The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 965: Chapter 44: Assassinate the King and Kill the Driver

Miss DelaSalle looked around, surrounded by gentlemen tipping their hats to the King and ladies lifting their skirts in curtsies.

Tall, short, fat, thin, each dressed differently, and only at this moment did Miss DelaSalle realize that those with noble bearing did not necessarily stand out in a crowd.

But could this be the reason she couldn’t find Arthur?

Naturally, it wasn’t.

In Paris, where the average man’s height was from 1.65 to 1.70 meters, spotting a young man who was ten centimeters taller amid the crowd was actually quite easy.

If you didn’t spot the pig farmer from York at first glance, it could only mean he probably wasn’t here.

The King of France, Louis Philippe, enthusiastically announced to everyone that he would represent France in welcoming back Napoleon’s remains, while holding the little brother from the Bonaparte Family.

This explosive news immediately caused an uproar. Those who knew beforehand, supporters of the current government, generously applauded the King’s wise decision, and those who had benefitted from Napoleon felt contented.

As for the Royalists of the Orthodox Party, most of them at the banquet site were unwilling to openly show their feelings; only when the tide turned would they shout the slogan of the Bourbon Restoration.

The most uncomfortable ones present were the Republicans like Great Dumas.

Louis Philippe usurped the fruits of the July Revolution, and the blood of the insurgents was exchanged for his throne. Now, he openly praised Napoleon’s achievements and planned to bring his remains back to France.

Great Dumas, hearing this news, felt like he had swallowed a fly, and almost spat out the wine he was drinking.

He did not like Napoleon, not only because of his republican beliefs but also because of his family’s history; his father, General Old Dumas, suffered greatly at Napoleon’s hands. If not for Napoleon’s prejudice, Old Dumas wouldn’t have died impoverished when Great Dumas was three.

He held his wine glass, wanting to say something, but seeing the friends around him, this group of French Romantic writers mostly rejoiced at Louis Philippe’s decision.

Great Dumas couldn’t help but mutter: ”Romantic liberals? Chateaubriand, Lamartin, Balzac, and Vini are all Royalists of the Orthodox Party, and Hugo has made progress, but when facing Napoleon, he still can’t help but sing his praises. Ha! This is French Romanticism; after all, they still need to find a master to flatter.”

Dumas’ murmuring didn’t attract much attention, and this fat man glanced at the jubilant crowd, then looked at Louis Bonaparte waving and smiling at everyone from the steps, feeling a sudden heat, as if taken ill.

He tugged at his collar to fan himself, but still felt uncomfortable, so he walked straight toward the mansion’s door, hoping for some fresh air away from the place.

As he walked, he cursed softly: ”This is worse than hanging out with those reactionary cops in London; at least they wouldn’t harm France.”

Perhaps God heard Dumas’ prayers, for as soon as he exited the mansion hall, he bumped into the very reactionary London cops he had been thinking of.

Arthur and Victor were leaning against the carved iron gates of Kaidao Sai Mansion smoking, and Victor’s envious words could be heard from afar.

”Look, old chap, look at these carriages, each one costly. When my detective agency earns big money, I’ll get a gilded carriage too, and hire a fine coachman to drive me around Paris every day.”

Arthur’s perspective differed from Victor’s: ”Mr. Victor, maintaining a carriage is too expensive; you’d need two horses and pay a coachman’s wage. When I worked in London, I asked around at horse markets, and a low-grade horse for carrying grain costs a hundred pounds; a carriage horse can sell for two hundred pounds, while a cavalry standard steed requires three hundred pounds. Additionally, a skilled coachman in London requires seventy pounds for a year’s salary. With two horses, plus the customized carriage and feed costs, even at a basic level, it would cost five hundred pounds, which is ten thousand francs.”

Victor waved his hand indifferently: ”Old chap, don’t mind my current plight; it’s because I lost money in my paper mill and playing card business earlier. If I had stayed honest and not invested, I should have a hundred and fifty thousand francs saved now, and spending ten thousand francs for a carriage wouldn’t be a problem.”

Then Victor turned and asked Arthur: ”I can’t afford a carriage now, but you should have the means! Yet when I visited London, I didn’t see any stables at your home?”

”When you visited, my salary was a hundred pounds a year. Although I made a small fortune before, buying a house and shares consumed most of it. Besides, even if I hadn’t bought a house, I wouldn’t spend half my savings on a carriage; Scotland Yard has patrol carriages, and those are appropriate for daily use.”

Great Dumas secretly appeared from behind Arthur: ”Using public carriages for private purposes?”

Arthur turned his head to glance at Great Dumas: ”Alexander, that’s not using public carriages privately. When working, I ride them for routine patrol tasks, but after hours, I mostly use taxis. At best, you can accuse me of having some freedom in patrol zones.”