The Shadow of Great Britain

”Why wouldn’t I go to Leicester Square?” Eld nearly pointed his finger at Arthur’s nose as he scolded, ”Why wouldn’t I go there? This matter, shouldn’t you be more aware than I am?”

”Oh...” With Eld’s reminder, Arthur finally remembered: ”Scotland Yard is conducting a large-scale operation at Leicester Square recently, isn’t it?”

Eld complained: ”Arthur, I’m not trying to blame my friend on purpose, but your men just cleaned up Holloway Street last month, and now they’re starting a large-scale operation in Leicester Square. What do you police want to do? Do you want to leave all the gentlemen in London with no way out!”

As Eld said this, Arthur finally understood why he came to Holborn.

Last month’s cleanup by Scotland Yard at Holloway Street mainly targeted two types of businesses, one of which was the second-hand clothing market, and the other was the sale of obscene prints and books.

Before the cleanup action by Scotland Yard, the booksellers on Holloway Street even dared to blatantly display vulgar and obscene items in their shop windows, desecrating public morals.

And after the cleanup action, those unscrupulous vendors selling obscene books and picture albums, with few exceptions, mostly moved to the alleys of Vich Street and Drury Lane to continue their business.

Even the two or three remaining stubborn businesses entrenched in Holloway Street’s former seedy halls no longer dared to openly conduct illegal business.

As for Leicester Square, this area, which gathers continental immigrants and exiles, its prosperity and flourishing industries can be seen just from Mr. Carter’s preference for it.

After the successive removal of the two tumors that were Holloway Street and Leicester Square, London gentlemen like Mr. Carter were indeed hit doubly, both spiritually and materially. Now, they can’t even see books or touch anything concrete, saying they aren’t anxious is absolutely impossible.

But what could they do if they were anxious?

Of course, they’d head to Holborn!

After all, this area isn’t under the jurisdiction of Scotland Yard but is managed by the Financial City Police Team.

The south side of Holborn Street is lined with ready-to-wear shops, while the north side facades vary widely, the most notable being the warehouses boasting rental and sale of masquerade costumes.

Among these warehouses, many indeed conduct legitimate business, and quite a few supply theaters. However, there are also numerous red-haired women standing under the awnings, wearing various masquerade masks.

As Eld vocalized his forceful complaint, Arthur slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping along the row of ”masquerade costume warehouses” on Holborn Street.

Under the awnings, a few red-haired girls wearing feather masks were lazily leaning against the door frame, not even bothering to shout out for business.

And the patrol officers from the Financial City nonchalantly passed by them like walking past a group of straw men, as if they truly believed these red-haired women were just models attracting rental business for the warehouses.

Arthur drew back his gaze and looked at Eld: ”So, you just happened to be hiding out in Holborn today?”

A fleeting look of guilt crossed Eld’s face, but he quickly straightened his back: ”Otherwise? Holborn is a place for upright people!”

”Upright people?” Arthur gave him a meaningful look: ”That sounds just like those news reports about me in the newspapers a couple of days ago.”

Eld flushed red with embarrassment: ”If Holborn isn’t a place for upright gentlemen, then why are you here?”

”I just finished a meeting with the municipal committee.”

”Why was the meeting held here?”

”How should I know? They chose the location, saying it was convenient for business.”