The Shadow of Great Britain

414: Chapter 237: Night Talk in the Cabin (5k2)_2 414: Chapter 237: Night Talk in the Cabin (5k2)_2 Great Dumas nodded in agreement as well, “That solution does seem proper; after all, whether there are many or few, whether they are men or women, old or young, Eld can handle them all.

Indeed, if someone writes you a love letter and you don’t reply at all, that would be quite rude.”

Dickens, holding a teacup, sat quietly by the stove, warming himself.

The mention of love letters inevitably brought to mind the pure white lotus in his heart—Miss Mary.

Looking at the fire, Dickens sighed wistfully; he always felt that with his own status, he couldn’t muster the courage to face Miss Mary.

Seeing him like this, Great Dumas couldn’t help but get irritated, “Charles, I don’t mean to put you down.

But if you want to woo a girl, you’ve got to at least show some courage as a man.

It’s only a banker’s daughter, right?

I thought you had set your sights on some princess of a nation!”

Arthur also chimed in with encouragement, “That’s right, take a look at Benjamin.

He hasn’t even paid off the seven thousand pounds he borrowed for his newspaper.

Yet, despite being in debt up to his ears, this greenhorn actually dared to pursue Sir Francis Sykes’s wife.”

Disraeli hurriedly clarified upon hearing this, “Arthur, don’t talk nonsense.

It’s true I have a certain fondness for Mrs.

Sykes, and perhaps we might’ve had some development if she were single, but now…”

At this, Arthur just shook his head and said, “Benjamin, if that’s how you think, you could very well end up angering Mrs.

Sykes.

Her marriage to Sir Sykes may be passable, but that doesn’t prevent them from doing their own thing.”

“When I attended the Bluestocking Society ladies’ gathering last month, I heard them discussing Mrs.

Sykes in private.

Why do you think Mrs.

Sykes introduced you and Earl Lyndhurst accepted you so readily?

Benjamin, you better use that proud brain of yours a bit more on this, you should be able to figure out what’s going on here—it’s all about connections.”

Great Dumas also nodded in agreement, “That’s right, in France’s political circles, getting in with an influential lady can save you lots of detours.

In matters of networking and spreading messages, the ladies often have an advantage over the gentlemen.

Of course, it is best if there is true love between you.”

“Speaking of which, Talleyrand, that old cripple, didn’t he climb from an insignificant youngest son with no inheritance rights and little regard into an important figure who could sway France’s fate by holding onto the hemlines of various women?

While Britain’s political ecology might differ slightly from France’s, I think the principle should still be the same.”

“This…”

Disraeli, upon hearing this, suddenly blushed and coughed twice, “Of course, I understand that.

Mrs.

Sykes’s excellence is also beyond question.

Whether it be in returning her favor for the introduction, or in showing my gratitude for her fondness of my ‘Young Duke,’ I am willing to do something for her.”

“But I feel, just being a novelist might not be sufficient to make her proud of me.

A few weeks ago, perhaps everyone would have boasted about Mrs.

Sykes’s discerning eye for discovering a promising young member of the Tory Party, but now, Gladstone, that woodcutter, is almost stealing all my thunder.”

Arthur enquired, “I can understand why you dislike Mr.

Gladstone, but why do you always call him a woodcutter?”

“What else could it be?

Because he really is one!”

Disraeli grumbled, “Can you imagine?

A young man barely in his twenties, an Oxford graduate, who doesn’t gamble, consort with prostitutes, drink, or develop a penchant for violence due to the depraved university life.

His single hobby is chopping up a few dozen pounds of wood during his off-time.”

“Damn it!

Why does someone like Gladstone even exist in this world?

Wouldn’t it be better for him to become a priest?

With his behavior and approach, he’s bound to become the Archbishop of Canterbury in the future.

Why must he come to the Tory Party and compete in the same race as me?”

Great Dumas yawned and said, “Then why don’t you switch to the Whig Party?

The Tory Party isn’t doing well right now, are they?”

Without a second thought, Disraeli immediately dismissed the idea, “Yes, the Tory Party might be on the decline, but I can never stoop to join the Whig Party.

Only a purely noble political party like the Tory Party suits my temperament.

The Whig Party might look like nobility, but they are tainted with too much toxic smoke from factories and the scent of banknote ink from the Financial City!”

Great Dumas shook his head in response, “Young people are indeed careless when choosing their political leanings.”

Arthur took a sip of tea, “Aren’t you the same?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Arthur went on to ask Disraeli before Great Dumas could retort, “So you insist on doing moral counseling at Scotland Yard like Gladstone just to compete with him and prove Mrs.

Sykes didn’t misjudge you?”

“Of course, it is very important,”

Disraeli answered earnestly, “I am not a distinguished person like Earl Lyndhurst, who could add luster to Mrs.

Sykes’s face just by association.

My advantage is my youth, which signifies more possibilities within me.

I want to prove to Mrs.

Sykes that Benjamin Disraeli is worth her all-in.”

At this point, Disraeli didn’t forget to encourage Dickens, “Charles, the same goes for you.

Ladies care about just a few things, if we can’t score on wealth or status, then we must figure out a way to play to our intelligence and wit.”