The Shadow of Great Britain

The carriage stopped in front of the Earl of Dalmo’s residence at 14 Berkeley Square.

After the door knocker sounded, it was a solemn-looking old butler who opened the door. He paused upon seeing Arthur, clearly recognizing him, yet evidently without any prior notice.

However, this was not due to the old butler’s negligence but rather because the Earl of Dalmo, upon receiving Arthur’s letter, had hastily returned to London from his family home in Durham County, even forgetting to inform the London servants of his guest today.

”Sir Arthur, please... allow me to first announce your presence. The Count just arrived not long ago... and hasn’t had time to instruct us on any visitor matters.”

Arthur nodded. He was not in a hurry, simply taking off his gloves, with his gaze falling on a few unopened travel trunks in the entryway, still speckled with coal dust and mud spots. It was evident that the Earl of Dalmo had traveled through the night, leaving himself no room for rest and adjustment.

And this, precisely, confirmed Arthur’s judgment.

A politician hastily recalled from Canada by the Cabinet, full of indignation, would never, as he claimed, obediently lie in a countryside manor to live out his life peacefully. The reason he rushed urgently back to London was because it was the only place where he could defend himself and settle accounts with his political adversaries.

Just as the old butler’s words fell, a rapid sound of footsteps came from upstairs, and in a breath, that familiar figure appeared at the stairway entrance. The Earl of Dalmo was wearing a travel coat he hadn’t had time to change out of, and the scarf tied around his chest was a bit loose, indicative of the lack of concern for his attire throughout the journey.

The Earl’s gaze quickly swept towards the front door, bypassing the old butler and Eld, directly landing on Arthur’s face: ”You’re here?”

Arthur nodded slightly: ”Your Excellency.”

Dalmo did not invite them into the living room nor offered pleasantries, but raised his hand to beckon: ”Come up. It’s inconvenient to talk here.”

After the study door was closed, the Earl didn’t even wait for Arthur to sit down, already standing by the fireplace, with one hand on the window ledge, as if desperately suppressing a strong impulse to rush out from his chest.

He turned around just about to speak, only then suddenly realizing that besides Arthur, there was another person in the study.

Dalmo’s gaze darted to Eld, with a flash of confusion and an unconscious scrutiny: ”Who is this?”

Originally intending to greet him with a smile, Eld’s face fell immediately upon Dalmo’s utterance of this question: ”Your Excellency, you... don’t remember me?”

Dalmo’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he seriously examined Eld’s appearance and attire.

”This... let me think. Are you Arthur’s personal secretary?”

Eld’s smile instantly froze.

Realizing his mistake, Dalmo quickly corrected himself: ”A contributor to the Westminster Review? The special representative of the Canadian Colonial Government in London? From the constituency association’s...”

Unable to contain himself, Eld blurted out: ”Your Excellency, I’m Eld Carter! Eld Carter, from the University of London history major!”

”Eld Carter?” Dalmo furrowed his brows, pinching his chin, earnestly recalling: ”Carter...”

Arthur, seeing this, coughed gently as a reminder: ”The one who was reprimanded for bribing the professor with tea leaves.”

”Ah!” Dalmo’s eyes widened slightly, immediately recalling: ”The Carter who gave two jars of tea leaves to Professor Robertson?”

Eld’s face instantly turned crimson: ”Your Excellency, that wasn’t my intention, I... I really had no other choice at that time.”

”Alright, I remember you now.” Dalmo smiled, raising his hand to stop him: ”Your name was rather well-known in Bloomsbury back then. Of course, not because of academics.”

Ashen and unable to utter a word, Eld could only nod awkwardly.

The Earl of Dalmo jested: ”But, now what do you do? Surely, after leaving school, you didn’t open a tea shop, did you?”

As soon as he spoke of his profession, Eld’s hunched back straightened immediately: ”After graduating from university, I went to the Navy Department, completing a global scientific survey voyage with the Beagle. As for now, I work at the Hydrographic Office of the Navy Department, responsible for coastal surveys and archival compilations, occasionally helping with navigational data handling.”

Arthur also took the opportunity to lend Eld some prestige: ”Eld is a second-class clerk at the Navy Department, serving as Captain Pufu’s assistant in the Hydrographic Office, basically the deputy director.”

Dalmo initially only nodded politely, but when Arthur added ”Captain Pufu’s assistant,” his expression noticeably changed.

It wasn’t due to an avaricious eye but rather because he saw another seed sown at the University of London back then bearing fruit.

”That’s quite an accomplishment.” The Earl of Dalmo gratifiedly said: ”Captain Pufu is an authority in the Royal Navy Science Department. If he’s willing to keep you by his side, it means you’ve definitely passed the test professionally.”

Flustered by the praise, Eld still straightened his chest: ”Tha... Thank you, Your Excellency.”

With a wave of his hand, the Earl of Dalmo reflected: ”Back when I, along with Brougham, Grotte, Warburton... and their likes, were planning the founding of the University of London, it was to allow those in this country who don’t cling to nobility or rely on bloodlines, to rise with their minds. Now it seems the first success is Arthur, and the second, is you, Mr. Carter.”