Shadow of great britain

"This is Sir Arthur Hastings. In fact, he and you are both police stars, but one of you is working hard for Paris, and the other is working in London."

Amid the lights and wine of the ball, the middleman introduced Arthur to Henri Rissoke, the chief of the Paris Police.

In fact, Rissoke had already noticed this young man who stood out from the crowd when he just entered the banquet hall.

Perhaps because of the eyesight he has trained in more than two years as the chief of police, Rissoke can always identify potential criminals or legal criminals in a group of people.

And Arthur obviously belongs to the latter.

The tough law propped up his straight back, and his sharp eyes seemed as if he was not looking at the VIPs in full dress, but a group of prisoners who might fall into his hands at any time. The smile on his lips during the conversation made him look very humble, but in fact, it was just a show, because the police would never open their hearts to the people he arrested.

Whether he talks to you gently, like the infatuated Romeo in Shakespeare's play, or whips you violently, like the perverted matricide Roman tyrant Claudius, in fact, all of these are masks he wears, and all of this is to pry some evidence from your mouth.

As for what is hidden under this fickle mask, no one knows, and he will not let people know. Novel canes, beautiful monocles, diamond buttons, tie pins, and wide-brimmed silver rings inlaid with Roman coins are all his tricks to deceive people.

A guy called "bloodhound" in London, thinks that he can cover up the bloody smell on his body by dressing himself up as a glamorous rich guy?

In the eyes of the calculating Risoke, this is simply too childish.

"It's nice to see you here, Sir. Although this is our first meeting and we have no friendship, I must admit that even though we are separated by the English Channel, you have helped me and the citizens of Paris a lot. Victor has mentioned your name to me more than once. Your experience and suggestions in cholera prevention and control have saved countless lives." Arthur shook the hand that Risoke extended. He did not pay too much attention to the highest officer of the Paris police force. This was not because he deliberately despised him, but because his mind tonight was basically concerned about Louis's affairs. "As we all know, the relationship between French and British soldiers has always been bad. But under your leadership, this hostility between the armies has not spread to the police. The communication between Scotland Yard and the Greater Paris Police Department has always been smooth, and good international communication has also helped the growth of both sides. If I have to say that my suggestions have any merit in cholera prevention and control, the biggest credit is that you carefully analyzed my opinions and firmly believed that they were useful. A large number of suggestions are put forward every day, but the most difficult task is to select useful ones and support them." Risoke saw that Arthur was absent-minded at a glance, but even when he was distracted, he could still give such an answer. What does this show? It shows that the 24-year-old young man in front of him has played this set quite skillfully. He is not only a qualified policeman, but can also turn into a politician full of lies at any time. Although he is very young, just these few words can show that there is a reason why he can be friends with Talleyrand. ‘The secret to pleasing people in the world is to let people who can’t do things teach you how to do things’, ‘The use of language is only to cover up thoughts’, these two famous quotes of Talleyrand have been learned by him and integrated.

According to the information that Risoke read in the carriage, this young man was born in Yorkshire, the most conservative area in Britain, but he studied at the University of London founded by the Whigs. After graduation, he joined the police agency hated by liberals, Scotland Yard, and his fortune was also made by the Tories. After the fall of the Tory Wellington Cabinet, he flexibly swung to the side of the Whigs and steadily escorted them to complete the parliamentary reform...

History can be so similar!

Although this young man is still very young, and his story is far less exciting than the lives of those great figures in the old times, but a careful analysis shows that his route is so similar to Talleyrand.

As a six-dynasty veteran of France and a bishop excommunicated by Rome, Talleyrand spent his life either betting or on the way to bet, and he never bet on the wrong thing. He betrayed almost every boss, and every former boss became a gift from him to the new boss.

If you ask Talleyrand what else he has not betrayed in his life, it can only be said that the only thing he has not betrayed is that vague concept - France.

This is like Sir Arthur Hastings' famous saying under the Tower of London - We are here for Britain.

"Outstanding young man, Mr. Talleyrand has reason to appreciate him." Just the first meeting, Risoke has made a preliminary judgment in his heart.

Risoke took Arthur's hand and said, "Are you used to life in Paris? I just heard from Victor that you seem to be doing some publishing business. I happen to know some celebrities in the cultural circle, and some of them are also considering publishing English translations..." With Risoke's influence, Arthur, who was just wandering alone in the banquet hall, immediately became the center of a small circle.

Before Arthur returned from Louis' room, he was accosted only by one or two well-meaning gentlemen who looked pitifully upon him.

As for his original friends, Dumas, who returned to Paris, was busy re-establishing his social status in the theater circle, Balzac was deliberately trying to destroy Dumas's wishes, and Hugo was between them. To smooth things over.

Chopin, who was shy by nature, was surrounded by groups of ladies. Of course, not all ladies who admired piano were attracted to him, because Liszt's burden was obviously heavier than Chopin's.

There are also some shrewd gentlemen who are good at financial management who are sneaking around Liszt. If Heine were here, he would definitely be able to see through their little thoughts. Most of these gentlemen are collecting the remaining cigars Liszt smokes. Head, this thing is a good product that costs a hundred times the price on the market.

As for Vidocq, the great detective in Paris, he was obviously in a relatively humble position in this banquet. The organizer of the banquet called him here solely to satisfy the curiosity of some big shots.

For example, the British gentlemen led by Lord Durham and others kept asking him questions. They had basically watched the play "The Detective" that was performed in London a few years ago. This time they finally saw the story. The prototype of the protagonist, naturally did not intend to let go of this opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.

At a social banquet, newcomers will never notice the flow of the crowd, but for those thoughtful guys who make a living by socializing, every eye and ear they have is not in vain. They can tell at a glance what kind of wind has gone with what kind of wine, who has a higher status and who has a lower status.

For those who have been paying attention to Arthur's whereabouts, the phenomenon that this fresh-faced young man suddenly became the leader of a certain small circle is particularly worthy of attention.

At this time, Miss Emily was being pulled into a corner by her father, and Mr. Draisaitl, an old banker with gray temples, was earnestly trying to persuade his daughter who couldn't think about it.

"Emily, it's not easy for me to talk to you about this. Silly boy! Look, I want with all my heart that each of my children can live a satisfactory life, but I don't want to continue Damage my character by holding banquets, and then watch you ridicule those enthusiastic young people one after another.

According to your opinion, a fat person has no emotions, is a bad husband, and is not worthy of entering a civilized society. But you have to know that in the East, "chubby" is also a standard of beauty. You can't see those plump women and say that their figures are really unfortunate, nor can you ridicule a "chubby" gentleman and say that he has grown This is simply a sin.

Although your ridiculous opinions are sometimes quite amusing because of the light-hearted way in which they are expressed. But you have to know that not everyone can accept your kind of joke. The conditions you set for people are bound to become the subject of ridicule one day in the future.

Don’t think I’m being alarmist. Your father and I have been together since the Great Revolution, and I have seen too many such things. Those people cater to you on the surface, not because they really find your words interesting, but because you are more powerful than them now, so they will not openly refute you, but as soon as they seize the opportunity, they will eventually Revenge against you!

This opportunity may be three to five years, or it may be eight or ten years. Your weird opinions will only make you offend people. You don’t know, every night when I lie in bed and close my eyes, I’m trembling with fear. I know that this ruthless society has actually started to laugh at me, because you are already 22 years old this year, but you haven’t yet Get married.

Those people you mocked, those women, are actually chewing the tongue of me and your mother behind our backs. And those male protagonists who have been rejected by you are full of dissatisfaction, waiting for revenge at the slightest sign of trouble. You have to know that I have held a banquet almost every once in the past two or three years, and I have brought the most outstanding young people in Paris to you.

However, you look down on none of them, and you even ridicule them and find fault with them in person. I hope you can understand yourself and our difficult situation today. My daughter, you are 22 years old! According to our plan, you should have been married three years ago. Your brothers and sisters are wealthy and happily married. These wedding expenses, plus the expenses of hosting friends’ parties over the years, consumed most of our income.

Emily, you are the apple of our eyes. At home, everyone lets you go and no one will argue with you or grab things from you. However, I must say frankly now that from today on, I will at least consider your mother's future. She should not continue to sacrifice her own interests for the happiness of her children.

If one day I am no longer here, I don’t want your mother to rely on others. She should continue to live a comfortable life, which is my reward for following me through the hard days. Therefore, you must know that your dowry is very meager. I can only barely give you one hundred thousand francs, and one hundred thousand francs is not commensurate with your high ambition.

Don't cry, don't make your eyes red! Because you have to know that I made such a sacrifice only for you. The other children, whether your three brothers or two sisters, did not have such a sacrifice. Moreover, your brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have generously agreed that they would never ask for the same treatment as you, the most beloved daughter of your parents. "

Mr. De Lassiter thought that his daughter would stop talking after hearing this, but unexpectedly, his daughter was not grateful at all, but instead sneered at her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: "Dad, this is their duty. None of them is aristocrat. They are either the daughter of a trader or the son of a banker, and I am going to marry a nobleman. "

Mr. De Lassiter seemed to be accustomed to his daughter's arrogant attitude. He was not angry, but just sighed and said: "My dear Emily, you should be grateful to them. They love you very much, and they are not jealous of your mother and I's partiality to you. You are not young anymore, you should think like a mature girl. Well, let's talk about something serious now. Among the young men you have met recently, do you like any of them?" Emily lifted her long skirt and shook her head: "No." Dresset racked his brains to propose a young man he thought was good: "What do you think of Mr. Kurtz?" "An ordinary clerk in the city hall, with no knowledge and no ink in his belly, and he seems to think that he is so great as the director there. He boasted to me how great he is, but in fact his job is just to stamp on documents and pull a bag carrier from the dock. Even if he can't read or write, he can still do this job well." After hearing this, Mr. Dresset advised: "Mr. Kurtz is in charge of land trade. If he becomes your husband, both my business and the business of your brothers-in-law will be much better..." "Dad, I'm looking for a husband, not a business partner for you. He is not a noble, not even a descendant of a noble. His ancestor was a German fisherman five generations ago. "

Dresset said with sweat on his forehead: "Okay, okay, then, what do you think of Mr. de Bolleno? There is "De" in his name, which means he is a legitimate descendant of the nobility."

"He is a descendant of the nobility, but not a nobleman, and he is ugly and fat. And his hair is golden chestnut color, I don't like such a man."

"Then..."