Shadow of great britain

When everyone reached the second floor, Adam suddenly stopped. He squatted down in front of a raised floor and put his hand into the damaged hole in the floor.

After groping for a while, he quickly took out a palm-sized wooden box and an old book that was so curled up that he could hardly hold it straight.

Adam straightened the book hard and wiped the dust off with his sleeve. Arthur just glanced at the cover and recognized that it was a "Scane" magazine.

This is not because Arthur is very knowledgeable, but because he often visits used bookstores after work. As a magazine with satirical cartoons as its main content, "Scourge" has been welcomed by the general public in London.

In second-hand bookstores, the monthly "Disaster" from 1811 to 1814 is particularly popular.

The reason is also very simple, because the main cartoonist of "Disaster" in the past three years was the famous George Cruickshank.

Tom asked in confusion: "What book is this?"

Before Adam could answer, Arthur had already opened his mouth to explain for him.

"This is a good book. The June 1812 issue of "The Scourge". I went to many used bookstores but couldn't find it. I didn't expect that Adam actually has a copy here."

Tony came closer: "Is there any important information published this month? Why do you want it so much?"

Arthur took a puff of cigarette expressionlessly: "I don't know if there is any important information, but one month before the June issue was released, the then Prime Minister Spencer Percival was shot dead at the door of the Parliament Building. He was shot several times and died.

So I'm guessing this issue is going to be pretty exciting, as evidenced by the fact that I can't find this book in any used book store. "

Dickens asked: "Are you talking about Prime Minister Percival who promulgated the Embargo Act, which resulted in the economic chaos of the United States and Britain, and then ordered the suppression of the 'Luddite Movement' and the hanging of many rioting workers?"

Tom exclaimed: "Oh my God! Is this book full of attacks on those politicians? It was a miracle that it was not banned at the time."

Arthur said: "It's not all attacks on politicians. Attacks on politicians usually occur under special circumstances, such as the 'Luddite Movement' or something..."

Tom breathed a sigh of relief: "That's it..."

"In general, comic book writer George Cruickshank basically attacks the royal family, such as accusing George III of abandoning his wife for the throne, and that his tyranny and insistence on using violence led to the independence of the North American colonies.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Cruickshank also very presciently attacked the current King George IV who later succeeded to the throne. Since then, he has made bitter comments that George IV, who was still a prince at the time, was "unlike a human being." Jun'. "

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, Tom's heart rose again in his throat.

Tom felt goosebumps trembling all over his body: "This gentleman was not thrown into prison, how on earth did he do it?

I heard the old people say that it was different then and now, the king still had a lot of power. Moreover, George III was a terrible king. Not only was he petty-minded, he also had a very bad temper.

Many people who opposed him were thrown into prison by him, and even if they didn't go in, they were basically exiled abroad. How did George Cruikshank survive that period unscathed? "

An indescribable smile appeared on Arthur's lips: "There are quite complicated reasons for this.

First of all, George III was already insane because of his old age, and the power of the king had been transferred to the regent Prince George IV.

And due to the old king's wrong decisions in North America, Parliament has gradually re-restricted his authority.

Of course, the most important thing is that Mr. Cruikshank is a wonderful man.

Both Whigs and Tories saw potential in the hugely circulated Scourge.

So Mr. Cruikshank took money from the Whigs to attack the Tories, and from the Tories to attack the Whigs.

Finally, they collected money from both parties and attacked the old king who was unconscious and bedridden all year round.

Therefore, he not only said everything he wanted to say, but also made a lot of money along the way. "

Dickens wondered: "But even so, wouldn't Mr. Cruikshank be labeled a demagogue and traitor if he attacked the royal family and politicians every day? There was a war at that time, and the Treason Act and the Sedition Act The Assembly Act has not been repealed yet, right?”

"No, no, no." Arthur waved his hand: "Cruickshank doesn't always attack the royal family and politicians. He only spends half of each issue doing this."

Dickens wondered: "What about the other half?"

"The other half?" Arthur said calmly: "Belittle the French and insult Napoleon."

After hearing this, everyone suddenly laughed so hard that they couldn't stand upright.

"No wonder "The Scourge" was published normally."

"On that basis alone they really cannot convict Mr Cruikshank of treason."

Dickens couldn't help laughing and replied: "It seems that I will have to visit used bookstores in the future. I didn't expect that there are so many interesting things hidden there."

While everyone was laughing, the door next door suddenly opened a crack.

Adam looked into the crack of the door and shouted in surprise: "Robin!"

The door was slowly pushed open, revealing a little girl leaning on the edge of the door frame, a head shorter than Adam.

She was wearing a white dress with holes, her thin lips were blue and white, her black and yellowish hair was spread loosely, and her sickly eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle.

She coughed lightly twice, her chest rising and falling, and then she tremblingly stretched out her little hand, which was so thin that it was almost transparent under the sunlight, and asked in a hoarse voice that was so thin that it was almost inaudible.

"Is it Adam?"

Adam held the book and the wooden box and went up to hold her little hand. He rubbed the back of Robin's hand vigorously, trying to warm her cold palm.

"It was me. I was released from prison. I almost went to the gallows, but I met many kind gentlemen and they saved me. I even brought them to see you.

You see, these are the gentlemen behind me. The kind-looking person is my new father, the officer Tom who invited me to his house for dinner as I mentioned to you before.

The one with the mole on his face is Officer Tony, the one with the bag is Mr. Dickens who writes the newspaper, and the tallest and largest one is Mr. Hastings.

Do you remember what I told you? It was the time two months ago when Mr. Hastings gave me a shilling, and I bought sweets with the money, and we sat and ate them together in the yard. "

Robin smiled quietly and listened to what Adam said, then ran his hand up Adam's arm until he touched Adam's hair, and then touched his head reassuringly.

"Adam, you are a good person. I heard that good people will be rewarded. The fact that you can meet so many good gentlemen is your reward."

Adam looked at Robin blankly. Even though he was only a nine-year-old child, at this time, he could see something was wrong.

He stretched out his hand and waved it slowly in front of Robin's eyes.

Robin felt the sudden silence. She smiled and asked, "Adam, why don't you speak?"

"You...you can't see?"

Adam's hand holding the book and wooden box loosened, and with a thud, all the contents fell to the ground.

The contents of the wooden box were not particularly expensive, just a few crudely packaged sugar cubes and a few pennies left over from buying sugar.

Adam lowered his head. He didn't want people to see his face, but the swaying of his shoulders and body betrayed him.

"Adam..." Officer Tom took a heavy breath and wanted to step forward and hug his son.

But Arthur reached out to stop him. He took a puff of cigarette and said softly: "Don't go. When a man cries, he doesn't want to see his father."

Robin gently touched Adam's face, her little hands wet with warm tears, and she just smiled softly.

"Adam, don't cry. It's not that I can't see. It's just God and I who are joking. Maybe it will be better if you sleep.

But maybe his joke was a bit big. I haven't been able to work in a factory for a long time. I can hear my parents sighing every night.

When you have the opportunity to go to church to pray, you must help me tell God that I need to get better soon!

There are too many bills at home. If no money comes in, our family will be evicted from here. "

When Dickens heard this, he couldn't help but cover his eyes. Robin's words also reminded him of what he had experienced.

He pursed his lips and had red eyes. He took out a note from his pocket and was about to walk up to it. Unexpectedly, three hands holding the note suddenly stretched out from behind and stuffed it into his palm.

He glanced back, and Arthur, Tom and Tony all looked up at the ceiling in unison. Even the three veteran police officers, who had been on the battlefield and had seen all the suffering, could only use this method to prevent their tears from falling.

Dickens felt warm in his heart, and gave the three of them a meaningful look. Then he leaned over and picked up the wooden box on the ground, stuffed the money in his hand, and secretly handed it to little Adam.

Adam looked back at him and was about to speak when he saw Dickens put a finger between his lips to signal him to be silent.

Adam bit his lip and nodded with tears in his eyes. He swallowed and tried to put on the cheerfulest tone and said: "Robin! Look what I found, a lot of money. With this money, your family won't need it for the time being." Worried about being kicked out!”

Unexpectedly, when Robin heard this, she was startled at first, and the smile on her face gradually faded. She touched the bills in the wooden box and counted them carefully.

"Adam, you stole all this money, right? Didn't you promise me you would never do those things again?"

Adam shook his head vigorously and denied: "I really didn't steal the money! Although I often did those things, that was all in the past.

Besides, what if I keep doing it! Those gentlemen and ladies have taken advantage of all the good things in the world, why can't they give us some?

They can eat dozens of pounds in one meal, and what I take away from them may just be the cherry on top of their plate cake.

With this cherry, your family won't have to be evicted from this place. What's wrong with that?

Robin, look at you, you...you were made...blind by them..."

When Adam said this, he reached out and hugged Robin. The nine-year-old child knelt on the ground, crying on the shoulder of another child.

Even when he was facing the death penalty charge in the magistrate court, he didn't cry as sadly as he did today.

Suddenly, a big hand pressed on his head. Adam sobbed and looked back. It was Arthur who had his hat lowered.

Adam choked and asked: "Mr. Hastings, do you know God? Maybe he is the only one who can cure Robin now, right?"

Arthur raised the brim of his hat slightly and crouched down. Under the shadow, there was a pair of eyes that glowed with dim red light.

"I'm sorry, Adam, but usually I'm far from God and very close to the devil."

When Adam heard this, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He turned his head, sniffed gently, and tears fell silently.

But then, Arthur's gentle voice sounded again.

"However, if it is for Robin, I can work hard to know God."