The Shadow of Great Britain

703: Chapter 339 Furious Disraeli_3 703: Chapter 339 Furious Disraeli_3 Not only am I puzzled in the House of Commons, but even a portion of the Whig Party members don’t understand what Palmerston is up to.

If you ask me, he must have taken money from Ali, otherwise there’s no explaining this issue.”

Upon saying this, Disraeli couldn’t help but boast about his remarkable performance in the House of Commons earlier that day.

“You all really should have been in the gallery today; it was a classic battle since I became a member.

Palmerston was so thoroughly refuted by me that he couldn’t even open his mouth.

When he stepped down after the inquiry, even his face was green, hahaha!

Even the Earl of Lyndhurst and others praised my performance, saying the great victory nearly covered up all the adverse effects of my disastrous maiden speech.”

He couldn’t resist spontaneously recreating his widely acclaimed opening remarks from the House of Commons.

“Viscount Palmerston, perhaps everyone likes to refer to you by that title.

But considering you always boast about your noble Anglo-Saxon lineage, then I’ll affectionately call you Pam, in the Anglo-Saxon manner.

The reason I address you this way is to show that I hold no malice towards you as a person.

Besides, Pam rhymes rather well with ‘sham,’ ‘flam,’ and ‘scram.’”

The Great Dumas couldn’t help but laugh and give a thumbs up, saying, “The House of Commons is indeed no place for good-natured folk.

If I were in such a place, I’d probably have drawn a gun by now.”

Arthur replied calmly, “That’s precisely why we do not allow members to carry guns or wear swords during sessions.”

With his legs propped up on the coffee table, Dumas said indifferently, “But they can still duel after stepping out of the Parliament doors, can they not?

Didn’t the Duke of Wellington engage in a pistol duel last year over the ‘Catholic Emancipation Act’ with the Marquis of Liverpool?”

“Theoretically, the Duke of Wellington was the Prime Minister at the time, and the Marquis of Liverpool was also a member of the House of Lords, so their duel was illegal.”

Hearing this, the Great Dumas mocked, “Then why didn’t Scotland Yard go and arrest the old man?”

Holding his teacup, Arthur shrugged, “You tell me?

I also didn’t see the French gendarmerie mobilize when Napoleon crowned himself!

That event was far more serious than the Duke of Wellington having a duel.”

The Great Dumas, eyes wide, said, “That’s because I wasn’t there!

If I had been there, I would have rushed to the armory without a moment’s hesitation.”

Had anyone else said this, Arthur would have taken it as mere bravado, but coming from the Great Dumas, he had no choice but to believe him utterly.

After all, the man had really done such a thing before.

Arthur nodded, “Alexander, this is why I invited you to join Scotland Yard.

You alone are worth three million tons of explosives.”

Seeing the discussion had warmed up, Disraeli, who was anxiously waiting, quickly inquired about the previous topic of illegal publications.

Arthur and the others gave him a brief introduction to “The Red and the Black” and “The Ancestral Sacrifice.”

Then they handed over the manuscript of “The Red and the Black” for him to review.

To their surprise, Disraeli had barely finished a quarter of it, especially the part where Yulian courts the mayor’s wife, when the Jewish lad’s face already turned red with anger.

Unable to contain his rage, he turned to Dumas and demanded an explanation, “Stendhal!

Alexander, I bet it was you who wrote this book!

I thought of you as a friend, and this is how you treat me?

Didn’t we agree that what was known by you and me would not be known by a third party?

But now, what is the meaning of this book!”

“Benjamin, I really didn’t write this book.”

“Do you think I’d believe you?

So narrating Mr.

Carter’s experiences isn’t enough for you now, is that it?

Of course, I’m not against you adapting my experiences, but at the very least, you could embellish them for me as you did for Mr.

Carter!

How do you think Mrs.

Sykes would look at me if she saw this?”

No matter how much Dumas tried to explain, Disraeli wouldn’t believe him; he felt as though he was the British embodiment of Yulian.

Especially since Mrs.

Sykes had actively flirted with the Earl of Lyndhurst to help him realize his political ambitions and facilitated a connection between the two, Disraeli was convinced that Dumas producing “The Red and the Black” was pure mockery of him.

He adamantly refused to publish “The Red and the Black” and even threatened to report it to Parliament if he found it circulating in the market.

Mr.

Disraeli insisted that such corrupt practices needed to be dealt with long ago!

Upon seeing this, Heine whistled and, shrugging his shoulders towards everyone, said, “Gentlemen, it looks like you’ve found the hidden hand obstructing the freedom of publication.”

Seeing Disraeli’s obstinacy, Arthur could only reluctantly acquiesce, “Alright, Benjamin, as the majority shareholder, you decide what gets published.”

Dumas, somewhat dissatisfied, said candidly, “But…

Benjamin, I must be honest with you.

Even if we don’t publish this book, other publishing houses will consider it.

The Second Society of Paris considered several publishers, but due to my connection, they recommended ‘The Red and the Black’ to ‘British’ first.

Books with such topicality usually sell well.

Think about it, the Parliament has been clamping down on erotic literature for over a century, but that hasn’t stopped me from finding prohibited books in Eld’s bookcases!”

“Isn’t that perfect?!”

Disraeli retorted hotly, “If ‘Blackwood’s’ dares to publish this thing, I’ll certainly take the opportunity to bankrupt them!”

“Alright then.”

Arthur and Dumas exchanged a glance, tacitly stating, “I think ‘Blackwood’s’ will likely publish it.”

Disraeli had just cooled down when he suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit.

He exclaimed, “Damn it!

Arthur, quickly untie me!

I didn’t come to the editorial office just to bicker with you; you must join me at the Central Health Committee.

The members of the House of Commons Public Works Committee are also waiting for you and me there.”

“Hmm…” Arthur took a leisurely drag of his cigarette.

“What do they want me for?”

“What else?” Disraeli said, “Of course, it’s about that £200,000 bond for the Liverpool city district redevelopment!”