The Shadow of Great Britain

294: 192nd Chapter: France’s Fouche?

No, it’s Britain’s Hastings (4K)_2 294: 192nd Chapter: France’s Fouche?

No, it’s Britain’s Hastings (4K)_2 Arthur tapped on the table emphasising, “This is different, Eld, I am conducting a routine review.”

Great Dumas also nodded, “I am responsible for the routine double-check.”

“Damn you two,” Eld glared, “You don’t even think of me for such things, I won’t lend you anything good next time!”

Seeing the conversation veering off track, Arthur hastily urged, “Enough with that, how exactly did you manage to sell so many magazines?”

Eld, somewhat dissatisfied, adjusted his collar, “Sales, like the art of debate in Parliament, offer me, a high-caliber classical literature major, an unparalleled advantage in rhetoric.”

Moreover, having minor connections in the industry and knowing numerous veterans in the newspaper sales business helps me understand secretive sales locations known only to various hobbyists.

Additionally, articles that I have reviewed and commented on have always been particularly favored by aficionados, so naturally, when I do make a sale, it tends to be a big one.

I told you before, article titles like “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “The Pickwick Papers,” “Young Duke,” or even “Monkey’s Story” simply won’t work in this industry.

Therefore, to boost sales, I made some sensible embellishments and modifications to the titles of the articles.”

Hearing this, Great Dumas slowly caught on, “So what did you change our article titles to?”

Eld snorted, “To achieve big sales, one must target the reader’s curiosity and desire for knowledge.

Titles involving earls and dukes are themes that have been frequently written about in recent years, with many examples to reference.

It’s simply enough to add some romance or secrets to the social status to make people pay.”

“For ‘The Pickwick Papers,’ a story of a commoner’s travels, more effort was needed.

The first thing that came to my mind was Lord Byron’s unfinished ‘Don Juan.’ Everyone knows Don Juan was a famous playboy in Spanish history, juggling countless noblewomen, and even in Spain, Don Juan is used to describe a debauchee.”

Lord Byron, using Don Juan as the prototype and achieving commercial success with the adaptation, is naturally to be expected.

Thus, to emulate Lord Byron’s path to success, I marketed ‘The Pickwick Papers’ as ‘Don Juan’s British Travelogue.’ Sure enough, many customers didn’t even wait for me to describe the content, they were already eager to pay.”

Of course, my proudest moment was the pitch for ‘Monkey’s Story.’ I didn’t exaggerate at all, I clearly told them it’s an informative story about the relation between humans and monkeys, accompanied with an ‘if you know, you know; if you don’t, explaining won’t help’ expression.”

Though each customer expressed no interest in this subject, after purchasing other newspapers, they would always add at the last moment: ‘Give me a copy of ‘The British,’ too.

The cover packaging looks quite exquisite.’

Hearing this, Darwin looked at Eld with a complex expression, “Eld, my purpose in writing this was to educate people, to steer them away from ignorance towards civilization, but look what you’ve done!”

Eld shrugged innocently, “Exactly!

I told them it’s an educational article, but what use is it if they don’t believe me?”

Arthur spoke indifferently, “Eld.”

“What’s up?”

“Quickly say you graduated from Oxford.”

Eld firmly refused, “No, no way, it’s Cambridge’s turn this month.”

“What about King’s College?”

“King’s College?” Eld scoffed, “That bunch of losers, let’s put them off for later.”

Faced with such an unapologetically biased star salesperson, Eld Carter, the newspaper editor Disraeli, out of a desire to protect his capable subordinate, quickly stepped in to smoothen things over.

He hauled the heavy briefcase from underneath the table to the top, and with a click, the lid opened, a stack of banknotes finally managed to shut everyone up.

Disraeli was sweating with a smile, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of the Bank of England, Barings Bank, and Rothschild Bank, let’s settle the first installment of the payment.”

When a light-as-feather cheque was presented before Great Dumas, after struggling for a while, the weight so light it finally bent the thick spine of the French literary giant.

He pocketed the cheque, sighed lightly, and confessed to God, “I had intended to refuse, but the money they offered was simply too much.”

Hearing this, Arthur couldn’t help but ask, “Alexander, are you free tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow night?

What’s planned for tomorrow night?” Great Dumas chuckled, swinging the cheque in his hands, “As long as the expenses don’t exceed this amount.”

“No, tomorrow night is free,” Arthur said, arms planted on the table, “I think this hiding and fleeing isn’t a solution.

As long as the French Government doesn’t call off your warrant, there will always be those looking to make quick money from you.

So, are you interested in meeting Talleyrand with me?”

“Talleyrand?” On hearing this name, Dumas’s smile froze on his face, “What would I go see him for?

A person who lacks even the most basic moral character, we have nothing to discuss.”

Arthur just smiled and shook his head, “Whether he has moral qualities or not, I do not know, nor do I understand.

But I do know he can help revoke your warrant, Alexander.

I know you are a romanticist writer, but life must be faced realistically.

Meeting him won’t do any harm.”

Just as Arthur finished speaking, suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Dumas seemed reluctant to answer Arthur’s question.

He took this moment to stand up and leave the table, and upon opening the door, there stood Chief Inspector Charles Field, neatly dressed in a tailcoat.

Perhaps too excited, Inspector Field’s speech was shaky, “Is Inspector Hastings at home?”

Arthur’s head popped out from behind Dumas, but even before he could speak, Inspector Field had already said with a smile, “You might as well not ask; just open it and see.”

Arthur opened the envelope, and though he had already deciphered the gist of the documents from Inspector Field’s expression,

the stone hanging in his heart finally settled securely on the ground when the documents were laid out in front of him.

The documents were two-fold, both succinct and clear, one authorized by the Privy Council of the Kingdom, and the other stamped by the Home Office.

“Regarding the reorganization of the London Area Temporary Survey and Data Statistics Bureau into the London Police Intelligence Bureau”

“Regarding the proposal to nominate Inspector Arthur Hastings of the Greater London Police Department as the Director of the London Police Intelligence Bureau”

On seeing these two documents, Dumas just patted Arthur on the shoulder, “I thought you were becoming Talleyrand with your earlier words, but now it seems you might more likely become Fouche.

Personally, I think Fouche might be worse than Talleyrand.”

Inspector Field, hearing this, stammered, “Fouche?

Mr.

Dumas, are you referring to that Minister of Police from your France?”

“Exactly,” Dumas replied, “Napoleon held France’s secrets, Fouche held Napoleon’s secrets.

He and Talleyrand were Napoleon’s right and left hands, and even conspired together to rebel against Napoleon.”

At this, Arthur just shook his head, “Alexander, I wouldn’t gather all the dissenters in one place and bombard them.”

“Oh?” Alexander joked.

“Is it because you don’t have cannons?”

“If you must interpret it that way, so be it,” Arthur replied with a smile, shaking his head.

“Thus, I won’t be France’s Fouche, I will just be Britain’s Hastings.”

On hearing this, Dumas just laughed, then, wrapping his arm around Arthur’s shoulder, he said, “Hopefully so.

Since that’s the case, I’ll join you in meeting Talleyrand tomorrow.”