The Shadow of Great Britain

188: Chapter 131 Expansion of Intelligence Channels_3 188: Chapter 131 Expansion of Intelligence Channels_3 And he didn’t just do this in Parliament; he acted the same way whether he was at a sermon, in debates with colleagues, and even at dinner parties.

Viscount Melbourne’s conduct naturally earned him high praise within Parliament.

Members from both the Whig and the Tory parties declared that Viscount Melbourne could truly be considered the most cultured member in all of Great Britain, for no one had ever heard him curse someone in Parliament.

Perhaps it was because of this attitude that even when the Tory Party was in power, he would not be excluded from the Cabinet on party grounds, which was an important reason for Viscount Melbourne’s appointment as Minister for Irish Affairs.

Having said so much, the topic inevitably falls back on Viscount Melbourne’s sister, Lady Copper.

Lady Cordington placed such importance on Lady Copper’s arrival because Lady Ponsonby, a female writer fond of literature, had also been a member of the Bluestocking Society.

Therefore, to avoid the embarrassment her sister-in-law had encountered, Lady Copper would usually tactfully decline the dinner invitations from members of the Bluestocking Society.

However, her willingness to visit a Bluestocking Society gathering today was certainly giving Lady Cordington face.

Of course, this might also have something to do with her sister-in-law, Lady Ponsonby, having passed away two years prior.

Perhaps it was for this reason that Lady Copper started to consider whether to extend her influence into the Bluestocking Society.

Arthur hid in a small corner of the lounge, pinching an onion ring, while he listened to Eld regaling him with these high-society gossip stories.

After listening, he couldn’t help saying to Eld, “Eld, perhaps you could consider becoming a novelist.

If you compiled all this stuff you know into booklets, I guarantee they would sell like hotcakes in London.”

Eld immediately waved his hands, “Don’t joke about that!

Don’t you remember what happened to Lady Ponsonby when she wrote ‘Granarvan’?

Because Lady Jersey was displeased with her portrayal in the novel, she angrily expelled Lady Ponsonby from Almack’s Club.

As a result, many parties didn’t dare to invite Lady Ponsonby.

I still want to mix in London, could you not always suggest these bad ideas to me?”

Hearing this, Arthur just smiled and took a handkerchief from the table to wipe the grease from his hands.

“If you’re worried that publishing this stuff will have a negative impact, then why not just not publish it?”

Eld frowned, “How will I earn money if I don’t publish?”

Arthur smiled and took out a parchment paper bag from his own bag and handed it to Eld, “After you go back, write down everything you know into manuscripts and put them in here.

Each of your stories will be treated as archival material.

It won’t appear before anyone’s eyes except for those who should see it.

And I assure you, for every piece of material you write, the payment will not be cheap.

Although it might not compare to the gains from novel publishing, it’s safer and more stable.”

Eld looked at the parchment paper bag, which was simply stamped with a few words—London Area Temporary Measurement and Survey Statistics Bureau.

He raised an eyebrow, whistled, and said, “I see, so this is what you guys are investigating?

Just tell me straight, how much money have you prepared?”

Arthur cradled a glass of red wine and gently swirled it, the aroma wafting up.

“How much money I can prepare all depends on how much useful information you can provide me.

Eld, you should know that only when useful to the higher-ups can one attain a more important position.

With position comes funding, and with funding, I can give more to you.

So, what kind of information do you think can help me increase my importance?”