The Shadow of Great Britain

473: Chapter 257: At Your Command, Your Majesty (4K6)_2 473: Chapter 257: At Your Command, Your Majesty (4K6)_2 Tennyson held his wine glass with both hands, gazing at the procession of important figures passing on the stairs below, so excited that even the liquid in his glass trembled.

“My God!

Sosse, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, a laureate poet, a poet who refused the laurel, all three representatives of the Lake School present – what is happening today?

I might even say that tonight’s Astley Theatre holds half a century’s worth of Britain’s poetic essence!”

Although Dickens wasn’t as excited as Tennyson, facing these literary giants, this ‘little writer,’ who was just a court stenographer a year ago, couldn’t help but express his nervousness, “I originally thought it was just a normal performance, but I never expected it to attract so many celebrities…

My novel’s stage premiere receiving such grand opening, is really…

really all thanks to Arthur.”

Tennyson, seeing the smile on Dickens’s face that was uglier than crying, couldn’t help but smile and said, “Charles, feeling a lot of pressure?”

“Whew…” Dickens exhaled repeatedly, “To say I’m not pressured would be impossible.

All these important figures, great poets are watching.

If my play isn’t successful, then…

Oh, Alfred, I’m done for!”

Just as Dickens finished speaking, he heard the room’s door being kicked open with a bang.

Great Dumas entered the room with Disraeli, striding confidently while introducing, “Come here, Charles, Alfred, let me introduce you to Mr.

Heine, our ‘British’ new author.

I just had a little chat with him, he’s not bad.”

Having finished, Great Dumas walked over to the room’s liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink to quench his thirst.

Tennyson saw his demeanor, could not help but hold back his laughter and asked, “Alexander, aren’t you nervous at all?

Charles is nearly fainting.

There are many important people here tonight, and he’s terrified that ‘The Pickwick Papers’ premiere might flop.”

Great Dumas, leaning on the sofa, waved his hand dismissively, “Charles, you just lack experience.

Benjamin and I almost lost our lives just now, so what if a play flops?

It’s the audience who will feel bad, not us, the scriptwriters.

After all, we’ve already collected the ticket money.”

Disraeli also sat on the sofa, took off his hat and fanned himself, “Charles, you don’t know what just happened.

If Tom and his team had been just a little later, Alexander and I might have been hanged on the Tyburn gallows in front of the London docks, just like Captain Kid who was hanged years ago.”

Dickens was stunned, “What did you two do?”

Great Dumas took a sip of wine, “Nothing much, just brought thirty pounds of black gunpowder and nine guns.”

“What?!”

Tennyson and Dickens were utterly shocked by his audacious act.

Dickens exclaimed, “Why did you bring those things?”

Upon hearing this, Disraeli briefly explained their earlier plan.

After hearing the explanation, Heine couldn’t help but extend his thumbs up to Great Dumas in admiration, “Mr.

Dumas, you once said you had bombarded the Tuileries Palace, and I didn’t believe it.

But now, that story doesn’t seem so exaggerated.”

“Was Arthur competing in a fencing match today, or was it a shooting duel?”

“Damn!

How would I know?” Great Dumas, putting down his glass, raised an eyebrow and said, “I just know he was also planning to bring two forks.”

“For eating at home?”

“How could it be?

A dinner fork can’t even puncture a coat.

Arthur was actually planning to borrow them from a dung digger.”

As everyone was talking, suddenly they heard a wave of exuberant shouts from downstairs.

The group peered down and saw a large figure, draped in a sea-blue cloak, his face beaming with a sailor’s red-flecked white hair, standing high on the stairs greeting the audience, “Enjoy your beer, enjoy the duel, enjoy this joyous evening, in short, everyone liven up, and have a great time, my subjects!”

“My God!

It’s His Majesty the King!”

“Are you sure you didn’t mistake him for someone else?”

“Of course, I haven’t mistaken him.

I’ve seen him several times by the Thames, often walking there with the Queen.”

“Your Majesty, have fun too!”

“Your Majesty, I’m placing a bet now.

Who do you think will win this duel today?

I will take your word for it!”

King William IV’s address ignited bursts of cheers among the audience, and from this simple reaction, it was clear that this sailor King was indeed more popular with the citizens of London than his brother, George IV.

The continued cheers of the audience also made William IV, who always liked to be the centre of attention and had had a few drinks before coming to the theatre, laugh nonstop.

Just as he was about to shout a few more words to his subjects, the guards tasked with ensuring the King’s safety were already sweating profusely.

They couldn’t help but urge him, “Your Majesty, let’s go to the box first.

Although Scotland Yard has already implemented gun control nearby, this place is full of people gossiping and drunkards.

In case they get overly emotional, even a fist could hurt you.”

King William IV, upon hearing this, frowned displeasedly, “You underestimate me!

When I was in service in North America, Britain was still fighting against those rebels!

You should know, I was also involved in the Battle of New York, and personally fired three cannonballs at Long Island!

I am speaking nothing but the truth.

At that time, Gambier was the captain of the Cape St.

Vincent.

I was under his command.

If you don’t believe me, go ask him!”