The Shadow of Great Britain

47: Chapter 9: The Royal Society Lecture 47: Chapter 9: The Royal Society Lecture Number 4 Whitehall, Arthur, in neatly dressed police uniform, walked out from the headquarters of the Greater London Police Department.

Accompanying him were several Police Superintendents in charge of various other police districts in London, exchanging the tasks arranged at the police meeting that morning, and occasionally joking with each other.

Most of the superintendents were around thirty years old, and among them, the young Arthur stuck out noticeably.

The older superintendents took good care of this rapidly rising young man, but their words often revealed a polite distance.

Everyone knew that this young man was deeply favored by the Home Secretary, Robert Peel, but the estrangement that came with being specially treated made Arthur feel uncomfortable all over.

Agares looked maliciously at the smiling faces of the old superintendents and reminded Arthur.

“It’s all fake, just look at their eyes.

No matter how warm their smiles, they can’t hide the truth that is written in their eyes.

This group simply wants to strangle you with jealousy.

Arthur, it seems that climbing too fast isn’t good either!

You always end up making enemies on all sides.

Why don’t we think of a way to strike first and teach them a lesson?”

But Arthur had long been immune to the Red Devil’s provocations.

If he really had done as Agares suggested, he reckoned he would have killed a whole company by now, from four years ago to the present.

He managed to cope with the older superintendents’ too eager to please manner.

Fortunately, after leaving Scotland Yard, it wasn’t long before they took public carriages back to their respective districts.

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief but before he could adjust his mood, Eld, who had been waiting across from Scotland Yard for a long time, came up to him with a big smile on his face.

From his pocket, Eld took two tickets and waved them in front of Arthur: “Arthur, take a look at this, what is it?

Tickets to a lecture at the Royal Society!

I had a really hard time snatching them from my cousin.”

Of course, Arthur knew what the subtext was; he stopped a passing public carriage with a raise of his hand.

“I got it, I’ll cover your meal expenses today.”

Eld immediately followed Arthur into the carriage, laughing heartily, “Generous of you!

But I won’t let you lose out.

Weren’t you the one who specifically asked me to look for lectures on chemistry and pharmacology?

This time I made sure of it, today’s lecturer is a very famous chemist.

It will definitely satisfy you!”

The carriage started to rock and rattle, and Arthur’s head swayed along with it.

“Eld, you better have confirmed it well this time.

I still remember the first time you took me to the theater to watch a play.

You said it was supposed to be high art, but it seems that the performance was not very civilized.”

Upon hearing this, Eld coughed awkwardly, with a thick-skinned expression.

“Arthur!

Whether art is art depends on how you look at it, doesn’t it?

You have to view it critically, dialectically.

The beautiful ladies are so poor they can’t afford to wear tops.

What does that tell you?

There’s definitely some kind of problem with the way our society operates!”

Arthur glanced at him: “Is that why you disappeared right after the performance?

Although society does have issues, your brain isn’t exactly shining either.

And then, you got caught by your aunt in the act, and in the end, it was me who had to bail you out!”

Eld, upon hearing Arthur bringing up his past embarrassments, suddenly became furious: “Arthur!

You motherf…..

I am a law-abiding citizen!”

“A law-abiding citizen runs smuggling operations?”

“How can that be the same?

Smuggling at worst gets me hanged…

you’re insulting my honor!”

Arthur looked at Eld’s indignant expression and sighed softly: “Let’s not bring up the past.

Going to a Royal Society lecture this time, you’re not going to cause any kind of ‘critically discussable’ problems again, right?”

“Where could I…”

Eld, with his slick and oily manner, was about to spout some indecent remarks, but before he could open his mouth, he saw Arthur take off the quick handcuffs that hung on his leather belt.

Arthur stared at the handcuffs, muttering to himself, “As for smuggling, I surely can’t arrest you.

But if you were to engage in indecent behavior at the Royal Society…”

Hearing this, Eld hurriedly raised his hands in surrender, saluting Arthur.

“Don’t mess around!

I’m sincerely bringing you this time, with not a single bit of personal desire.

This is genuinely a chemistry lecture.

The scientist is very famous, I remember his name is…

what’s it…

Michael something…”

Arthur probed, asking, “Michael Jackson?”

Upon hearing this, Eld slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “That’s right!

It’s Michael Jackson, I told you he’s famous; see, even you know him!”

Arthur took a deep breath, “Eld.”

Eld, with a delighted face, “What?

No need to thank me, just treat me to dinner.”

“I’m gonna handcuff you for sure today!”

“Ah!

Arthur!

You’re really gonna do it, damn it!”

The carriage slowly made its way through the streets amid the crowds and the corners of London, and after some time, it finally arrived at the destination of the day—Gresham College, located in the northeast of London.

The door of the carriage opened, and Eld, with his hands cuffed behind his back, was pushed out clumsily.

He staggered forward a few steps, nearly hitting his nose on the crimson brick wall of the college.

Arthur politely took off his hat to thank the coachman, then pulled two shillings out of his pocket and passed them over.

“It’s difficult to hail a cab here, so I’d appreciate it if you could wait for us for two hours.

After that, we’ll need your carriage for the return trip, and we’ll pay double the fare.”

The coachman was only too happy to earn this easy money; he took off his hat to return the salute, “No problem, Officer.”

Arthur had just stepped out of the carriage, and before he could firmly stand his ground, he heard Eld’s angry roar.

“Arthur!

Look at this!

I told you today’s speaker is called Michael, and you wouldn’t believe me!”

Arthur looked up to find Eld in front of a board used to introduce today’s speaker.

He jumped up and down in anger, cursing, “Damn you, hurry up and unlock my handcuffs.

Most of the attendees are elite ladies from London, if they see me like this, how am I going to find a chance to wine and dine with them in the future?”

Arthur took a glance around and had to admit Eld was right.

Although it was still early, several carriages had already stopped outside the great doors of Gresham College; ladies and misses in pretty pleated dresses and silk gloves, every inch the fine lady, were seen everywhere.

Some were helped out of their carriages by private coachmen, lifting their long dresses, while a servant brushed away horse dung and rubbish from the roadside with a portable broom to avoid soiling the ladies’ clean and beautiful dresses.

Others held fans to their mouths, gathering with familiar friends to chat.

Another portion gave Eld a glance, unable to suppress a smirk that greatly angered Master Eld.

Arthur knew he couldn’t let him lose all face at this point; otherwise, the kid probably wouldn’t talk to him for six months.

He stepped forward, skillfully twisting Eld’s wrist and the handcuffs were quickly back in his hands.

Eld rubbed his reddened wrists, twisting them, and then pointing dissatisfiedly at the display board next to him, he cursed at Arthur.

“Arthur, see what’s written here?

Look clearly, today’s speaker: Michael Faraday!”