The Shadow of Great Britain

413: Chapter 237: Night Talk in the Cabin (5k2) 413: Chapter 237: Night Talk in the Cabin (5k2) Outside the window, the thunderstorm was pouring and the trees in Hyde Park were swaying in the whistling gale that accompanied London’s evening.

Raindrops the size of pinky fingers pelted the window glass, making a pounding noise as if they were bullets.

Arthur and the others were gathered around the fireplace, the red glow of the fire reflecting off everyone’s face, bringing a touch of warmth to the chilling environment.

Dickens sipped his hot tea in small tastes, then turned his head to look at the tightly shut windows in the room and asked, “Every time I come here, the windows are always shut tight.

Don’t you need any ventilation?”

While flipping through the books in his hands, Arthur replied, “Isn’t one ventilation enough?

The nights in London are so chilly; keeping the windows open all the time would give you a cold.”

Upon hearing this, Disraeli raised a finger and emphasized, “Arthur, haven’t you seen Dr.

Arnott’s research reports published in all the major newspapers by the Royal Society?

If you hang a canary at the top of your bed canopy, you’ll find it dead by the time you wake up in the morning.

Dr.

Arnott said that living in a poorly ventilated room accumulates a large amount of carbon dioxide, which then combines with the moisture in the air to form carbonic acid.

Can you imagine your room filled with carbonic acid?

Oh, that is truly dreadful; it could ultimately poison you to death!”

Upon hearing this, Arthur merely smiled wryly and said, “I wouldn’t have guessed, Benjamin, that you’ve started to dabble in the field of chemistry.”

“Of course, a capable person should know a little about everything.”

Disraeli adjusted his collar proudly and then didn’t forget to offer some health advice to Arthur, “If you really are afraid of the cold and don’t want to open the windows, then place several bowls of limewater in your room; it will absorb the carbonic acid continuously.

When you wake up tomorrow morning, you’ll find some cloudy sediment in the bowls; that is the very culprit that could harm your life.”

Arthur, although you are a researcher in the field of electromagnetism, when it comes to chemistry and home health, I still recommend that you flip through ‘The Science of Family Living.’

Upon hearing this, Arthur shrugged and responded, “Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I prefer reading the ‘Weekly Police Bulletin’ established by radical writers.

In my view, not understanding the former at worst means restless sleep, but ignorance of the latter could mean an increase in the recently diminished police assault incidents.”

When Disraeli heard this, he tried to persuade, “Ah, Arthur, I know what you think.

You just look down on household chores.

I was like you at first.

I somewhat looked down upon that magazine, considering it just content to pass the time for housewives.

However, the last time at the party, Mrs.

Sykes read the book with me, and only then did I realize how valuable the information inside really is.

It’s not only greatly helpful for ladies but for gentlemen as well.”

“Oh…” Great Dumas, who was reviewing a manuscript, became interested when he heard this and said, “What have I heard?

Mrs.

Sykes!

Benjamin, I remember you’re twenty-six years old this year; Madame Sykes must be between thirty-four and thirty-eight, right?”

With his eyes widened, Disraeli emphasized, “Alexander, Mrs.

Sykes is a very lovely and intelligent lady!

And she’s also a loyal reader of ‘The British’, having written to our editorial department very often a long time ago.

My ability to enter the Tory Party circles so smoothly this time was all thanks to Mrs.

Sykes introducing me to Earl Lyndhurst.

I won’t allow you to make a French joke at her expense.”

Upon seeing Disraeli’s demeanor, Great Dumas just shook his head at Arthur, “This is a disaster; aside from Charles, it looks like we have another simpleton who’s fallen in love today.

‘The British’ has lost two of its main writers all at once; what a terrible loss!”

Upon hearing this, Arthur simply took a calm sip of tea, “Alexander, you’d better hurry up too.

Benjamin has been placing a matrimony ad for me in ‘The Times’ for a month now; if you’re in a hurry, maybe you can take over next month?”

Upon hearing this, Great Dumas pondered, “Speaking of which, what’s been the effect of that bogus advertisement you placed in ‘The Times’?

Any response?”

Disraeli nodded slightly, “Of course, there’s been a response, not just a response, but quite a significant one.

In just a month, we’ve received a whole large box of love letters.”

“The effect is that good?” Alexander said, surprised, “I always thought that London’s ladies were rather reserved.

Now it seems, reservation is only superficial.

As long as it meets their criteria for choosing a spouse, they can be as enthusiastic as French girls.”

At this, Arthur suddenly interjected, “It’s not just the ladies who are enthusiastic; the gentlemen as well.”

“The gentlemen?” Great Dumas was shocked by this revelation, “Could it be that among those love letters there are some from…”

Before Great Dumas could finish, Arthur interrupted, “It’s none of my business; all the love letters have already been forwarded untouched to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I hope that the post office, seeing that Scotland Yard is the sending department, will get the letters there before the Beagle finishes its survey of Brazil.”