Shadow of great britain

The dazzling crystal chandeliers of Kaido Sai Mansion hung from the high dome, illuminating the golden hall like daylight.

The symphony orchestra is located in the center of the stage in the hall. The musicians wear uniform uniforms. On the left is a string section equipped with violins, violas and cellos, a woodwind section consisting of small, alto, tuba and French horns, and on the right is a flute. , piccolo, oboe, clarinet and other brass groups, and a percussion group composed of timpani, small and large drums, cymbals and triangles.

The focus of everyone's attention was concentrated on the center of the stars and the moon, on the handsome young man sitting on the German Bechstein piano decorated with griffins.

Franz Liszt's fingers jumped between the keys, and intense, undulating melodies poured out like storm clouds.

One of Mozart's three major symphonies, "Symphony No. 41 in C major 'Jupiter'", is his carefully selected theme song for tonight.

For guests who love music, this symphony alone makes their evening worthwhile.

For those ladies and ladies who only love Liszt, Liszt's cold face and flowing long hair alone have made them unable to extricate themselves. As for his wonderful performance, it is the icing on the cake.

Although the ladies still pretended to be calm, the deformed and wrinkled handkerchiefs in their hands had already betrayed their mood at this time.

However, not everyone was convinced by Liszt's passionate playing, because there were not so many well-known musicians present today.

The conductor of the symphony orchestra is Hector Berlioz, another popular young piano master in Paris. Although Berlioz's popularity cannot be compared with Liszt, this does not prevent him from also having Some loyal fans.

What's more, everyone knows that there is another heartthrob famous in Paris waiting in the men's room at this time. Frédéric Chopin, if you want to ask the ladies in Paris why they are so keen to support the Polish restoration movement, the name Frédéric Chopin is the only reason for their support of Poland, and it is definitely the biggest reason.

After Chopin, Henry Herz, France’s best salon music performer, appeared. The final scene was left to Daniel Auber, the dean of the Paris Conservatoire. As for the final act, it naturally belonged to Beethoven. Mr. Carl Czerny, a protégé of Mr.

Chopin once asked Arthur tonight if he wanted to compete on the same stage with these famous European grand pianists. After all, there were not many opportunities to compete with so many masters at one time.

But for Arthur, just hearing this series of unpronounceable names is enough to give him a headache. Performing on the same stage is really a bit like playing a big knife in front of Guan Gong and running away in front of the French army.

However, although Arthur declined Chopin's invitation to perform on the same stage, in order not to spoil his interest, Arthur still offered to play violin accompaniment for these piano masters.

Ever since he accepted the violin as a gift from Wheatstone, Arthur would practice two pieces whenever he had something to do. He even hired a teacher to teach him. Although his level is definitely not as good as those of professionals, it is still enough to play in a symphony orchestra.

But why did Arthur still not appear on the center stage in the end?

That's because when Arthur borrowed the violin from the symphony orchestra, he casually chatted with him.

The fourteen-year-old kid told him that his hometown was Cologne, Prussia. He had just come to Paris with his father and two older brothers to study this year, and enrolled at the Paris Conservatory of Music at the beginning of the year.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention, his name is Jacques Offenbach.

Therefore, in order not to discourage this fledgling young man, Arthur generously decided to give him this performance opportunity.

Anyway, as long as the performance is successful, how do you say that? The success does not have to be mine.

In the front are Liszt, Chopin, Czerny and Offenbach, behind are Arago, Poisson and Guy-Lussac.

Arthur thought about it and decided that it would be easier to stand in the middle and talk nonsense with Hugo, Balzac, Alexandre Dumas and others.

After all, the guys in the front and back are much more perverted than the writers in the middle.

Arthur sat on the sofa and watched the guests enter the dance floor one by one. The men wore tight tuxedos with bright flowers on their breasts, while the women wore floor-length skirts with intricate embroidered patterns. Pearls and diamonds shone under the lights, complementing their exquisite makeup. They hold fans or lace handkerchiefs, smile lightly, and spin lightly with their partners, performing the elegance and passion of the waltz.

But compared to the dancing of gentlemen and ladies, Arthur admired the fragrance of flowers and the mellow aroma of champagne in the air.

Servants were passing by, and there were all kinds of exquisite snacks and fine wines on the trays. Arthur took down a glass of light orange champagne and reached out to pull back Alexandre Dumas, who was looking for a dance partner.

However, the fat man was already obsessed with lust. He turned around quickly and slipped past Arthur, not forgetting to bow politely at the end.

"Sorry, Arthur, there are three important things in my life. The first is republicanism, the second is the friendship of friends, and the third is love everywhere.

The addiction to friendship and republicanism had pretty much passed me by during my time in London. So, please allow me to adjust with love first. "

If Arthur hadn't known what kind of person this fat man was in private, he might have really thought he was such a gentleman.

Faced with such a friend, Arthur had no choice but to light his cigar silently, blow out a puff of smoke and said: "You'd better disappear from me right away, otherwise, I will inform the guard that there is a republican on the scene, and he is also I brought many friends to this party.”

Alexandre Dumas stared at this and said: "Damn it! Arthur, you can't do that! If you really say that, those guards will definitely think that I have explosives on me, and they plan to cooperate with the Republicans inside and outside to bring everyone together." Explode to the sky.”

Arthur lowered his head and smoked a cigarette nonchalantly: "What are you afraid of? It's not like you haven't done this kind of thing before."

"Mr. Dumas, aren't you going to invite me to dance? Why are you just standing there?"

Hearing the urging of his dance partner, Alexandre Dumas had no choice but to pull Victor, who was having a relationship with Paris Police Chief Gissoqueira, to Arthur's side.

"Mr. Vidocq, please help me take care of my friend, and teach him how to chase women. Look at him, he is already sick."

After saying this, Alexandre Dumas rushed over: "My dear, can you dance the square dance? I just learned it in London. This dance is much more interesting than the waltz."

Vidocq was very dissatisfied with being dragged to Arthur's side. Although he was a member of the Paris Police Department who was persuaded to retire, as the saying goes, a man is worth a thousand dollars. If Director Zissequet agrees, Vidocq will Doc felt that he could still rejuvenate himself in the security department.

But even though he was feeling unhappy, Vidocq still didn't show it on his face. Because he had already seen it just now, the first thing Director Risokai did when he came to the banquet was to toast Arthur.

As a veteran who has been in the Paris police for many years, Vidocq certainly understands what this means.

Or, Arthur didn't tell him the truth before. Most likely he was not demoted during his trip to Hanover, but promoted.

Or, this young man is hiding his family background. If, as he said, he made a mistake in London, then he was treated coldly by his family elders during his trip to Hanover. As long as there is a chance, he can make a comeback in London at any time.

When Vidocq thought of this, he couldn't help scolding himself for being stupid in his heart: "I know, how can it be so easy to be knighted in Britain? You can still get a knighthood after making a mistake. This is not a family tradition. What else could be the reason for the elders’ support?”

However, Vidocq had no intention of exposing Arthur.

Although his performance was very poor, maybe this young master is the kind of person who likes to flaunt that he has climbed up by relying entirely on his own abilities?

Haha, except for his ability, he has zero capital, so he can only deceive himself.

Vidocq pretended that nothing happened and leaned against the wall beside Arthur. After a brief glance, he found that there was actually a document in front of the young man.

Vidocq couldn't help but cursed in his mind: "Prudery."

He smiled and said: "Brother, what are you looking at? Are the beauties in the book more beautiful than the ladies at the banquet?"

"That's not true."

Arthur said: "I was just curious about the history of the Paris police, so I got this 18th-century French police study, "On Public Security". I have to say, before I read this book, I didn’t expect that there was such a big gap between the definitions of public security in Britain and France.”

"Huh?" Vidocq took a sip of wine and said, "Is there any difference between the two sides?"

Arthur nodded slightly and said: "Public security means maintaining order in public spaces to protect the interests of the owners. On this point, Britain and France have no differences.

But in terms of specific management, France's public security includes regulations on street width, length and layout. The placement of road signs, street lighting, street pruning, sweeping and watering in hot weather.

Consider how to build a house and how to inhabit it to ensure that it does not pose a threat to anyone. For example, people should not place flower pots on windowsills to prevent them from falling and injuring innocent people.

The French police also have the power to accurately guide and popularize how to prepare, transport, process and sell food. How to slaughter and pack livestock. How to fish, including where and what tools to use, and even how to marinate and preserve fish.

How to build a garden and what plants can be planted in the garden. How to purchase and store firewood and charcoal. How to prevent floods. How to develop industry in cities. How to run wine shops and restaurants.

How to determine the hygiene standards of brothels and how to check the hygiene status of prostitutes - in other words, all matters involving citizens' eating, maintaining good health and ensuring safety fall under the scope of France's public security. "

Vidoc shrugged and said: "Actually, we still have to build and supervise the market. In special times, we need to manage the stock exchange and fire station, and operate veterinary schools and hospitals."

"This is simply unbelievable. Mr. Vidocq, did you know? If these functions of yours were placed in London, they would be split into at least five or six departments.

Fishing is under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Commission, and urban construction is under the jurisdiction of the Town Planning Commission. The issuance of public house licenses, which was originally the private domain of magistrates to make money, has now become the purview of the Inland Revenue Department. As for medical schools and hospitals, they are supervised by the Chancery Chamber.

If Scotland Yard has so much responsibility, then we probably are not a subordinate agency of the Home Office, but should be a peer agency. Our annual office expenses will not be only 300,000 pounds, but 3 million pounds. "

Victor laughed and said, "Brother, I would say that it is not that the police in Paris have great power, but that you, Scotland Yard, are too constrained. You have to hide your intelligence, for fear that the higher authorities will know. But in Paris, we started to bribe "flies" in large quantities to do work as early as the 17th century.

I heard that Louis XV liked to read the secret intelligence of the police very much. He enjoyed the feeling of discovering the obscene secrets that could not be told. And in order to satisfy him, the Paris police at that time were very keen to catch adulterous priests and prominent nobles on the spot."

Arthur Detective Asked: "Then the later kings had no interest in this aspect?"

"Later?" Victor thought for a while and shook his head: "I don't know about others, but the current king is keen on catching those satirical cartoonists, especially those who like to draw pears."

"Why?" Victor said mysteriously: "You will know when you meet our king. While it's still early, are you sure you don't want to find a lady to dance with? Brother, don't be shy, Parisian girls are like a ball of fire, they seem untouchable, but if you really ..."

"What do you mean?"

Victor laughed strangely: "They will eat you alive."

Arthur was a little absent-minded when he heard this: "Mr. Victor, to be honest, I did find a very attractive lady, but she is not French."

"Who?" Victor was about to leave, but he stopped when he heard this: "Brother, don't worry, I'm here, right?"

"Since you said so... How do you think I can deal with Mrs. Leven?"

"Mrs. Leven?" Victor first Arthur was stunned, and then exclaimed: "Brother, you just joined Scotland Yard and you want to be the director. You just got a knighthood and you plan to enjoy the treatment of a duke!" "Really?" Arthur sighed with melancholy: "I don't think I can do it. It's not enough to be the director of Scotland Yard. The power of the Greater Paris Police Department can barely satisfy her appetite." "Can't you lower your standards a little? Mrs. Leven is good, but young ladies are also very attractive!" Arthur didn't know how to explain to Vidocq, and this matter couldn't be explained. Who would have thought that his first job in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to destroy other people's marriages? But then again, there was nothing to destroy about Mrs. Leven's marriage. The couple kept the windows open all year round. "This..." Arthur's sudden feelings made a love expert like Vidocq feel troubled. After all, street players like him have never been qualified to participate in such high-end games. When it comes to Lady Leven's lovers, the entry threshold is important members of the cabinets of various countries. It is not an exaggeration to say that as long as Lady Leven is willing, she can use her lovers to form the most wise government in Europe.

Victor was very pleased to see that his little brother had such lofty ambitions, but at the same time, he had to persuade Arthur to take it step by step.

"Brother, Mrs. Leven is certainly a good choice, and I have no doubt that you have a chance to make her notice you in her busy schedule. However, if you really get involved with her, I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep peacefully in the future. You should know that the man in Petersburg is already somewhat dissatisfied with Mrs. Leven, right?"

"Is there any connection?"

"Well... of course there is." Victor persuaded earnestly: "You should know that there are many spies in Paris, some of them work for Austria, some for Prussia, some for Britain, and naturally some for Russia.

I am no longer in the Security Department, so I don't have to be shy about saying something. As far as what I have observed in the Security Department is concerned, these untrusted dignitaries are usually surrounded by many spies from their own country.

To give the simplest example, since the fall of Napoleon, even Members of their family have gone into exile abroad, but we have never trusted them. Whether it is Napoleon's mother, his uncle Fesch, his brothers Lucien, Joseph and Louis, everyone in Napoleon's family has at least three or five French spies around them.

Even when Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, we sent a small team of more than ten people to secretly monitor him to prevent Napoleon from coming back from overseas again. And we not only monitor them, but also the servants and cooks of Napoleon's family.

Unless you want to enjoy the experience of being monitored by Mr. Hugo, I advise you to stay away from them. This is not Britain, let alone your territory. France is not short of murders and mysterious deaths. "

As soon as Victor's voice came, he heard a delicate voice coming from behind him.

"Sir Hastings, by chance you didn't find a suitable dance partner?"

Victor turned his head and saw a blond lady from a noble family. If he remembered correctly, she seemed to be the youngest daughter of the banker Mr. Delysert.

"Oh..."Victor smiled delicately: "Yes, our Arthur is not good at dealing with such occasions. If you don't mind, can you lead him to dance?"