The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur certainly knew what Disraeli was talking about.

In short, during the July election Disraeli had made some rather vague statements, which were later exploited by certain newspapers, leading Ireland Radical Party leader Daniel O’Connell to mistakenly believe that Disraeli had slandered him.

As everyone knows, O’Connell, nicknamed ”the Liberator,” has a fiery temper. This sixty‑two‑year‑old who had played a key role in both the Catholic Emancipation Act and the Parliamentary Reform Act had, in his younger days, nearly fought a duel with Peel, then Chief Secretary for Ireland, over Irish affairs.

After he mistakenly thought Disraeli had slandered him, he immediately published an article in the press attacking Disraeli, calling him ”a reptile.”

Moreover, he accused Disraeli: ”Having once paraded himself as a candidate with liberal and progressive views, he turned his coat the moment the public spat him out and is now a Conservative Party man. Disraeli combines treachery, selfishness, moral corruption, and utter lack of principle in one body, a very model of apostasy. His surname betrays his Jewish blood, though I do not reproach him on that account, for among the Jews there are men of great virtue and high repute. But as with every people, this nation too has its lowest, most nauseating moral dregs; and in my view, Mr. Benjamin Disraeli is their Representative.”

Although Disraeli knew O’Connell had simply been led by the nose by the media, O’Connell had cursed him so viciously that he could hardly help feeling furious.

Most importantly, as this was the critical phase of the election campaign, he could under no circumstances be seen bowing his head to another man in front of the voters.

So the very next day Disraeli published an article in The Times issuing a challenge to O’Connell, declaring that he would pursue O’Connell with an undying hatred, and accusing O’Connell’s supporters of squeezing princely incomes out of a horde of famished people as fanatical as slaves. At the end of the article he also demanded a duel with O’Connell to wash away the shame he had been made to suffer.

Of course, given that O’Connell himself was already sixty‑two, and not wanting people to accuse him of bullying an old man, Disraeli chivalrously proposed that the dueling partner be changed to O’Connell’s son.

But unfortunately, although Disraeli was fired with hot blood and ready to stake his life to reclaim his honor—

Scotland Yard’s policemen were just far too lacking in sense!

These killjoy policemen, after seeing the challenge in the newspaper, invoked the public order regulations and arrested Mr. Disraeli on his way to the dueling ground fifteen minutes before the duel was to begin, holding him in brief custody.

And although Mr. Disraeli had failed to get his revenge, the affair made him famous overnight, and with his heroic dash he defeated the other candidates by a wide margin, holding on to his constituency in Tower Hamlets.

What can one say?

It was, after all, a classic case of a blessing in disguise, wasn’t it?

”Arthur, I’m not just mouthing empty words.” Disraeli took out a box of matches, struck one himself, and held it out to Arthur. ”I truly mean to thank you.”

Arthur clenched his pipe between his teeth and raised a hand to shield the burning match head. ”Thank me for what? For not actually letting you and O’Connell’s son take potshots at each other with Handguns? Benjamin, next time you need something, you might try saying it a bit more plainly. Not everyone understands what ’I need a little strategic inconvenience’ is supposed to mean.”

”But of course, of course.” Disraeli bobbed his head obsequiously, then suddenly seemed to think of something and began to accuse him viciously: ”However, if there is a next time, be so good as to tell your men to arrest me a bit earlier. That time they were far too late! I’m serious—if they’d been a few minutes later, what I needed wouldn’t have been policemen but a doctor! Arthur, you have to understand, not everyone is like you, able to take a random bullet and walk away alive.”

”Too early won’t do, Benjamin. If you’d been grabbed the moment you stepped out the door, what sort of news impact would that have? All the reporters were waiting at the dueling ground; only if you walked right up in front of them, tossed a few harsh lines at O’Connell, and then got hauled off by the police would it look properly dramatic. That’s when public opinion will say you’re a man of courage, not a coward who bolted before the fight.”

”All right... put that way, it’s not wrong. We can’t have the voters thinking I tripped on the doorstep and got carried off by the police as a convenience.”

Disraeli slipped the matchbox back into his pocket. ”So, what are you off to do? Dressed so smart, like some polished specimen—don’t tell me you’ve a rendezvous with a lady?”

Arthur blew out a plume of smoke. ”I don’t have your way with women. Where else would I be going? Scotland Yard, of course. As for these clothes—anyone who’s just been to Buckingham Palace to see Her Majesty the Queen dresses like this, doesn’t he?”

”Buckingham Palace again?” Disraeli raised his brows, grinning slyly. ”Can Her Majesty the Queen not live without you or something? Arthur, you’ve been running to the Palace far too often lately.”

Arthur leaned back in the chair, tilting his head and half‑closing his eyes. ”You could say the same about Viscount Melbourne. He spends more time at Buckingham Palace than I do. If you’ve got a complaint, write to the Prime Minister first.”

”Oh now, listen to you.” On hearing this, Disraeli immediately started waggling his eyebrows with wicked glee. ”Wait... Arthur, you haven’t been making a special trip just to stand in front of the Queen and bad‑mouth him, have you?”