Shadow of great britain

The Smoking Room in the east wing of Draisaitl House is private and comfortable, designed for gentlemen to enjoy a cigar or a glass of spirit after dinner.

However, since most people's attention was focused on the dance at this time, the smoking room, which had been crowded not long ago, was deserted at this time.

Arthur's back was leaning against the heavy walnut door, and a faint scent of tobacco mixed with the scent of wood hit his face, making people immediately feel a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

Standing opposite him, Schneider was admiring a pastoral landscape painting hanging on the dark green velvet wallpaper, holding a glass of amber Scotch whiskey in his hand.

After he listened quietly to Arthur's narration, he slowly spoke.

"Expedition to Italy? It sounds very interesting, but can you find out in which city they plan to start an uprising? Even if we don't know the specific city, at least we have to know which country they want to start an uprising in. In two The Kingdom of Sicily, the Duchy of Tuscany, the Papal States or the Kingdom of Sardinia?”

Arthur crushed the end of his cigar in the silver ashtray, leaned back on the leather armchair and spoke.

"Although we don't know their destination yet, I think it's not difficult to find out. If they make up their mind to start an uprising, then they have to gather people, purchase weapons, and raise supplies. In the final analysis, they must first You have to solve the money problem. I used to do this when I was working on a case at Scotland Yard. If I didn’t have any clues about the case, I would check the client’s bank account and recent bills, and I would find big surprises every time.”

"Well, that makes perfect sense."

Schneider nodded slightly and said: "But the difference between diplomatic work and police work is that as long as the police detectives apply for investigation to the magistrate court, they can openly look through the financial accounts of the parties. But it is very regrettable that diplomatic incidents usually do not happen We are inside the country, so in most cases we can only use tricks such as stealing, robbing, and cheating. Those methods that would be punishable by hanging in the country can be used in the diplomatic field. Of course, the premise is that you must not be fooled. Discover."

Arthur suddenly said: "Fred thought the same way back then."

"Who is Fred?"

"It turns out that the thief general in the East District left me at the bottom of the sea."

"Arthur." Schneider looked at this little brother strangely: "Are you satirizing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actually the lair of the underworld?"

"No, I don't mean that at all." Arthur loosened his collar: "Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fred both pursue control and influence within a certain range, the existence and activities of Fred and his henchmen are not Not protected by law.”

Having said this, Arthur raised his glass and clinked it with Schneider: "This glass is for the French government."

Schneider replied with a smile: "I also respect the Austrian government."

Arthur took a sip of the spicy whiskey, put down the glass and continued to introduce his grand plan to Schneider: "As you said before, it is impossible for us to directly investigate Mazzini's private activities abroad. We have neither After all, power doesn’t have this ability. After all, we can’t just break into every bank in Paris and ask them at gunpoint whether Mazzini has an account here…”

"No no no."

Before Arthur could finish speaking this time, Schneider interrupted him first: "We really can't do this kind of thing. It's not in line with diplomatic etiquette, and it's not in line with the aboveboard style of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the fact that we can't do it doesn't mean that others People can't do it, gangsters in Paris are just as violent as their London counterparts, and they're cheaper than their London counterparts."

Schneider thought that this diplomatic tip he taught would make Arthur admire him. Unexpectedly, Arthur suddenly held his hand, with the expression of a hero who regrets seeing each other too late.

"August, you and I are really in tune with each other. Maybe it's because we soaked in the water of a pool in Nightingale Mansion, so even our thoughts are unified."

"Have you hired a gangster?" After hearing Arthur's words, Schneider took out half of the business card from his pocket and pressed it back into his pocket: "As expected of a policeman! Arthur, your brain is better than that Young people who have just completed law school or university education are much more flexible. As you know, young people who have just graduated can only talk about the law and regulations. If you teach them well, they will betray you in front of their bosses. . It’s not until he gets a taste of it that he understands what is truly useful.”

Arthur had thought that explaining the bank fraud to Schneider would require careful consideration of his words.

But what he didn't expect was that this German-British man knew how to be 'tolerant' far better than ordinary people, and even had a greater moral vacuum than a real British official.

In addition, this person is also a long-term customer of Nightingale Mansion. Arthur, who is holding the handle, has always been honest with friends who are emotionally stable and only care about profit.

As a result, he quickly revealed Vidocq's fraud plan.

Of course, Arthur deliberately concealed the part about contact with the French royalists. After all, sending the royalists out of the city is different in nature from paying attention to Young Italy. The former will not be of any benefit to Schneider, so his position on this issue is difficult to rely on.

Schneider's fingers tapped on the coffee table, and his eyes darting around showed what he was thinking about.

"Brilliant! A fake bank, and it is completely controlled by you. If Mazzini and his gang want to transfer the uprising funds out of France, they will definitely not get together and use the accounts of those big banks. After all, the people behind these big banks There is usually monitoring by the governments of various countries, so he will probably use the trick of Ant Moving to transfer the funds in batches, divide them into multiple accounts, and transfer them out from different small banks.”

Schneider stood up and walked around with his hands behind his back: "The only problem now is how to make Mazzini trust us and make him willing to transfer money from this bank..."

"This is very simple."

Arthur took the lead in putting forward his idea: "I can contact Mazzini on behalf of the Paris Intelligence Station of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and show him that we are willing to provide him with some sponsorship to maintain friendship. This part of the sponsorship will be based on It will be distributed quarterly, and all will be taken from our designated bank. According to the information I received, Mazzini and his men will be expelled from France soon. Unless they don’t want the money, they will definitely come to visit. As long as you know where they plan to go, these people can't hide their large-scale purchases of supplies."

Schneider's eyes lit up when he heard Arthur's suggestion: "What a genius idea! I will report it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately. Viscount Palmerston is stuck in the poor mountains and rivers of Portugal during this period and cannot get out. He must want to Find something for Metternich in Austria to prevent Austria from joining forces with the Russians to feast on the Ottoman Empire while we are at a loss.”

Seeing that Schneider's attitude was so positive, Arthur couldn't help but feel relieved.

With the endorsement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the last worry about committing bank fraud is gone.

Even if the matter is exposed in the end, the British government will give him some punishment for the sake of face, which is the same as the treatment during the reform riots, a cold treatment of overt and covert promotion.

The day when everyone forgets will be the time when Sir Arthur Hastings returns in lightning.

After solving the political task, Arthur felt a lot more relaxed. He joked with Schneider: "Speaking of which, August, why did you show up at this banquet? You have a personal relationship with the Draisaitl family. ?”

"Me?" Schneider said casually while thinking about how to draft the proposal document: "I previously worked as a clerk at the Paris Legation for two years, and then as the second secretary for one year. It was at that time that I and Germany I know Mr. Lysette..."

Having said this, Schneider came back to his senses, turned to look at Arthur, and said with an ambiguous smile: "By the way, have you heard about Miss Draisaitl? Arthur, don't tell me that you are here to attend this event. This party is just for work.”

"That's not to say that even a workaholic like Viscount Palmerston can take time out of his busy schedule to flirt with several ladies at the Allmark Club." Arthur leaned on the armchair. One hand supported his head: "August, I am also a human being, and I am not Jesus Christ."

"That's right." Schneider touched the stubble on his chin: "And your spare time life is as rich as mine."

When Arthur heard this, he made a pun and said: "Oh, I almost forgot. Although I am not Jesus, but you really played the role of Judas."

Schneider understood and said: "My good brother, I thought that was over. Besides, you have already whipped me. Now we are just loaches writhing in a pit."

"Am I that slippery?"

"Of course, you are much slipperier than the average loach." Schneider suggested: "But although you generously forgive me, in order to make up for my fault, I will never steal your limelight tonight. Arthur, go ahead. , Go forward bravely, rich woman of the Draisaitl family, a dowry of one hundred thousand francs is waiting for you. "

Boom, boom, boom!

There was a gentle knock on the smoking room door.

Schneider stood up and opened the door. The visitor outside the door was an unexpected person.

That was none other than the generous Miss Emily Draisaitl. She couldn't wait for Arthur in the main hall, and asked her servants to search around before finally confirming that this guy had been 'pickling' in the smoking room. It's been half an hour.

Schneider found out that this lady was visiting and immediately greeted her cordially: "Oh, madam, do you remember me?"

As the most outstanding girl in the Draisaitl family, Emily has always had a good memory. Not only can she memorize every novel she has read, but she has never forgotten the title on her business card for ten years.

"Mr. August Schneider?" Emily folded her hands on her abdomen, bowed slightly and saluted: "I haven't seen you for several years."

"Haha." Schneider didn't know whether it was a real smile or a fake smile. He took off his hat and said in return: "Thank you for your concern. I didn't mean to leave without saying goodbye. It was just because of work needs that I had to return to London to report on my work. Then I was left there by accident.”

"Ah..." Emily's eyes reflected the light of the crystal chandelier: "So, you have been promoted?"

"It can't be called a high promotion." Schneider said with pride and humility: "It's just a change of place to continue serving the British people."

Emily's eyes revealed confusion: "British people? But I remember that you are not a German?"

"Uh..." Schneider was suddenly hit in a sore spot by Emily. What he hated most in his life was being called German, and it was especially heartbreaking for him to have this exposed in front of a beautiful young lady.

Schneider defended: "Miss, I don't mean to refute your point of view. But I must point out that there are factual errors in your words. My father is German, my grandfather is German, and my entire family is I am from a German family, but I, August Schneider, have moved to London since I was 10 years old. I have lived in London much longer than in Hesse, and I completed my entire secondary education in Westminster. My ancestry is German, there is no denying that, but culturally I am thoroughly British.

If you insist on thinking that I am a German, then by logical inference, Napoleon cannot be considered a Frenchman either. Because he was born in Corsica, and he was a Corsican separatist when he was young. Corsica is to France what Ireland is to Britain. But even so, who in Paris today would say that Napoleon was not a Frenchman? It can be seen that when people evaluate a person, it is not where he comes from, but where he finally achieves success. "

Seeing this, Arthur also stood up and defended his colleagues: "August is right. From what I know about him, whether it is personal accomplishment or hobbies, there will never be many people in London who are more British than him." Damn it. Take the whip for example. Even the tough British guys couldn't withstand ten lashes from the nine-tailed whip, but August could actually withstand twenty lashes. "

"Nine-tail whip?" Emily looked shocked. She covered her mouth and said: "Oh, my God! I thought the job of a diplomat was very safe. Didn't I expect that you would actually need to risk your life? "

Schneider blushed when he heard this and said: "Of course! In the world of men, you can encounter dangers everywhere, and the same is true in the diplomatic world."

"That's right." Arthur added: "If you had been there at the time, you would have cheered for August's courage. When he faced five or six shirtless guys, he still remained calm and stiff. I endured so many whippings without even a single complaint. I even had the courage to say that the intensity was far from enough.”