The Shadow of Great Britain

617: Chapter 308: Things in Iberia Are Always So Bad 617: Chapter 308: Things in Iberia Are Always So Bad In the temporary meeting room of the Golden Lion Inn, an unexpected pair of guests and Arthur sat down around a round table.

Barely had they settled into their seats when Napier began sizing up Louis and Great Dumas, seated next to Arthur.

The distinguished Royal Navy officer opened with a question, “Mr.

Hastings, are these two subordinates of yours reliable?

Before we discuss the specifics, it would be best if you could confirm that they are not spies sent by the French.”

Arthur picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, “General Napier, you need not worry about that.

These two aren’t French spies, as this gentleman with me holds an unmistakable French nationality.

Generally, he gathers intelligence openly; there’s no need for him to go undercover.

Incidentally, he is also a French artilleryman.”

Great Dumas nodded appreciatively at hearing this, “Indeed, I have undergone rigorous training in artillery.”

Napier, hearing this, burst out laughing, “You indeed have a good sense of humor, young man.

But, if this gentleman is a French artilleryman, what then is the background of this thin officer next to you?”

Arthur raised an eyebrow, “You’re asking about Louis?

He’s worse.

This fellow is a royal relative, and if I’m not mistaken, he is second in line in the Bonaparte family’s succession.”

Louis also took the moment to tip his hat and greet, “Pleased to meet you, Mr.

Napier.”

Napier, confronted with this spectacle, couldn’t help but joke, “Really?

Mr.

Hastings, is this a skit you’ve rehearsed before?

The lines are so neatly delivered, no wonder the criminals locked up at Scotland Yard are bamboozled by you.”

Arthur, seeing his disbelief, didn’t feel inclined to explain further, but the Foreign Office secretary accompanying them couldn’t resist speaking out to clarify to Napier.

“General, everything Mr.

Hastings said is true.”

“True?”

Napier was stunned for a moment before blinking at Arthur, “Young man, are you serious?

Accusations like treason are meant to be tried publicly in the House of Lords.”

Arthur responded with a hint of humor, “If having a good relationship with the French constitutes treason, then perhaps you should be more concerned about Duke Wellington, who has maintained a friendship with Mr.

Talleyrand, the French ambassador, for over a decade.”

Napier laughed heartily, “Put Duke Wellington on trial in the House of Lords?

Leave it to you to come up with that.

Back in his youth, before he had all his honors, he would not soften his spine even in a military court.

If the House of Lords really dared to put him on trial, I reckon Wellington would promptly thrash the Lord Speaker’s rear with his eight Marshal’s batons.”

Arthur responded with just a light cough, “General Napier, although I do not mean to criticize, mocking a teacher in the presence of students is generally not in keeping with social etiquette.”

Napier suddenly remembered then that the Lord Speaker was indeed the High Chancellor, Brougham.

He scratched his cheek and hurriedly backpedaled, “Just a joke, don’t take it to heart.

I’ve just been reinstated by the Navy Department, and I couldn’t afford for a joke to mess that up…

you know how it is with the Royal Navy, cracking jokes on board to relieve boredom is pretty normal.”

Arthur smiled, “Just as you said, Royal Navy, I understand.

Back when I was involved in pursuits on the Beggar, they had already shown me plenty.”

Great Dumas frowned upon hearing this, which reminded him of some rather unpleasant experiences.

Napier, eyeing the two Frenchmen again, suddenly asked the secretary from the Foreign Office, “Is it really alright for these two to be here?”

The secretary responded with a smile, “Whether or not these gentlemen pose a problem mainly depends on who is currently in power in France.

Given the situation in France, their level of safety is likely to be higher than many Britons, perhaps even higher than the average level at the British Foreign Office.”

The speaker was unintentional, but the listeners took note.

Great Dumas and Louis, previously somewhat distracted, suddenly sensed the scent of an imminent revolutionary victory upon hearing this.

Great Dumas inquired, “Have you finally had enough of that usurper Louis Philippe’s rule across the Channel?”

Louis, unable to contain his excitement, trembled as he spoke, “I knew Talleyrand’s visit to London wasn’t with good intentions.

The reward he’s getting for betraying the July Monarchy must be substantial, right?”

Napier, baffled by the Frenchmen’s reactions for a while, finally came to a realization.

“Oh…

after all this, it turns out one is a political exile from France, and the other is ever eager to restore Napoleon’s glory in Paris!”

Arthur, sipping his tea, commented neutrally, “General Napier, how could you speak the truth like that?

If one day the French government criticizes Scotland Yard as having become a stronghold for Parisian dissenters, you’d be partly to blame.”

Napier, unable to contain his mirth, slapped his thigh and laughed, “Only half the blame, young man?

It seems you’re more honorable than the Navy Department, even willing to bear the other half yourself.”

“No, General Napier, you misunderstood,”

Arthur added a bit of milk to his black tea, “The other half of the responsibility belongs to Director Rowan; he’s the head of Scotland Yard.”

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

Napier, impressed, looked up at Arthur, “Young man, remember what I said, with what you just spoken, if you ever work at the Navy Department, you could easily become the Deputy Secretary of the Navy.”