The Shadow of Great Britain

The fog over the sea is slowly drifting from the direction of the pier, like the damp ropes on the pier binding the whole town under the dim sky.

Arthur is sitting in the room at the Albion Hotel, fumbling with a few newspapers he bought at a street kiosk.

”The tithe reform into cash payment, farmers no longer have to struggle to move the rice ears from the fields to the church.”

The Parliament might think that changing the grain into coins could ease the complaints of the country folks. However, whether it’s a pile of grain or a shilling, they can sleep soundly in the priest’s pocket. Meanwhile, the farmer’s pot remains bland as water. Of course, there’s been some change since the enactment of the Tithe Monetization Act. At least we can be sure that the standard of living for mice in the parish barns will drop significantly. After all, everyone knows not all freeloading animals eat silver.

”Marriage Act officially passed: non-National Church members can say ’I do’ in front of God.”

After years of public wrangling and parliamentary bickering, the Marriage Act establishing the civil marriage registration system is officially declared passed. According to the Act, starting from September, the Government will allow British citizens to hold weddings in non-National Church venues and establish a registry for births, marriages, and deaths. To those who were previously forced to recite vows in National Church chapels while secretly praying to another deity, this is a decent liberation. Perhaps God doesn’t mind who registers the marriage certificate, but the secretaries in White Hall certainly care about how much they can collect from the marriage registration system.

”London-Greenwich Railway first section officially opens, extension line construction announced.”

Our esteemed engineers announce that the railway extension project is progressing smoothly, and soon tracks will reach Greenwich Pier. By then, London’s gentlemen will be able to travel at an astonishing speed from Paddington straight to the pier on the south bank of the Thames River. As for the investors, they have reached the destination ahead of the passengers, with gold pounds lying securely in their pockets, more punctual than any train. After the news of the railway opening was released, the London-Greenwich Railway Company shares soared by 12%, closing at fifty-nine pounds ten shillings, arguably the most exciting number at the London Stock Exchange this week.

”Lady Berkeley’s inheritance scandal continues, missionary brother in Australia renounces fortune and leaves.”

Known both in the gentleman circle and Scotland Yard files, London socialite nicknamed the ’Lady Tutor’ Lady Teresa Berkeley, passed away at her London Marylebone District residence in early September at the age of sixty-three.

As the inventor of the ’Berkeley Horse’ and operator of that unspeakable private club at Charlotte Street 28, Lady Teresa Berkeley’s life was legendary. As an expert in various ”instruments,” she not only profited greatly in her career but was also suspected of being the author of the obscene novel ”Female Whipper Exhibition.”

Shortly after her death, Lady Berkeley’s brother, who had been preaching in Australia for 30 years, arrived in London but missed the chance to see his sister for the last time. But fortunately, the childless sister left him a fortune worth ten thousand pounds. However, shockingly, upon learning the true origin of this enormous fortune left to him, the devout follower of God, Berkeley Priest, immediately announced the waiver of all inheritance rights, and took a ship back to Australia that very afternoon.

With no one to inherit, the estate was bequeathed to Lady Berkeley’s medical advisor and executor, Doctor Vance, but Vance similarly declined to manage this estate. Thus, with the two most qualified individuals shaking their heads, the estate, totalling ten thousand British pounds, may according to law be directly absorbed into the Royal Family’s coffers...

Usually, regarding such interesting news, Arthur could read them over and over.

Especially the report about Lady Berkeley, he would certainly study it closely.

This is not just because of Lady Berkeley’s ten thousand pounds estate, but also because she is a pioneer in Miss Fiona Ivan’s current trade.

Arthur doesn’t care how much Lady Berkeley actually earned, but he cares very much about how many letters regarding Lady Berkeley and how many of those letters are tied with those who are ”gold on the outside, rotten on the inside” aristocracy.

If Doctor Vance were willing to transfer these letters, Arthur would very gladly offer ten thousand pounds as compensation, he might even extend a promissory note based on that.

But these past news that he could have spent half the day on, Arthur today cannot get into them at all.

Though physically sitting in the Albion Hotel, his mind has long flown with John Snow into the nearby Albion Villa.

Although he always finds the idea that Victoria might be pregnant quite absurd, even the slightest possibility is enough to keep him up entire nights.

He’s reading the exciting newspaper news tastelessly, but his thoughts are fully focused on his ears.

Suddenly, he hears a sound of footsteps hurriedly coming down the corridor; such steps do not resemble the composed demeanor of a gentleman, nor the cautious carefulness of hotel servants, but like someone in a rush.