The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1635: Chapter 37: Louis’s Fate

Regarding Mrs. Levin, Arthur did not have any particular fondness or dislike for this figure who had influenced European politics for years.

However, this was not because Mrs. Levin was beautiful or not beautiful, but because he had already realized that this beauty, who once made countless prominent European figures fall for her charm, was gradually losing her political influence.

Although this loss of political influence did not occur overnight, compared to twenty years ago during the Vienna Conference, the all-powerful Mrs. Levin was long gone.

This can be seen from Mrs. Levin’s history of changing lovers, starting with such renowned figures in Europe as the Duke of Wellington and Metternich, then moving to Palmerston, who was a well-known playboy in London’s social circle, and now, this lady has fallen to the level of mingling with Guizot, France’s Minister of Education.

Of course, this does not mean Arthur looks down on Mr. Guizot.

On the contrary, he actually quite appreciates this former Professor of History at the Paris Sorbonne University, often browsing through the works of this advocate of British constitutional monarchy, feeling that their political stances align at certain points.

Moreover, judging from personal virtue, just based on Guizot’s attitude towards his deceased wife, being his lover would definitely be better than being intimate with people like Palmerston.

But, no matter how good Guizot’s scholarship is or how virtuous his character is, it still does not change Arthur’s factual judgment—Guizot is not on the same level as the Duke of Wellington and others.

Even within the current French Orleans Party, Guizot cannot be considered a leader, nor is he the kind of person who remains calm in the great winds and waves of the times.

The reason Guizot was able to join the French cabinet was simply because King Louis Philippe of France believed: Guizot had ability and prestige but lacked the background and faction of people like Lafayette, making him not only reassuring to use but also adept.

To give a somewhat improper comparison, Guizot is akin to the French version of Sir Arthur Hastings.

Guizot’s father Andre and maternal grandfather Boniselle were both early members of the Jacobin Club; his father Andre later turned towards the Girondist Party, while his maternal grandfather Boniselle became one of the leaders of the Mountain Faction.

It’s just that since Guizot’s father died in political struggles during the Great Revolution when he was seven, Guizot both recognized the ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity of the Revolution and strongly rejected the Radical Party, ultimately becoming a scholar advocating the British Westminster parliamentary system.

And although Guizot’s family background and political views didn’t win him the unanimous support of everyone, at least the Orthodox Party, Republican Party, and Bonaparte Party didn’t have a strong dislike for him.

The biggest difference between Guizot and Arthur is probably his typical scholarly arrogance.

Back when the scholars of the Sorbonne University were striving to enter politics by writing odes to Napoleon, Guizot refused to say a good word for the Emperor. Even when Napoleon called on Guizot by name, he remained unfazed, even subtly challenging Napoleon from the academic sector.

In summary, he is a standard scholar-type bureaucrat, with much less ”subjective initiative” than Arthur, only interested in doing his job diligently at Scotland Yard, never organizing the Intelligence Bureau nor having the gossip mentality of a knight, not caring about the private lives of the parliamentarians. As to what role he can play, it mainly depends on the position you put him in.

Though Mr. Guizot is generally considered a decent person, Mrs. Levin being with him also highlights her inability to tame those most defiant and powerful figures in the European political scene.

Moreover, Mrs. Levin’s ”decline” is not only reflected in social settings; for her, familial crisis is far more serious.

Ever since Tsar Nicholas I issued a decree prohibiting Russian nobility from residing abroad, the relationship between Mrs. Levin and the Tsar gradually became delicate.

Two years ago, when Count Levin stepped down from his position as Britain’s envoy and returned to St. Petersburg, Mrs. Levin just returned home for a short stay, then returned once more to the lavish worlds of London and Paris.

Though Tsar Nicholas I did not strip Mrs. Levin of her title nor confiscate her assets in Russia under the charge of ”traitor,” astute observers could see that the lady was no longer under the same level of favor from the Tsar as before.

Arthur noticed while in Paris that Russian envoys stationed there were intentionally avoiding direct contact with Mrs. Levin, and their attitude towards her was not as warm as it once was.

Does Mrs. Levin not harbor any resentment towards the Tsar in her heart?

Arthur believed she certainly does.

And does Mrs. Levin wish to return to St. Petersburg for reconciliation with the Tsar?

Judging by her current lifestyle, it seems unlikely.

The life of Russian nobility is indeed very good, far better than Arthur imagined.

When Arthur visited St. Petersburg, he could see in the estate of any general, hordes of serfs serving under him, even excluding those working in the fields, he still had four to five hundred servants attending to his daily needs.

Among them, there were twelve nannies specifically looking after the general’s illegitimate children, and seventeen footmen attending to him personally, including those specifically responsible for pouring water, lighting his cigars, dressing him, and removing his shoes.