The Shadow of Great Britain

43: Chapter 5: Two Royals 43: Chapter 5: Two Royals Arthur gave up his seat to Tony and Tom and then led Eld to sit at the next table.

When Eld heard Arthur mention the subsidy earlier, he remembered the business matter Arthur had discussed with him before.

He asked, “Didn’t you say you wanted me to draw a map before?

What kind of map are you thinking of?”

Arthur said, “Actually, it’s not about drawing maps.

You just mentioned in the information you provided that there are very few people who have seen Fred’s true face, right?

Moreover, when there are few witnesses to a crime, the police find it difficult to create an accurate portrait of the criminal based on information provided by the victim.

Therefore, I plan to implement a brand-new criminal investigation technique.”

“A new technique?”

Eld thought for a long time but still could not figure out what Arthur was up to, so he asked, “Why don’t you just tell me straight, what do you want me to draw?”

Arthur said, “I hope to divide a person’s face into nine regions and then find one hundred people with distinct facial features.

You would draw portraits of these nine regions based on their features, completing a total of nine hundred different paintings.

That way, we can provide samples of these nine regions for victims to choose from, ultimately compiling a portrait that closely resembles the criminal, using what I call the simulated portrait technique.”

Upon hearing this, Eld was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped.

“Arthur!”

“What’s wrong?” Arthur sipped his tea.

He exclaimed, “This is a brilliant idea!

You truly are born to be a policeman!”

Arthur raised his eyebrows and asked, “So, you agree?”

“But I can’t draw!”

Eld said sheepishly, “I studied how to draw sea charts.

You could ask me to draw maps, and I might manage.

But I really don’t have the skills to draw portraits.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur also felt troubled, “This is going to be problematic.

Besides you, I don’t know anyone else who can draw…”

Seeing his good friend so worried, Eld then said, “Though I might not be able, I know where to find those who can.

And not only can they draw, but they also draw well, and probably at a reasonable price.”

“Is there such a place?”

Eld nodded, “Of course!

Why don’t you just go to the Royal Art Academy next to Trafalgar Square?”

“Are you kidding me?

The painters in the Royal Art Academy are famous all over the world.

One of their paintings could cover the annual office expenses of the Greenwich Police District.

Eld, surely you don’t hold that much of a grudge.

It was just a few jokes; don’t get me arrested.”

“What are you talking about!”

Eld said, “I’m not telling you to go looking for the professors there.

Though those professors are well-fed, the apprentices learning painting from them are mostly starving.

I visited once with my uncle and saw that many apprentices are children from poor families.

The simple sketches of portraits you’re asking for could probably be done in ten to fifteen days.

If you offer them a fair price, many will be eager to take on the job.”

Arthur initially thought Eld was just making things up, but after hearing his explanation, it seemed quite feasible.

He asked, “That place can’t just be entered freely, right?

How should I get in?”

“No need to worry,” Eld assured, patting his chest, “Whenever you’re free, just go for a walk around Trafalgar Square at dusk.

There, many impoverished artists who studied at the Royal Academy of Arts sell their artwork.

Just pick one that catches your eye and ask them.”

As soon as Eld finished speaking, Darwin, who was teaching Tony and Tom at the time, also spoke up.

“Arthur, speaking of which, I think what you want to master is not only medical knowledge but also more about chemistry and pharmacology.

Although I can teach you a bit about these, I’m not clear about many of the new advances in recent years.

If you want to acquire more advanced knowledge, you might try attending lectures organized by the Royal Society at Gresham College.

There, the finest scientists from all over Great Britain convene, and almost every month, they announce their latest findings.

Attending these would definitely be beneficial for you.”

Arthur asked curiously, “Lectures by the Royal Society?

Are the tickets expensive?”

Darwin shook his head, “No more expensive than the tickets for the Royal Theatre.

And whether the lectures are expensive depends on how you view it.

For just one shilling, you can listen to the most advanced scientific knowledge, which in my opinion is actually very cost-effective.”

Arthur initially thought that such lectures would be priced in pounds, but it turned out to cost only a shilling.

Just like Darwin said, the money spent on a single trip to the Royal Theatre could pay for dozens of lectures.

It was incredibly cheap.

He quickly asked, “So when are these lectures typically held?”

Darwin replied, “It’s hard to say exactly, but generally, they are quite frequent.

The Royal Society’s research funding comes not only from donations but mainly from the income of these scientific lectures.

Recently, because the Royal Society is short on funds, there are lectures every day.

However, if you’re planning to attend, it’s best to book your tickets in advance, as they are very popular among both the middle and upper classes, especially the ladies.”

You may not know, but due to frequent technological breakthroughs in recent years, scientists from the Royal Society often make headlines, so they have gradually become as popular as artists.”

No sooner had Darwin finished speaking than Arthur recalled the day he and Eld went to the theatre, only to be squeezed nearly to a pulp by the crowd of Paganini’s admirers.

He was about to give up when his good friend Eld spoke up again.

“Arthur, if you want to go, I could get a few tickets.”

“You can get them?”

Arthur looked Eld over and said, “Didn’t you claim to be completely insulated from science?

When did you start getting interested in attending scientific lectures?”

Eld replied, “I’m not interested in science, but it’s different for my cousin!

Haven’t you heard Charles say?

Going to scientific lectures is fashionable now.

My cousin likes to follow trends, whether it’s elaborate pleated skirts, high-end French perfumes, or even shabby scientists—as long as it’s linked to fashion, she’s into it.

If you want to go, I could sneak and take a couple of tickets from her when I go to my uncle’s for dinner.

If I remember correctly, she bought season tickets, and not just one.

Sometimes she even likes to bring her girlfriends along.”

Arthur exclaimed in surprise, “Is your cousin that rich?”

Eld proudly said, “Of course!

Haven’t I told you before?

Some captains in the Royal Navy made three to four hundred thousand pounds from their victories in the Napoleonic Wars.

My uncle only became a post-captain later during the Napoleonic Wars, but after capturing two French warships and sharing plunder when he was executive officer, he could still muster up a hundred thousand pounds.

My uncle is often stationed in the Ionian Islands and Malta with the Mediterranean Fleet, and doesn’t have much time for my cousin, so she pretty much gets to do whatever she wants, doesn’t she?”