The Shadow of Great Britain

463: Chapter 254 London Focuses on You (6K4)_2 463: Chapter 254 London Focuses on You (6K4)_2 But just recently, Arthur invited me over to his place as a guest, and he made me listen to a few of his new pieces.

It was then I realized how utterly absurd and impolite my worries had been.

If my melodies represented elegance, nobility, and harmony, then Arthur stood for passion, restlessness, and fervent love—behind which lurked a heart-rending melancholy and profundity.

I really seldom envy anyone, but this time, I’m sorry, Arthur, even though you are my friend, I have to say it—I envy you, I really do envy you!

Why does the Muse love you so madly?

Could you have been her lover in a past life?

Alas…

Arthur, it seems you did it on purpose.

Why did you let me hear such a thing before I set out for Paris?

Arthur, you really are a mean one.

Now it seems to me that you working at Scotland Yard as a policeman might be good news for the musical world of Europe, for if you were to compose full-time, where would the rest of us have room to exist?

“Jacob Mendelssohn changes Paris itinerary last minute, the Romantic piano artist heir to the legacy of Mr.

Bach announces: He will provide prelude performance for Mr.

Hastings’s new pieces at the Halloween show.”

Upon reading this, Arthur took a gulp of scalding hot tea and leisurely exhaled a puff of white breath: “Jacob, you’ve gone bad too!

You know full well those pieces aren’t mine, but still, you boast unashamedly in front of the reporters.

After counting in Mr.

Victor’s incident, I now owe you two favors.”

His gaze then moved down a bit more to another headline that was equally startling.

“After landing in London for 35 days, 49 English fencing masters consecutively dishonored, the London Fencing Society suffers complete annihilation!”

“The London Fencing Society losses over a hundred members in a week, absolute silence in the practice halls”

“The Birth of Foil Napoleon!

Who exactly is Francois Bertrand?”

“Out of 22 million in Great Britain, can no one understand swordsmanship or combat?”

“Frog legs are already stepping on Britain’s face!

British martial arts have no face left!”

“I hereby call for an immediate organization of the Eighth Anti-French Alliance!”

“Distressing news!

In order to uphold the glory of English fencing, the upright and courageous Scotland Yard Inspector Arthur Hastings announces: He will engage in an honor duel with Paris Sword Saint Francois Bertrand before performing the new pieces!”

“The London Philharmonic Society strongly opposes this unnecessary bloodshed, President Mr.

Mozesales angrily condemns: Having a promising young pianist capture criminals was absurd enough, but now, he might also lose his life or his hands due to a duel, which is simply ludicrous!”

“Mr.

Faraday, the head of the Royal Society’s Royal Research Institute, expresses his concerns to the newspaper reporters: Arthur is currently collaborating with Mr.

Wheatstone and me on a major paper in the field of electromagnetism, and I worry his departure could cause irreparable damage to the research in this field.”

Following the announcement of the duel, enthusiastic supporters of Mr.

Hastings in the fields of science and music gathered at 4 Whitehall, the Greater London Police Department, to hold a protest demonstration.

The representative of the demonstrators, Mrs.

Cordington, stated: “We ladies of the Bluestocking Society have always been supporters of Mr.

Hastings, but this time he has gone too far.

However, we think it’s not all his fault; we cannot understand why the consequences of the incompetence of Britain’s fencing community should be borne by such an exceptional person as Mr.

Hastings.”

Miss Byron, who also joined the demonstration with her mother, agreed: “I am very familiar with Mr.

Hastings; he is not only a very polite and witty gentleman but also an outstanding officer, an excellent pianist, and a pioneering researcher in natural philosophy.

I have heard that his sword fighting skill is very good, too, but I do not think he should become the price to cover up others’ incompetence.”

Incidentally, during the interview process, the reporter also heard many creative solutions.

“If Bertrand dares to lay a finger on Mr.

Hastings, we’ll just slice off his shoulders as well!”

“Don’t blame me for not warning Scotland Yard; if you do not stop this duel, I will surely bring a gun when I come to watch the show!”

“You had better believe his words, I vouch for it, the gentleman who just spoke graduated from Oxford!

Do you understand the weight of an Oxford gentleman’s promise?”

“Scotland Yard announces they will increase the patrol around Astley Circular Theatre on Halloween night and enact temporary gun control measures in the area”

“Greater London Police Department Chief Charles Rowan: Arthur Hastings is Scotland Yard’s finest officer and a treasure for all Londoners.

We will certainly heed the call of London’s citizens to ensure his safety”

“Like a grand emergency!

Insider sources reveal: On Halloween night, 500 police officers will head to Astley Theatre!

Please, the concerned citizens should not take extreme actions”

“St.

Mary’s Hospital will send professional emergency doctors to the duel site, doing their utmost to ensure Mr.

Hastings’s life is not in danger”

Arthur poured the last bit of tea from the cup into his mouth, and just as he put down the newspaper, he saw Francois Bertrand, dressed in combat gear, walking in from the east side of the resting room.