The Shadow of Great Britain

213: Chapter 144: The Will to Survive in a Historical Turning Point 213: Chapter 144: The Will to Survive in a Historical Turning Point Today’s London had a dense drizzle, with a thick curtain of rain pressing from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of the city.

The Greenwich District was also engulfed in the pouring rain.

In the Wheatstone Musical Instruments Store, Arthur, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, had quite a bit of rain on his shoulders as he leaned against the counter, puffing on his pipe.

Between puffs of smoke, his sharp black eyes scanned the store, which looked as if it had been raided by bandits.

After a while, Arthur finally spoke, “Mr.

Wheatstone, why haven’t you called the police?”

“Call the police?” Wheatstone’s head shivered as he popped up from under the counter, his face still bearing a trace of relief from having survived a disaster, “How could I dare to call the police?

Those people said they were sent by you!”

“Oh?” Arthur rubbed his chin, contemplating the statement, “You mean to say that I brought those devils here?”

“Who else could it have been?

Those people were insane!

Each and every one of them claimed they wanted to buy a phonograph.

I told them I was out of stock, and they went mad, shoving deposits into my arms one after another.

I said I couldn’t produce so many in such a short time, and they wouldn’t believe me.

Moreover, that bunch even threatened me, saying that if they didn’t get their goods in time, they would make sure their future days would be hard, and if their days were hard, then I shouldn’t expect to have any good days myself.

After dropping these harsh words, they casually bought out the rest of the instruments in my shop.

Before you came, another drunk wandered in, saw nothing on the shelves, thought I was a furniture seller, and even hauled away my chair.”

Arthur, with his arm on the table and drawing on his pipe, responded, “Isn’t that a good thing, though?

Mr.

Wheatstone, let me congratulate you, business is booming recently!”

“Yeah!

Thanks to you, my business is really damn booming!”

Perhaps out of exasperation, Wheatstone, normally afraid of social interactions, directly swore in front of Arthur, “Those tricks you taught me are useless; the gun didn’t scare anyone!

I hadn’t pulled out the gun for two seconds before that crowd snatched it away from me!”

Arthur heard this and couldn’t help but frown, “Even the gun didn’t scare them?”

Wheatstone, angrily tapping the table with his knuckles, exclaimed, “Right?

Their heads are like they’ve been dunked in Thames River water.

They took my gun and even praised me for it.

Those damn fools said I made the gun pretty well!

Mr.

Hastings, please tell me, if I can’t even scare these donkeys, how am I supposed to scare the apprentices at the Royal Society?”

Arthur shook his head slightly, “It’s not the same, Mr.

Wheatstone.

From my experience in handling cases, it’s precisely because they are donkeys that guns don’t scare them.

People who are either uneducated or own nothing are usually the least afraid of death.

Had those gentlemen and ladies themselves come to buy the phonograph, rather than sending their servants, you likely wouldn’t have faced such embarrassment.

You must realize, those upper-class folks are probably among the most life-preserving people in Great Britain.”

On hearing this, Wheatstone just vented in frustration, “What exactly did you tell them?

I’ve never seen so many customers in my life, and these past few days have all been the same situation.

If it weren’t for the rain today, I fear my small shop would’ve been packed again.”

Arthur shrugged, “Actually, I didn’t say much, Mr.

Wheatstone.

You have to believe that it’s the high quality of your products that has brought in so many new customers, and I merely embellished that foundation a bit.”

Wheatstone didn’t buy Arthur’s slick talk, and he retorted, “Embellished?

Just your embellishment brought so many flies?

Oh!

Then I really should thank God for everyone!

Thank goodness you’re endorsing phonographs, not flush toilets and lavatories.”

Arthur, on hearing this, merely glanced at the nearby Red Devil and replied apologetically, “Actually, if the price were high enough, I might consider endorsing toilets as well.

But considering that one of my friends has a serious grudge against toilets, I think it’s necessary to consider his feelings sometimes.”

At this point, Arthur suddenly changed the topic, “However, I didn’t come today to discuss toilets with you.

I came to ask about the phonograph that I reserved privately with you a while back.

Have you finished it?”

Wheatstone, visibly displeased, responded, “Do you think making a phonograph is that easy?

Just think about it, it has only been a few days since you notified me.

Mr.

Hastings, you must understand, people have limits.

I’m a human, not a donkey.”

Arthur slightly frowned, leaning forward and lowering his voice, “Mr.

Wheatstone, if you say that, then I must discuss the matter of you losing the gun with you.

Do you know how serious a crime it is to steal a gun from a Scotland Yard officer?”

“Steal?” Wheatstone shuddered, “Wasn’t the gun a gift from you?

If the gun is lost, I can just buy another one at the armory to replace it.”

“That won’t do.” Arthur gently shook his finger, “Mr.

Wheatstone, you might not be aware.

Due to a serious firearms theft incident earlier this year at Scotland Yard, since then, every pistol from Scotland Yard has been marked with a serial number.”

Wheatstone’s eyes widened at this, “This…”

But quickly, he shifted his gaze, adopting a stance of indifference, “The gun isn’t in my hands, how can you prove I stole it?”

Hearing this, Arthur couldn’t help but applaud Wheatstone’s logic, “Excellent point, Mr.

Wheatstone.

Indeed, the gun is not in your possession, so I’ll just have to go from house to house asking those gentlemen and ladies which of their servants took the gun.”

“Right!

It was they who took the gun.

How does that involve me?”

“Indeed, but where did they get the gun from?”

“Me.”

“And where did your gun come from?”

“You.” As soon as Wheatstone uttered these words, his face turned as dark as the clouds outside.

He tremblingly raised his finger, pointing at Arthur, and said, “Mr.

Hastings, are you…

are you trying to frame me?”

Arthur pulled out a tobacco-filled tin from his pocket and packed a clean pipe, before opening his mouth to say, “No, I did not intend to frame you.

You must know, Scotland Yard never frames good citizens.

Especially in the police district I oversee, such incidents are strictly forbidden.”

Wheatstone took a deep breath, leaned forward, and asked softly, “May I ask what your definition of a good citizen is?”

Arthur pulled out a match and relit his pipe: “It’s simple, those who are willing to cooperate with the police are good citizens.”

Wheatstone continued to inquire, “Then what does it mean to be willing to cooperate with the police?”

“That depends on the situation.”

“And what about today’s situation?”

Arthur took a puff of his pipe: “Today’s good citizen would be someone who can hand over two phonographs before I leave.”

Wheatstone slapped his face, closing his eyes and sighing deeply, “Mr.

Hasting.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m starting to regret knowing you,” Wheatstone looked up at the ceiling, his face filled with exhaustion: “If only I had had the courage to stand at the podium of the Royal Society, perhaps I would never have met you.”

Arthur unapologetically picked up the teapot on the counter, gently poured two cups, and handed one to Wheatstone while holding the other in his hand.

A clink of the cups was heard as Arthur’s teacup touched Wheatstone’s: “To our great meeting!”

Wheatstone picked up his teacup and drank the tea in one gulp, then slammed the cup down hard on the table: “Here’s to the damn courage!”

Having said that, Wheatstone sighed and walked towards the back room of the music store to fetch the coveted phonographs for Arthur.

Agares, grinning, pushed up his glasses and the Red Devil spoke, “Arthur, it seems your special training on his speeches was very successful!

But this Charles Wheatstone is really a strange fellow, it’s my first time seeing someone get angry because they have too many clients bringing in money.”

Arthur, swaying his teacup, responded, “It’s nothing, experts in science eh, a bit of personality is only natural.

Considering Mr.

Wheatstone’s outstanding talent and hands-on ability, I think I can tolerate his little temper.

After all, the future work of the LPS will still largely depend on such talents.

Just relying on a donkey like me who can only wield swords and weapons wouldn’t achieve much.”

Red Devil rubbed his hands and chuckled, “Oh!

My dear Arthur, don’t underestimate your talent for mischief.

You can do many things that others wouldn’t even dare to think about, but you must be willing to let go of certain things.

For instance, to preserve your position at the London Police Office, you might need to engage in some shady activities first.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur was initially taken aback, then raised his eyebrows and asked, “From the tone of your voice, it seems that there was a problem with the Prime Minister’s questioning session today?”

The Red Devil excitedly said, “Not just a problem, it was explosive!”

Arthur’s heart skipped a beat, he asked, “Did someone plant explosives in the Parliament building again?”

“It hasn’t come to that.

Arthur, when I say explosive, I don’t mean literally.”

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, “As long as no one died.

I wouldn’t want to be running around for a bunch of MPs’ bodies, London has just recently calmed down.”

Upon hearing that, the Red Devil mysteriously added, “But even if no one died, the ministers of the Wellington Cabinet were almost out of breath.”

“Hmm?” Arthur squinted his eyes towards the Red Devil and pressed him, “Agares, what exactly are you up to?”

Red Devil grinned, revealing his sharp, knife-like teeth.

Between them flickered his vivid red tongue: “Arthur, don’t you understand yet?

The Whig Party has officially submitted a motion of no confidence against the Cabinet to the Parliament today.

With the current situation, the Wellington Cabinet is in grave danger!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you don’t want to be kicked out after the change of government, you’d better quickly think of a way to save yourself.”

To Arthur’s utter surprise, he was not shocked but rather unusually calm.

“I thought it was something serious.

It’s just the fall of the Cabinet.

I thought they were all sent to meet God.

Even if the Whig Party comes into power, Scotland Yard will still do the same old things, at most my immediate superior will change.”

Red Devil raised his eyebrows, “Aren’t you worried?”

“Worried, of course I’m worried.”

Arthur smiled and said, “Otherwise, why do you think I am here today?

Have you forgotten?

Our dearly beloved and reliable friend Charles, who covers the Parliament, just brought back the latest news a few days ago?

From the options he presented, after analysis, I believe the most likely one to succeed as the Home Secretary, if the Tory Party falls, would be Viscount Melbourne who loves to snooze in Parliament.

And my most important event today is to deliver the pre-ordered phonograph to his sister, Mrs.

Copper.”