The Shadow of Great Britain

317: Chapter 203: The Troublesome Imp and a Special Feature Article (7K) 317: Chapter 203: The Troublesome Imp and a Special Feature Article (7K) Westminster, London, 4 Whitehall.

Arthur and Disraeli had just alighted from their carriage, and hadn’t walked far before he spotted two familiar figures at the corner of the street that led to Trafalgar Square.

Arthur’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and seeing this, Disraeli only asked, “Arthur, what’s the matter?”

“Hush!”

Arthur motioned for Disraeli to be silent, then tiptoed forward, and in a manner reminiscent of rabbit-catching, scooped up two boys around the ages of eight or nine by their collars.

“Allen, Adam, you’d best explain yourselves clearly,” he said.

“Why are you not in grammar school at this hour, and instead rolling hoops near Whitehall?”

Adam turned his head, and then shuddered in fright, “Ar…Arthur, isn’t today Friday?

Allen said that on Fridays, you usually leave work early to play piano part-time at the theatre.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur shrugged his shoulders, not sure whether to be angry or amused, “So you’ve learned my schedule well.

Usually, at this time, I should indeed be meeting with Mr.

Mozesales, but today is an exception.

Adam, Allen, you two little rascals are out of luck today; you’ve run straight into my gun barrel.

But never mind that now, how did you two manage to slip away from the teachers’ watch?”

Allen Pinkerton, hoisted in Arthur’s right hand, simply replied, “Sir, we were let out of school early with the teachers’ approval.”

“Oh?

Is that so?” Arthur pondered, “What holiday is it today?

Has Jesus resurrected again?

No, I remember it’s not today that Jesus was resurrected; it should be me that’s resurrected today, right?”

Pinkerton spoke earnestly, “Sir, I’m not joking.

We asked the teacher for early leave to go home and take care of Adam’s mother, who just gave birth not long ago.

I told the teacher that Adam’s mother just had a little sister, so we had to go home early to help Officer Tom.”

Disraeli laughed heartily beside them, “My lad, you’re mistaken, Mrs.

Tom gave birth to twins.

Adam now has not only a sister but also a brother.”

Upon hearing this, Pinkerton raised a finger to emphasize, “Yes, I know, sir, but we were saving the brother excuse for next week!”

Arthur put the two scamps down on the ground and tapped their heads with his finger, “Can’t you two do something good for a change?”

Pinkerton retorted, “We’re always doing good, sir.

You might not know, but we just gave a poor old lady our last two pennies.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow, rubbing his head, “Seems like putting you under Tom’s charge did have some effect after all.

Well done, lad.

But there are so many needy in London; why did you specifically choose that old lady?”

Upon hearing this, Adam just scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly, “Simple, because the old lady sells sweets.”

Hearing this, Arthur simply hoisted the two little rascals by their collars and threw them onto the carriage, then pulled a shilling from his pocket and handed it to the coachman, “Sir, please take these two troublemakers back to the Greenwich Grammar School and send my regards to the teachers there.”

With that, he added a note of warning to the two boys, “Before Mrs.

Tom comes to pick you up from school, you had best behave yourselves and stay put.

Especially you, Allen, I’m officially notifying you that your allowance for sweets this month has been temporarily suspended.

Incidentally, its ultimate disbursement is directly tied to your next grammar exam results.”

If you object to this decision, please raise it at the next internal meeting of the London Police Intelligence Bureau.

We will put it to a vote.

But I can tell you quite frankly, your objections won’t matter because when it comes to this issue, Tom, Tony, and the other officers will stand by me.

As for you, Adam, haven’t you always been envious of Allen’s sweet allowance?

I can tell you plainly, if you can manage to get at least three ‘A’s in this year’s Grammar School exams, I will approve your application to join.

Otherwise, I won’t only reject your request, I’ll also tell your father and mother about the mischief you and Allen got up to today.”

You’re already nine this year; according to normal British standards, that’s no age to still be considered a child.

As a mature British gentleman, you must learn to take responsibility for your actions.”

No sooner had Arthur spoken these words than Adam began to wail pitifully.

“Oh no, Mr.

Hastings, you’re a good man, you can’t do this!

Please don’t tell my parents, they will be heartbroken.”

Meanwhile, Pinkerton stood on the carriage seat and begged, “Sir, you can’t in good conscience swallow my allowance; we just learned about the Bible, which declares God’s judgment on elders and human leaders for enriching themselves through the exploitation and abuse of the poor.

I beseech you, if you stop my allowance, you’ll surely go to Hell in the future; you’re a good person, I don’t want you to end up there.”

Arthur, hand resting on the carriage door, said, “You see, Allen, isn’t the use of reading demonstrated here?

If you hadn’t learned from the Bible, you wouldn’t even know that taking someone else’s allowance sends you to Hell.

But you’re right; I’m bound for Hell one day, just likely not on the charge of exploiting and abusing the poor.”