clearly divided into a separate discipline. They were all unified under the category of philosophy.

This method of division has also led to the influx of many figures into the British economics circle who do not seem to be in this field.

Malthus was deeply influenced by David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and others when he was growing up, and further developed his "monotheistic" belief concept and "population theory" based on Hume's skeptical and naturalistic views.

Another major faction in the British economics community also has a relatively clear order of inheritance.

If they were listed in order according to the timeline, it would be another kind of starlight.

This is the development context of British classical economics with Adam Smith as the founder, Jeremy Bentham as the second generation, Mill's father James Mill as the inheritor, and David Ricardo as the master.

When Mr. Bentham gave a lecture at the University of London, he proudly boasted to the audience: "I am the spiritual father of James Mill, and Mill is the spiritual father of Ricardo, so Ricardo is my spiritual father." grandson."

Scholars from this group were also the backbone of the establishment of the University of London. If we apply the concept of Eastern culture, this is the Shanmen tradition engraved in the bones of the University of London.

In a British society that attaches great importance to alumni relations, whether Arthur admits it or not, he has been labeled from the moment he stepped into the University of London.

Just as the East India Company preferred to recruit graduates from Balliol College, Oxford University, Britain's ultra-conservative forces also had a consistent dislike of the University of London.

However, as a long-standing rival in the field of economics, Malthus had a good relationship with many people in the University of London department.

Although Ricardo often opposed him on economics, especially on the issue of the Corn Laws, Ricardo firmly believed that the abolition of the Corn Laws would be beneficial to economic growth, while Malthus emphasized the importance of landowners to the country and resolutely defended the Corn Laws. Law" and increase grain price limits.

But this conflict of views does not prevent the two of them from becoming a pair of deep friends.

What’s even more surprising is that no one knows how these two economists got together.

In terms of origin, Malthus came from a typical upper-class British family, while Ricardo was a Jewish immigrant who was discriminated against.

Regarding education, Malthus was an outstanding graduate of Cambridge, a master's degree holder, and an academician of Jesus College, Cambridge. Ricardo only attended business school in the Netherlands for two years. In addition to self-study, Ricardo’s understanding of economics came from the practical experience of following his father in trading on the London Stock Exchange after he was 14 years old.

Even in terms of personality, the two are completely different.

Ricardo was an out-and-out playboy. As a stockbroker with a fortune of 1.6 million pounds when he retired, he also had a rich emotional life after work. While playing stocks, dealing with several ladies is also a required course for him.

Malthus, on the other hand, lacked self-confidence to a certain extent due to his congenital harelip and unclear speech. In addition, he was a priest with a firm belief, so he lived a reclusive life for a long time, even at social banquets. He looks like an out-and-out ethicist.

As for academics, Malthus lived a typical academic life, but his academic reports usually used a large number of observed real-life examples.

Although Ricardo had rich life experience and even served as a parliamentarian for several years, he was a genuine theoretical person.

As for their social reputation, the two are even more on par with each other.

Malthus faced controversy after the publication of The Principle of Population, which was accused of justifying evils such as smallpox, slavery, and infanticide. This public outcry reached its climax after he announced his marriage. Everyone was ridiculing him for practicing this bad habit after advocating birth rate control.

Although Ricardo was a Jewish member of Parliament, he was obviously much more popular than Mr. Disraeli in the House of Commons. Even though he didn't really accomplish much when he was in the House of Commons, many MPs still applauded his passionate speeches.

As for John Mill himself, due to his father's good relationship with Ricardo, he also received a lot of guidance from this master of classical economics. Under Ricardo's recommendation, before entering Haileybury College, he had already learned from Malthus, who was not very social.

When Arthur heard this, his eyes changed when he looked at Mil.

Usually, there may not be many mentors of this level in an era, and being taught by one of them is a great blessing in life.

However, Mill defeated four people in one go. Such a resume has already destined him to become the Tarzan Beidou in the British economics circle.

Arthur held the teacup and read: "With your father's personal teachings, and the teachings of Mr. Bentham, David Ricardo, and Thomas Malthus, John, you really don't need to go to university. Oxford and Cambridge add it." No one can put together a starting lineup of this level for you. Have you considered quitting your job with the East India Company? I heard that the University of London seems to be recruiting a professor of political economics recently."

Mill shook his head and said: "I'm not interested in teaching. Rather than communicating with students, I still want to engage in some practical work. Moreover, working in the company is relatively easy, which allows me to have more free time to write articles. Do something you want to do.”

"That's right." Arthur joked: "Look at me, I'm tied up by Scotland Yard now, like a dog being barked around. They didn't even let me have much mental preparation, and they put me on a leash. I kicked Liverpool."

Mill smiled and said: "Come on, Arthur, you have a bright future. Even if you are a pessimistic person, at this time, it is better to think about the good things. As a superintendent of Scotland Yard, someone who can kick you There aren’t many left. Look, in order to curry favor with you, didn’t the company even send Mr. Malthus to you?”

Arthur replied: "I don't think so. Although I don't have any biased views on Mr. Malthus. But you also said before that the symbolic significance of a professor of political economics coming to Liverpool is far greater than the actual significance. Rather than To say that the East India Company brought him out was to assist me, but rather to humiliate the Liverpool authorities. What is most puzzling to me is that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Customs Administration actually agreed to this suggestion."

Mill asked: "Do you think the Ministry of Internal Affairs should not accept the company's suggestions?"

"That's right."

Arthur nodded and said: "Everyone knows what Malthus wrote in "The Principle of Population". Perhaps when he wrote the chapter about smallpox, he just wanted to objectively state the role of disease in curbing population growth. But this does not prevent Everyone thought he was a vicious killer who wanted to use disease to eradicate the poor.

Perhaps his team of students could help with the accounting, but sending Mr. Malthus himself to Liverpool at this moment would definitely be unwise. This is not helping me, but causing trouble for me. In other words, they are causing trouble for Liverpool's already precarious public order. "

In view of Mill's identity, Arthur did not make the question too clear, but it was enough for Mill.

He understood that Arthur wanted to say that the East India Company was not well-intentioned in sending Malthus.

If after the assassination of the commissioner, the poor people of Liverpool are sensitive to the name "Malthus" and a new round of riots breaks out, then the Liverpool authorities will be completely ruined.

Mill was silent for a moment, and then suddenly said: "Arthur, I can only say that, at least from my sources, the Polish assassins who assassinated you should not have been sent by the company. Although I don't want to send my father's The work is put on display, but the company cannot take action against the son of a board member. You know, I was also at the Golden Lion Hotel when the assassination happened.

However, regarding Mr. Malthus’s matter, I cannot rule out that someone at the top of the company has a motive. But there is only so much they can and will do. The company has the ability to exert a certain degree of marginal influence on the cabinet and parliament, but the decision-making power is always in the hands of the cabinet. The East India Company is not as powerful as everyone thinks. After all, we are under the leadership of His Majesty the King and Parliament. "

Arthur heard this and stretched out his hand towards Mill: "John, thank you for your candor. However, although this request is unreasonable, I hope you can send a letter to the company on my behalf to ask if they can withdraw the order that sent Mr. Malthus." Suggestion. Although Mr. Malthus is not particularly difficult to deal with according to your introduction, it will be very difficult for me if this gentleman really comes."

Mill held Arthur's extended hand: "No problem, I'll try my best. However, I still want to ask, what are you going to do if the problem is not on the company's side?"

"If the problem is not with the company..."

Arthur smiled and said: "Then I can only hope that my boss, the Viscount Melbourne, the Minister of Internal Affairs, is really a loyal and kind gentleman as the ladies in London say. In order to defend him, "The British" specially added For the sake of printing the plot of the ending of "The Pickwick Papers", I hope he can take time out of his busy schedule to read the handwritten letter I sent for delivery."

Mill couldn't help frowning when he heard this: "Have things gotten so bad? Do you suspect that the Ministry of Internal Affairs deliberately sent its police officers to die in Liverpool?"

"I don't know. But this case looks rough on the surface, but the operations under the water are very delicate. It doesn't look like a sudden attack at all."

Arthur said: "Scotland Yard's case handling guidelines are that we remain suspicious of all possibilities until the suspicion is completely ruled out. Many people have motives to do this. Unfortunately, the County and Municipal Police Bill is being promoted "The Ministry of Internal Affairs is also one of them."

Mill worriedly asked: "With all due respect, if it was really the Ministry of the Interior that did it, wouldn't you be throwing yourself into a trap by doing this? Arthur, although Mr. Malthus's theory is a bit extreme, there is one thing that both he and Hume are right about." Yes, we cannot rely on human morality to solve problems."

Arthur held his forehead and said, "Of course, I understand this, but you have to try it first, right?"

Mill pursed his lips after hearing this: "God bless you, Arthur. I will write a letter to my father now. I hope this can be of some help to your plan."

After saying this, Mir stood up and left the room.

Almost at the same moment that Mil left the room, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the Golden Lion Hotel.

When the car door opened, the first thing that caught everyone's eyes was a gorgeous red and black skirt, followed closely by lace black gloves dotted with a few lovely pearls.

It was a lady wearing a dark black women's wide-brimmed sunhat. Her long eyelashes were covered with a thin layer of black gauze, which made people know that a relative in her family had just passed away.

The lady stepped out of the carriage with the help of the coachman. She first raised her head and looked at the hotel in front of her, which was decorated with ivory white marble reliefs, as well as the heavily armed Scotland Yard police officers who were waiting around it. She then raised her hand and pulled her long hair back to her ears. Finally, he whispered something in his mouth.

"It's really grand, like a gorgeously decorated coffin. How can you not die if you live in a place like this? It's really a joke to come to a place like Liverpool where Irish people are everywhere, and hide in Whitehall specially built for you by Scotland Yard. Isn’t the nursery at No. 4 Street good?”

While Madam was talking, Mr. Schneider, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who had just finished work with others, walked out of the hotel with a relaxed smile that was typical when work was going well.

He immediately caught sight of the lady who looked like a flower in the grass. Perhaps because he was in a good mood, Mr. Schneider winked at her playfully and asked in a smooth tone: "Madam, do you need help? I have a lot of time today, so Don’t worry, if you need help with anything, just ask.”

Fiona has seen many such approaches.

She just apologetically raised her black gloves and touched the black gauze at the brim of her hat.

Schneider saw her posture and immediately thought of the previous assassination in front of the Golden Lion Hotel.

Perhaps this lady's husband was unfortunately killed in that explosion?

When he thought of this, Mr. Schneider, who is of German descent, quickly clarified his relationship with the Bavarians. He apologized: "I'm sorry, madam, I didn't mean to ignore this. I'm sorry, I should have thought of it earlier. Please forgive me." . Please believe in the government, we will definitely give your husband justice."

For such a gentleman, Fiona certainly did not hesitate to show off her sophisticated acting skills, and tears seemed to flash in her big flashing eyes.

Fiona smiled a polite smile that revealed a hint of sadness in her illness: "May God protect you from being like my husband, sir."

After saying this, Fiona walked into the hotel with the support of the maid beside her.

Schneider watched her back disappear at the end of the corridor until she was no longer visible, and then whistled frivolously.

"A widow...Ladies who have just lost their husbands always have an unusual charm. If her husband can leave her another generous fortune, she will definitely become more popular...No, that's not right. , Schneider, what are you thinking about? Calm down, you have worked hard until now, not just to take a shortcut like a narrow path. But... having said that, is it possible that the shortcut will be smoother than the broad road?

There are the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers, the colorful little dresses of the ladies, and the rich inheritance. Sigh...that's all, I'd better not have those unrealistic dreams. Schneider, recognize yourself, you do not have this destiny, nor do you have the external conditions. Don't you want to? You just don’t have the ability! Don't waste energy on things that have no results, your goal is already close at hand! "

Schneider was talking to himself to cheer himself up, but he didn't notice that there was an almost negligible weight on his shoulders, which was the arm of the Red Devil.

Agares nodded and said: "Yes, that's right, man, it's not easy to recognize yourself. What did Arthur say? If you don't have that big drill, don't get the porcelain job. In my opinion Come on, the ladies have the same job. This business is not easy. Um... No, is that what that boy Arthur said? Forget it, who cares, the meaning is the same anyway. "

Just as the Red Devil was talking obscenely, Schneider, who was about to walk out of the hotel, suddenly stopped.

He hesitantly looked back at the place where Fiona was standing just now, and murmured: "Wait, did anyone die in the assassination? Or did her husband die of other factors, cholera? If it was cholera, What is a woman doing in a place like this? Besides, have I seen her before somewhere...Why does she always feel familiar..."

Schneider thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what was wrong.

"Whatever, let other people worry about these things. I'll just do my job well."

After saying this, Schneider put aside the questions in his mind and walked out of the hotel door humming a tune.

And somewhere he couldn't see, in the room on the second floor of the hotel, a pair of light red eyes were shining behind the window glass.

The red devil stood behind Arthur and said with a playful smile: "Oh, my dear Arthur, what are you thinking about? You deceived the young man named Mir with your words that were 70% true and 30% false, so let's start Do you have a troubled conscience?"

"Having a bad conscience? Maybe a little, but I usually only confess before going to bed."

"Really? That's a lot better than before." The Red Devil licked his lips: "But, if that's the case, what are you thinking about now?"

Arthur stared at Schneider's retreating back, held the red wine glass and said, "I'm thinking about what Mr. Schneider said to me. Maybe the government ship is really leaking from the top, but... who can Are you sure that the bottom of the boat is intact?"

"You can't believe anyone?"

"Of course, I can't even trust myself." Arthur blinked: "I've deceived myself just as many times."

"Okay, then I can only pray that you can wake up in time. At the latest, don't let me wait until I attend the farewell ceremony for your body."

Arthur replied calmly: "Then your concept of time is really loose. When will I die? There is really no accurate date."

"Who said that?" The red devil took a bite of the juicy apple: "Isn't it now?"

As soon as the red devil finished speaking, he heard the door of the house being slowly pushed open.

Fiona solemnly moved her beautiful skirt and walked into the room, bowed slightly and gave a slight salute to Arthur's back.

Then, he saw her fingertips moving up her neck little by little until she covered her mouth.

A female voice that was pretentious and had a hint of false emotion sounded in the quiet room: "My dear, I'm here to attend your funeral."