Shadow of great britain

The world is a stage, and all men and women are merely actors.

——Shakespeare

Acting is an art, politics is an art, and both are similar in many ways. Those who act in general are called actors, and those who act well are called artists. Similarly, those who act in general are called politicians, and those who act well are called politicians. The biggest difference between acting and politics is that although the latter is usually less professional than the former, you have to pay for their performances.

——Arthur Hastings

Arthur vividly described to Louis his wonderful encounter with Clara that did not exist.

In Arthur's mouth, Clara became an authentic Bohemian girl, a gypsy witch who had mastered the power of the crystal ball.

Not only did she reveal Arthur's true identity, but she also predicted that Arthur had just been assassinated not long ago.

Under Sir Hastings's embellished introduction, Louis also changed from completely disbelieving at the beginning to being skeptical.

It is true that these Gypsies from Bohemia have suffered discrimination all over Europe, but due to long-term social prejudice, exclusion and legal persecution, most people know very little about this ethnic group. People generally think that they are thieves, Liars and drifters and try to avoid contact with them.

But on the other hand, Gypsy women's ability to divine, predict and cast spells makes them full of mystery among the people.

Many believed that gypsy witches could predict the future, cure illness, or cast curses, making their presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

This is no exception even for royal family members like Louis, who have long lived in an upper-class society that considers themselves civilized.

"Is her calculation really that accurate?" Louis guessed: "Arthur, could it be that you were targeted by her early on? She investigated you in advance, so she knows everything about your origins."

"I can't completely rule out this possibility."

Arthur smiled and blinked: "Because I found that although this woman knew that I had been a police officer, she did not know what position I held. But compared to her investigating me, I am more willing to believe that she is the master of Learned some skills about looking at people.”

"Skills for reading people?"

When Louis was reminded by Arthur, he immediately remembered several interesting things when he followed Arthur on cases.

"Like you? You can often guess what people do for a living just by looking at them."

"That's right. Each profession has its own specific behavioral habits and clothing characteristics."

Arthur said casually: "There are traces of wind and rain on the hat, indicating that this person often works outdoors. There are wear marks of horseshoes on the shoes, indicating that this person often rides horses. Big smokers like us have normal fingernails. It will be slightly yellowed, and you can smell a faint smell of tobacco when you sniff it. Those who like to chew tobacco usually cause specific tooth wear and cause color changes in the inside of the mouth. , and the distribution of oil stains is also very special. There is usually plaster residue in the cracks of the masons’ nails, and there will also be wear on the edges of the nails.”

Louis smiled and asked, "Then how did she know that you had been a police officer before? The most I could tell was that you were a smoker."

"It's very simple."

Arthur talked eloquently: "First of all, people who have served as police or soldiers should stand straight with their feet spread apart, their center of gravity evenly distributed, and their steps steady and steady. This posture is usually the result of long-term training. , Most people rarely walk or stay in this posture."

Having said this, Arthur raised his right hand again: "Secondly, there are obvious calluses on my palms, especially the thumb and index finger. The joints of the fingers are relatively thick. This is the result of long-term use of weapons."

"I don't agree with this." Louis asked back: "Engaging in heavy physical work can also have such an effect."

"Of course." Arthur rolled up his shirt sleeves after hearing this: "But if you connect it to the well-developed forearm muscles instead of the back arm muscles, you can get different results. Doing heavy physical work will show That’s not how exercise works.”

"Hmm..." Louis thought for a moment: "But I don't think this is enough to judge that you have worked as a police officer in the past."

"That's right." Arthur speculated: "I think the biggest possibility of revealing my identity is my dress."

"How are you dressed?"

Louis took a step back and took a look at Arthur's clothes from top to bottom: "I think you are very well dressed, and you don't look like a bitter police detective at all. Could it be that you wore a police uniform when you went to see her that day? ? But that’s not right, does a Bohemian girl know the Scotland Yard police uniform?”

Arthur lifted the hem of his tuxedo to reveal his calfskin belt. Before he could speak, Louis had already noticed the clue.

There is an obvious mark of wear on Arthur's belt, which looks like a small looming hook. Others may not know why he has such abrasion marks, but Louis, who has also worked as a police officer, knows very well that they are the marks caused by hanging fast handcuffs.

Perhaps each of these small details is not enough to prove Arthur's professional experience, but when viewed together, they appear very suspicious.

If the bohemian girl with the wolf eyes could still notice some professional habits of the most astute policeman in Scotland Yard, such as looking around unconsciously when talking to people, and showing a hint of scrutiny when making eye contact with people, then it can be basically confirmed that this is an old cop.

Louis joked: "It seems that you have met a master this time. Now I finally understand why you are so interested in her, not only because of her beauty, but also because you are a match. If she is not a girl, maybe you can consider taking her in Scotland Yard for half a year. She will definitely do a good job in the Criminal Investigation Department, and she is not inferior to Inspector Field and others."

Arthur looked up at the sun and nodded to Louis to sit in the restaurant.

As he pushed the door open, he said, "I disagree with you. This ability to judge people is rarely innate. Most of it is acquired through training. Apart from the police, the most proficient in this are criminals."

"Aren't charlatans also criminals?"

Louis pulled out a chair and sat down: "It's just that their work is generally more detailed, and most of the victims are willing. How much did she charge you for this fortune-telling?"

Arthur peeled the pre-dinner dessert "a large bowl of cooked plums" brought by the waiter, and said, "She didn't ask me for money."

"That's strange." Louis smiled: "Is she worried that you are an undercover sent by the police?"

"This reason cannot be ruled out, and I am indeed an undercover agent for the Paris police now." Arthur stuffed the plum into his mouth, and reached out for a grouse and a glass of strong and sweet mixed wine.

"Are you in contact with the Paris police?"

Louis even forgot to order food, his mind was all involved in Arthur's seemingly casual words: "How did you get involved with them?"

Arthur did not deny it, but said tactfully: "Louis, you know, as a British diplomat, I can't contact the Paris police alone. I don't trust them, and they don't trust me."

Seeing that he didn't deny it, Louis continued to ask: "So it's Mr. Vidocq's work? What is he investigating?"

Arthur didn't say it directly, but instead turned to And talked about another thing: "I met an old friend of yours a few days ago, and he asked me to say hello to you on his behalf."

"Who?"

"Giuseppe Mazzini."

Arthur took a sip of the strong blended wine, and the spicy taste made him frown: "Their situation is not optimistic. The French government seems to suspect that they were responsible for the bombing of the Kedousai Mansion, so they are considering expelling them from the country, and Metternich's Austrian spies ambushed in Paris are waiting for this day."

"Mazzini?!"

When Louis heard this name, he almost jumped up from his chair.

Although he did not join the "Young Italy", three years ago, he did participate in a conspiracy against the secular power of the Pope in Rome with Mazzini, who was still one of the leaders of the "Carbonari" at the time.

At that time, Louis used his identity as a member of the Bonaparte family to spy on the Carbonari, and rode a white horse with a tricolor blanket around Rome every morning.

However, due to poor planning and betrayal by a traitor, his true identity was soon revealed by the Roman police and he was expelled from the Papal States before the uprising on February 12.

But even though his plan was exposed, Louis did not give up. After the uprising failed, he persuaded his mother, who was still in Rome at the time, to hide two fugitive insurgents, and he and his brother went to Florence without telling their family, preparing to make a final desperate fight with the remaining Carbonari.

But the absurd thing is that the reason why these Carbonari chose to fight to the death when the Austrian intervention army was at the gates of the city and the Italian states were united was because they believed that the July Monarchy government of France, which had just come to power not long ago, would support them.

But it is obvious that Louis Philippe could not support any movement with a Bonapartist color, because that would undoubtedly be digging his own grave.

But no matter how absurd the Carbonari uprising was, Louis and Mazzini did have a life-and-death friendship, or a revolutionary friendship.

At this time, Louis heard that Mazzini might fall into the hands of the Austrians, and the relaxed smile disappeared from his face.

As mentioned before, he is a man who cherishes the old times, and no matter how ridiculous Louis's ideal of "republican emperor" is, at least at this moment, he really believes from the bottom of his heart that he is indeed a republican, but his understanding of republicanism is different from that of Dumas and Mazzini.

Louis stared at the wine glass in Arthur's hand restlessly, and Arthur expected him to have such a reaction.

He knows his friend very well. Although most of the later generations always curse when talking about Louis Bonaparte, from Arthur's point of view, this is actually a young man with ideals. If he was not so naive, he would not have participated in the Carbonari uprising without telling his family.

You know, during the uprising, bullets don't care what your surname is. Even if he was lucky enough to dodge the bullets and was captured alive by the Austrian army, given his status as an exile, the lightest punishment would be long-term imprisonment, and even execution would be very normal.

It was precisely because Louis had such an experience of being expelled that he could better understand the dangerous situation that Mazzini and "Young Italy" were in.

Once Louis Philippe officially issues an expulsion order, groups of Austrians and Italians will line up at the French border to 'welcome' Mazzini and his little brothers, and maybe even give them a seven-gun salute enthusiastically ’, the last time I had to fire thirteen shots to show respect.

While decomposing the grouse on the plate, Arthur asked in a neutral tone: "Aren't you going to order? It takes a lot of energy to stand up and sit down like this."

Louis saw Arthur enjoying his meal, pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked: "Does Alexander know about this?"

"Which one are you talking about?"

"Mazzini and the others may be deported."

"Louis, why do you think that I would be stupid enough to tell Alexander this?" Arthur put down his knife and fork: "Telling him is nothing more than letting the Austrians waste one more bullet. If that bullet doesn't work, Mette The most you can get is one more hemorrhoid."

"All right."

Louis sat back on his seat: "I know there must be a reason why you mentioned this to me. You know that I stand with the Carbonari Party. I became a deserter in embarrassment three years ago, but I didn't do that intentionally, but I was under pressure from all sides. This time, no matter what my family said, I had to stand with them.

As my brother, who died in the Carbonari uprising, said: 'The surname we bear obliges us to support the unfortunate people who call us. ’ Although my current position does not allow me to do this openly, I can secretly use my remaining energy for them. "

"Well..." Arthur curled his lips: "It seems that the Bohemian girl I met is not all a liar."

"What's wrong?"

Arthur replied: "She said that I would be friends with the emperor, and you, my friend, what you just said does have the spirit of an emperor. It reminds me of Napoleon's Hundred Days Restoration."

Of course Louis knew what Arthur was talking about.

When Napoleon returned to France from the island of Elba, where he was exiled, he faced the Fifth Army Corps that came to suppress him. He walked alone in front of the soldiers and took off his coat, revealing his familiar gray coat and military uniform. Then he shouted: "Soldiers, if you want to kill your emperor, do it here!"

When the soldiers heard this, not only did they not fire, but they put down their weapons and shouted "Long live the Emperor" and switched sides to support Napoleon.

As a destined Bonaparte, Louis knew his uncle's glorious deeds by heart.

Maybe in the future, he can become more sophisticated, but right now he is just a young man in his twenties.

Maybe he could resist other top haters, but comparing him to his uncle was a weakness he could never resist.

"Come on, Arthur."

Louis blushed and took off his hat and threw it on the dining table: "I don't have much room to move now, but if there is a useful place, I won't push back. Alexander always mocks me for not being a true republican, but I have to show him what real republicanism looks like today!”

However, Louis, who had just expressed his ambition, was not completely carried away by Arthur's praise. At least he still remembered how cunning his old boss was.

Louis loosened his collar, leaned forward, and lowered his voice and said: "But you have to tell me first why you got involved with Mazzini and the others. And why do you want to help burn the fire?" Carbon Party, is this an order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Also, what does the young Italian who helped Mazzini have to do with the Bohemian girl? "