The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1590: Chapter 19: King’s College? Turns Out It’s Just a Little Nobody!_2

Arthur took off his hat and placed it on his chest, smiling as he asked Faraday, ”Can I take your words as a compliment?”

Upon hearing this, Faraday joked with Arthur, ”Of course you can take it as a compliment, but before that, you must tell me if during those three days you lay in the church, you secretly went to Heaven’s gate to eavesdrop on God’s whispers.”

Arthur burst into laughter: ”If I really went to Heaven, how could I even think of coming back? You’d better guess that I went to Hell, and that’s why I hurriedly climbed out of the coffin as if my butt was on fire.”

”You still love to joke like that.” Faraday laughed twice, a hint of nostalgia in his voice, ”Since our farewell in Gottingen, it’s been a year since we last met. Are you back in London for a holiday from the European Continent?”

Arthur chided Faraday: ”It seems you must have been cooped up in the laboratory for several weeks, busy with experiments and not even sparing time to read The Times. I’m not here for a family visit but because I was ’dismissed.’ To tell you the truth, I’ve been an unemployed vagabond for over a week now.”

”Unemployed vagabond?” Faraday raised an eyebrow and teased, ”These four words are probably less believable on you than ’Assistant Police Director.’”

Arthur spread his hands, looking innocent: ”That’s the truth. Viscount Palmerston has approved my resignation, and I’ve given the Foreign Office a verbal promise not to speak in any public events. Now, I’m a free man without a boss or proposals, just some editorial letters that need to be sent on time and a bunch of unpaid writers.”

Faraday was momentarily stunned, then laughed: ”So you’ve gone back into publishing?”

”Yes indeed.” Arthur nodded, ”Dealing with the printing union, arguing with poets and playwrights, bargaining with advertisers. Honestly, it’s more exhausting than diplomacy.”

Faraday jokingly yet gently said, ”So are you here today to submit a paper on electrolysis, or are you here to sell me an ad space? It can’t be that you’ve changed your mind and are finally ready to join the Royal Society?”

Arthur shook his head with a smile and pulled out a slightly heavy-looking brown paper envelope from his coat pocket, gently placing it on the edge of the experimental table: ”None of those. I’ve come today with another formal invitation.”

Faraday looked at the envelope with a hint of focus.

He didn’t reach out to take it, just quietly asked, ”University of London?”

”Yes.” Arthur’s tone was calm: ”The University of London committee is currently seeking a new Dean of Academic Affairs and has decided to establish a new physics laboratory. The professors on the committee unanimously believe you are the ideal candidate to lead the University of London’s physics laboratory, and as the newly appointed Dean of Academic Affairs just fifteen minutes ago, I have the obligation and personal interest to come and see if I can persuade you.”

Upon hearing this, Faraday sighed gently. He didn’t immediately refuse, nor did he express delight.

”Arthur, I haven’t ruled out lecturing at the University of London. It’s indeed a place worth being proud of. You know I support its philosophy—openness, equality, non-sectarian, no hierarchical barriers. But I’m also aware that accepting this position means spending a large amount of time doing things I’m not skilled at: approving courses, organizing budgets, drafting statutes, participating in management, even explaining electromagnetism to a room full of students who’ve yet to touch a battery.”

Arthur didn’t interrupt, simply listened quietly.

Faraday continued: ”It’s not that I’m unwilling to contribute to education. But I’m no longer young; experiments require time, steady hands, and a clear mind. I’m afraid if I try to balance research and administration, it will hinder both sides. For you, the school, and myself, it would be wholly disadvantageous.”

Of course, Arthur understood Faraday’s difficulties, and he was quite empathetic to this pioneering figure in electromagnetism.

”There’s no need for you to explain this much; everyone sees your contributions. Generally speaking, researchers like you don’t need to keep hosting the Royal Society’s Friday evening lectures, let alone give free Christmas lectures on such a family day to educate children on natural philosophy. If it weren’t for your inclusive philosophy aligning with ours, the University of London wouldn’t specifically hope for you to become our lab director among numerous scholars in Britain, seeking you out numerous times. I’ve come to invite you today, not to make things hard for you, but more to show respect. After all, if I were to bypass you and choose someone else, this would undoubtedly cause complaints from students and professors about my incompetence.”

Even though Arthur said he wouldn’t trouble Faraday, his retreating tactics made it difficult for Faraday with his gentle disposition to refuse.

Faraday smiled lightly and shook his head: ”You’re someone who always makes it difficult for people to firmly refuse.”

He finally picked up the envelope, weighed it slightly in his palm but didn’t open it. He gazed at the electrode and salt bridge on the table, speaking slowly: ”You’re right, I give Christmas lectures, not for the Royal Society’s reputation nor for my own honor. I don’t charge because I always believe: true science should not charge children admission. They come with curiosity, and we should leave with truth. Perhaps the University of London is currently the place closest to this ideal, but...”