shadow of britain

Chapter 136 The Many Faces of Politics
In Greenwich District, in the coffee shop opposite the police station, there was light rain falling outside the window, and the temperature difference between inside and outside the coffee shop covered the window glass with a light mist.

Arthur stirred the teacup in front of him, and the sugar cube gradually melted in the light red tea.

In front of him, the belated guest was taking off his hat and coat, revealing a light red suspenders hidden under the coat and a tired expression.

Arthur smiled and asked, "Mr. Disraeli, seeing the rain all over your body, your speech in Hyde Park may not go well today, right?"

When Disraeli heard this, he felt a little angry. What this proud young man hated most was being looked down upon by others.

"Mr. Hastings, if you invite me here today just to mock me, then you don't have to. But if you insist on this, I don't mind making myself another enemy. You may not know that I don't have many friends, but I have a lot of enemies."

Arthur shrugged his shoulders, and he said with a smile: "No, no, you misunderstood me. I'm not here to ridicule you today, but I want to talk to you about friendship. After all, when I moved that day, you did a lot for me. Even for that matter, it is still necessary to invite you to dinner."

Disraeli was full of disbelief, and he asked back: "In that case, why didn't you invite me to your house? Didn't you say that you hired a French cook? I really want to try his cooking."

Arthur clutched his forehead and leaned back on the chair: "Unfortunately, I didn't invite you home on purpose. It's because my French cook and the servant from Nottingham went to the theater together, and I forgot to bring the key, so I can't even go home now.

To make matters worse, I didn't have much money in my pocket when I went out, so I didn't dare to go to a fancy restaurant, only to condescend you to come here.Because I am familiar with the boss here, he believes in my good reputation, so he allows me to buy some meals with him on credit. "

After saying that, Arthur opened his pocket quite frankly. Disraeli raised his eyes and saw that Arthur had not lied to him. He only had three shillings in his body. If the fare to return home was deducted, there was really nothing left.

But Disraeli still had doubts about Arthur's words: "Even if the cook and the footman went to the theater, couldn't that young and bald governess open the door for you? By the way, I almost forgot to ask you, you have hired a governess, so what about your children and wife?"

Arthur took a sip of his tea. "That bald man is not my governess. He is my tutor for all mankind, though he pays me three shillings a week. Besides, how did you find out I have a family?"

Disraeli pulled away the seat opposite Arthur, and he took a look at the superintendent of Scotland Yard who spoke strangely.

"You can just say that the man who showed signs of premature baldness is your tenant? As for why I think you have a family, it is of course based on your financial situation. Although the social trend in Britain in recent years is to marry late and have children, generally speaking, if British men are prepared financially and career-wise, they don't mind getting married earlier.

It seems to me that you are obviously very successful in your career and income at such a young age as Superintendent of Scotland Yard.It wouldn't be surprising if you were planning to get yourself into some trouble, thinking of getting married or something. "

Arthur couldn't help smiling when he heard this: "It seems that I'm right. You really have a lot of dissatisfaction with this society. I felt this way when I read your masterpiece "Vivian Gray". This also makes sense, why you want to come out to run for parliamentarians."

When Disraeli heard this, the black tea he had just drank in his mouth almost choked him.

He coughed repeatedly, took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth, and looked at Arthur from time to time.

After all, anyone who is familiar with the British literary and art circles basically knows that this anonymous satirical novel "Vivien Gray" is his dark history. Just because of this book, his partner, friend and satirical object, Mr. Murray, almost got into a lawsuit with him directly.

Because Mr. Murray is very influential in the publishing industry, he is even called "the second person in the British publishing industry", so when his authorship was picked up by others, the literary review magazines "Blackwood" and "Literary Fan" mercilessly criticized him as a clown who made antics to attract attention and attract people's attention, and ridiculed him as a nobody who everyone hates.

Arrogant, ignorant, hypocritical, liar, scoundrel, Disraeli himself can't count how many labels he has been labeled by those in the publishing industry.

The investment business resulted in a huge loss of 7000 pounds, but he suffered such a heavy blow when he first entered the literary world. During that time, Disraeli was extremely decadent and even suffered from serious mental illness.

He still remembers the terrified ticking in his ears every time the disease flared up, and the sleepless nights where he kept his diary to ease his emotions.

—the first time I suffered such a blow, my heart was so weak, it was so ridiculous, I wanted to die immediately.My ears were filled with the ticking of clocks, like bells whining in a storm... I could hardly think.As I walked around the room, its sound grew louder and deafening, like a roaring flood.

Arthur stared at this early human "victim of cyber violence", only to see that the sweat on his forehead was getting denser, even his lips were gradually turning white, and the hand holding the handkerchief was shaking slightly.

Arthur changed his words and said: "To be honest, Mr. Disraeli. Before I met you, I thought you were really as hateful as those described in those literary review magazines. But after actually getting in touch with you, I think you are quite a good person. At least you are willing to move things for me for free. You know, it is too rare for a guy to help others without asking for anything in return."

Disraeli originally planned to accuse Arthur of deceiving him to move things, but when he heard this, he swallowed the whining that came to his lips somehow.

Disraeli nodded and said: "That's right, Mr. Hastings, you will understand what kind of person I am. The writers of "Blackwood" and "Literary Fan" are the ones who licked Morrie's ass. They have no idea what Morrie did to me!
I invested a lot of money in a newspaper he founded, but within half a year, the newspaper closed down.Can you imagine?The No. [-] man in the British publishing industry opened and closed newspapers as if he didn't have the resources and ability to do so.

But when I started to attack him, all his friends in the publishing industry popped up again. He had the money and the mind to figure out how to buy "Blackwood" and "Literary Fan", but he couldn't run the newspaper well.Am I wrong about what I said about him in Vivian Gray?

He wants to use this to destroy me, so that his dark history will disappear, but let him dream!I have to be elected to the council, and I'll take care of that idiot!I want to let him taste the grievances and anxieties I have suffered! "

As soon as Disraeli said this, he immediately realized that he had slipped his mouth.

He hurriedly explained: "Mr. Hastings, don't get me wrong, I don't quite mean that."

Arthur shrugged. He put down his teacup and said, "It doesn't matter even if you mean exactly that. Police officers in Scotland Yard don't have the right to vote anyway. Don't say that you only scolded Mr. Murray. Even if you scolded me, I can't do anything to you."

Disraeli was taken aback when he heard the words, and then expressed his disappointment: "So...you don't have the right to vote?"

Arthur pursed his lips and smiled, "Did I waste your time?"

Disraeli let out a long breath. He loosened his neckline to make himself more comfortable: "Why would you waste my time? It would be better if you don't have the right to vote, so I can speak freely! To be honest, talking about those things in Hyde Park all day made my mouth numb. It's good to chat with you if you have nothing to do. You don't have to worry about me scolding you, and I'm not afraid that you won't vote for me. Everyone is equal and fair."

Arthur looked at him and said with a smile: "It seems that although you want to be a member of parliament, you are actually not used to playing this game of power."

Disraeli picked up an oyster and pried its shell with the knife beside the table, and replied.

"Who would get used to that kind of thing? During this period of time, I understood that if you want to be a member of parliament, you can't have your own opinions. You can say what everyone likes to hear. Only in this way will you attract a few idle listeners.

With workers, you tell them you're cutting hours.

When dealing with farmers, you tell them that you want to lower land rents.

When dealing with factory owners, we must start talking about import and export duties.

To the nobles, that is, I will not budge on the question of amending the Corn Laws.

As for priests, you are right to talk about ancient moral spirits and principles.

But most of the time, I'm mainly talking about the latter, because workers and farmers don't go to Hyde Park very much, and they don't have the right to vote.

To be honest, sometimes I do it with a bit of a conscience.But there is no way, you should remember what I told you that day, I stand there independently without the support of any party.

The Tory and Whig MPs are duplicitous enough, so I have to be more 'flexible' than them in order to be elected. "

Arthur couldn't help but nodded when he heard the words: "If a person's wish is to become something other than himself, such as a member of parliament, a prosperous grocer, a famous lawyer, a judge, or something equally boring, he can always get his wish. But as a punishment, those who want these masks must first wear it. Mr. Disraeli, you accepted this very early on, so I believe you should be successful."

Disraeli took a sip of the oyster's juices.

suck~
He sighed: "Really? Then I really want to lend you a good word."

(End of this chapter)