Shadow of great britain

I always like to be with those who drink, because they are the least sober, and I can enjoy their company without having to participate in their indulgence.

——George Orwell

Wine, this is a wonderful invention.

Just swallowing three or two cups of this sticky little thing, two strangers can immediately sing songs with their arms around each other, as if they have known each other for decades.

And such a scene is being played out in the theater box right now.

Although I don’t know how future generations will view the fact that an Emperor Bonaparte, an Italian liberator, and a Republican writer hugged each other and sang loudly, at least for now, the three of them are getting along quite harmoniously.

These three guys were born in different families, had different growth experiences, and different national identities, but this did not prevent them from singing "La Marseillaise".

Moreover, the three of them sang quite well, almost catching up with the actresses showing their loud voices on the stage.

It was really interesting to watch them roaring out the "Marseillaise" from their throats with red faces and thick necks. If you pull the picture back three or two steps, you can see a British guy sitting on the sofa behind them, tapping the coffee table with his fingers to keep the rhythm for them.

Arthur was beating the rhythm, and he was secretly glad in his heart that thanks to the opera tonight, the instruments and singing could cover the singing of the three grown men. If it was a pantomime today, the political security police of Paris would have broken in before the end of the first act.

Arthur beat the beat and counted the time with a watch.

Before this scene ended, he pulled the two republicans and a republican emperor in front of him back to the sofa to continue drinking.

"After singing for so long, it's time to drink a glass of wine to moisten your throat."

As Arthur spoke, he pushed the wine glasses in front of him to his friends in order.

Why do we emphasize the distribution of drinks in order?

This is certainly not because Arthur can't afford to treat his friends to drinks.

On the contrary, he was quite considerate of his friends.

In order to help Louis, Dumas and Garibaldi enjoy their drinks, Arthur specially prepared a variety of good wines today.

Among them are not only whiskey, rum, gin, which are the favorite drinks of the British,

but also wine and absinthe, which are suitable for the nature of the French and are red and green.

He even took great pains to get some mezcal tequila, which is only produced in America.

In order for his friends to experience the unique products of different regions, Arthur was very careful in the distribution of drinks.

Of course, the most important thing is that they can get drunk faster by mixing them.

There are two kinds of people in this world. The former just want to fall asleep after drinking too much, and they can't be woken up no matter how they are called. The latter chats energetically, and it seems that the whole world can't accommodate him.

Fortunately for Arthur, the three friends present today belong to the latter.

After getting drunk, Dumas soon began to brag about his experience in the July Revolution. In his words, Louis Philippe, who was crowned king in the July Revolution, became a supporting role among supporting roles, and he, Alexandre Dumas, was the brightest star on July 31, 1830.

"That morning, Bargau raised the tricolor flag at the Soissons Church, and the National Guard was busy celebrating the victory. Only I was the most clear-headed. I knew that it was not the time to celebrate the victory. Our rebels in the city were in urgent need of ammunition. So I rushed to the ammunition depot alone.

The door of the arsenal was closed, but this did not stop me. I took a few steps back, then took a run, and then climbed over the wall with a nimble posture. I held the pistol in one hand and walked to the front of the arsenal guards in boots that were harder than steel. I saw fear and lack of confidence in their eyes.

I know that they don't really support the Bourbon royal family, but they have done this job and they have to fulfill their duties. If they put down their guns, they are worried that they will be attacked by us, and they are also afraid that they will be shot by the commander. But if they don't put down their guns, they don't want to clash with the rebels, and they don't want to lose their lives.

I understand their worries, so I told them that as long as they declared neutrality, I could save their lives in front of General Lafayette. The guards believed me and took me to the office of Viscount Linière, the commander of the garrison at the Soissons Arsenal. I slammed the gun on his desk and asked him to hand over the ammunition.

Viscount Linière was reluctant at first, but when he found that he could no longer command his soldiers, he had to bite the bullet and order his adjutant to open the door of the arsenal and hand over the ammunition.

After I returned to Paris with the ammunition, General Lafayette met me in person and told me that the counter-revolutionary restoration in the Vendée region in the west was rampant. I was anxious to hear the news, so I volunteered again and asked to go to the Vendée for a field investigation, trying to organize a national self-guard there to suppress the restoration forces..."

Arthur raised his eyebrows and asked when he heard this: "Alexander, you never mentioned such a thing before."

Alexandre Dumas burped: "I won't tell you because this operation is confidential, just like the work you do in the Police Intelligence Bureau. On August 10th of that year, I took General Lafayette with me. I was given a commission and set out on the journey to the Vendée as a commissioner. However, the closer I got to the Vendée, the Royalist power became stronger, and I found that there was no place where the tricolor flag was hung, and everywhere. All echoed the slogans of 'Long live Charles X, long live Bourbon'.

In this dangerous environment, I think it is almost impossible to organize a local National Guard loyal to republican ideals. But I did not rush back to Paris. Instead, I stayed there and continued to investigate for more than forty days. After returning to Paris, out of loyalty to the republican ideal and the vocation that this ideal gave me, I compiled what I saw in Paris these days into a report called "Notes on the Vendée" and submitted it to Lafayette. Special General.

I made many suggestions in it: for example, in order to avoid arousing dissatisfaction among the bourgeoisie, the plan to organize a National Guard in the Vendée should be abandoned at this stage. In addition, we should open more roads, establish communication links in the west, guard against priests with restoration sentiments, cancel the annuities of some dissident nobles, etc. "

When Louis heard this, a smile appeared on his drunken face. He put his arm on Alexandre Dumas's shoulder and laughed: "Alexander, I didn't expect that you started working as a spy earlier than Arthur."

Arthur also took a sip of wine and said without raising his head: "Alexander, it turns out that you are also a police officer, and you are also the lowest type among the police officers - someone who specializes in intelligence, just like me. Now I finally I know why you never mentioned this experience before."

Alexandre Dumas retorted under the influence of wine: "Arthur, you and I are not the same thing!"

"Really?" Arthur rubbed his temples and thought for a moment: "Isn't establishing an intelligence network just an artistic expression of buying informants and traitors? Isn't guarding against priests and canceling the annuities of dissident nobles also restricting speech and personal freedom?"

Alexandre Dumas argued vehemently: "How can it be the same? You do it to make money and live, but I do it for a noble ideal."

"oh……"

Arthur put both hands on Alexandre Dumas's shoulders, and his eyes shone with gratitude: "Thank you for your understanding, Alexander. It turns out that you also know that I do this because of the pressure of life, not because of my ideal. Do this. But as your friend, I suggest you change your ideal. If your ideal is to do these jobs, then this ideal is too dirty. "

Hearing this, Alexandre Dumas didn't know if he had drunk too much wine, so that his tongue was tied. He smacked his lips twice, and then replied: "Arthur, in my opinion, you shouldn't be a diplomat, but You should be elected as a member of parliament. Your mouth is naturally capable of turning white into black and black into white. You can make even a dying donkey live by you. I see you have been lying in a coffin for three days and suddenly sat down again. "Get up, probably because both angels and devils think you are too talkative, so both heaven and hell rejected you."

As soon as Dumas finished speaking, applause rang in Arthur's ears.

The Red Devil had a wine bottle in one hand and a cigar in his mouth. He was puffing away smoke and echoed: "Well said, Alexander, I agree!"

Arthur was noncommittal about Alexandre Dumas's evaluation. He sat back on the sofa, crossed his legs and reminded tactfully: "Both heaven and hell reject it? Come on, Alexander, I am not Elder. As for electing members, Until I understand the mystery of the ladies, there is probably no hope. In this regard, both Benjamin and Mr. Thiers are much better than me, but I think Mr. Balzac may have hope. Between the two of them, although he is not very young, he has already done a lot of in-depth research in this area.”

"Balzac?" Although Dumas' head was dizzy, he still caught the name of this sinister little fat man with whom he had never dealt with: "What's wrong with him?"

Arthur shrugged and poured the wine on his own: "Alexander, do you really want me to explain things so clearly? I will not reveal anyone's privacy unless necessary. This is a personal matter." Basic professional ethics for intelligence personnel.”

Although Arthur said so, Alexandre Dumas could not control so much.

Dumas' breath smelled of alcohol. He sat down next to Arthur, put his arm around his shoulders and emphasized: "Arthur, you can't fucking do this to me, have you forgotten our friendship? !”

"Friendship?" Arthur poured the wine slowly: "Are you referring to the fact that if I died under the Tower of London that night, you would have fired the bullet that blew out my heart? "

Alexandre Dumas raised three fingers and swore to heaven: "I swear in the name of God, Arthur, I never thought of doing that."

"How?"

Dumas gritted his teeth and said: "Arthur, have you forgotten? I just bought a new gun at that time, and it was also a revolving gun. So please believe me, I didn't just want to give you a shot that night!" "

"Fortunately, Alexander." Arthur smiled relievedly, and then clamped Dumas' neck tightly with a creaking nest: "I also promise you that I have always regarded you as my brother. But now, I I just want to send you to the United States to show you how powerful the American police are.”

Dumas' face flushed with suffocation, and he took great effort to pry Arthur's arm apart: "Arthur, do you want to kill me? I can't breathe!"

"Yes, that's right, that's what I'm talking about."

Garibaldi looked at them playing and joking, and the lively Italian sailor clapped his hands and laughed: "Mr. Hastings, I used to think that diplomats were meticulous, but I didn't expect you to be completely different from what I imagined. You are just like a sailor on a ship. No wonder you can write "St. George's Flag Flying High."

Seeing Garibaldi take the initiative to talk, Arthur smiled and poured him another glass of wine: "Giuseppe, this is because of your stereotype. There are sometimes good people among diplomats. Of course, I'm not referring to me."

Arthur's timely jokes quickly won Garibaldi's favor, and he was planning to chat with Arthur for a few more words.

Unexpectedly, the drunkard Dumas interrupted again: "Wait, don't you want to know what happened to the "Vendée Notes" I submitted?"

Arthur took a deep breath and looked at Dumas helplessly.

The fat man was obviously really drunk. At this moment, the earth must revolve around him.

But Garibaldi didn't care about this. He enthusiastically passed the message to Dumas: "What's the result?"

Dumas pulled his scarf proudly, paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, and raised his arms to emphasize from time to time.

"My report attracted great attention from General Lafayette. He not only personally commented on it, but also forwarded it to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on the same day. The Ministry of Religious Affairs quickly reported it to King Louis Philippe.

The next day, the king summoned me, and I went to the Tuileries Palace under the leadership of General Lafayette. Louis Philippe shook my hand cordially and talked to me about my past as a clerk in the secretariat under him. I reported my experience to him with hope, and he smiled and nodded. At that time, I thought that France might encounter I have a wise leader.

But at the end of the meeting, I asked him to accept my far-sighted advice and implement the measures I proposed. But what I never expected was that he just shook his head and told me hypocritically: "Politics, this is a rather complicated and distressing duty, you should leave it to the king and the ministers. You know, you are a poet, so you should write your poems. '"

Dumas cursed while speaking, and even people who don't understand French can hear the fat man's anger from the ups and downs of his tone.

As for Arthur, he was more surprised.

Before this, he only thought that Dumas was a talented novelist and playwright, but until now, he found that this black fat man was actually a French Liu Yong who was also evaluated as "going to write lyrics".

Thinking carefully, this fat man and Liu Yong do have some similarities, such as their inseparable and complicated close relationship with prostitutes. Well... these two guys like actresses very much. So, it seems that intellectuals all over the world are the same.

However, Dumas' temper is obviously much more explosive than Liu Yong's. According to the fat man's style, if he was treated like Liu Yong, he would definitely go to Liangshanpo in anger, and he might even get a nickname like "Black Whirlwind".

Garibaldi heard about Dumas' magnificent life experience, and he couldn't help but say with yearning: "Mr. Dumas, you are really one of the best heroes in France. Although I also want to live a life dedicated to my ideals like you, I can neither write poems nor create scripts. The only thing I can do in my life is to be a sailor. The first voyage was to Odessa, and the second voyage was to Rome. My father accompanied me that time because I went there secretly on my first voyage, so he was very worried about me. He thought that if his son was determined to be a sailor, why not let him Why did the old captain father bring his son into the industry? As it turned out, he was right. He passed on all his life's learning to me, and I did grow up to be an excellent sailor. "

When Garibaldi said this, Dumas couldn't help but hold his hand and comforted him: "Giuseppe, your father can still accompany you to sail, and this alone is much better than me." Arthur coughed lightly and brought the topic back: "Giuseppe, so it was because of your second voyage in your life, the voyage to Rome, that you decided to join the Carbonari or Young Italy?"