shadow of britain

Chapter 154 Significance of the New Invention
The young man named 'William' heard the verses recited by Arthur, and frowned and asked, "Why haven't I heard this poem? Which Cambridge student is it?"

Arthur pretended to be surprised and asked back: "Don't you know such a famous poem? It was written by a Cambridge poet named Xu."

Elder also chimed in and said, "That's right, as a literature lover, you haven't even heard of this poem, have you? Just now you said that you won the Cambridge Gold Medal for Poetry, isn't the Cambridge Gold Medal Only this level of knowledge reserve?"

When William was bluffed by the two of them, he suddenly felt a little unconfident: "Is...is it?"

And another young man named 'Alfred' hurried up to smooth things over. He apologized to Arthur and Elder: "Gentlemen, although I have never heard of this poem. But from the content It can be seen that the author of this poem does have a very high level of romantic lyric poetry creation."

William was completely at a loss when he heard that even his companions complimented the poem.

After all, although Alfred is very young, he is not only the winner of the Cambridge University Poetry Gold Medal, but even has a certain reputation in the field of poetry creation in the whole of Great Britain.

If Alfred agrees with it, then this poem is not to say how good it is, at least it must not be much worse.

But he was still unwilling to admit defeat so easily, and the young man's arrogance still supported him to straighten his back and said: "I admit that this poem is not bad, but compared with Alfred's "Timbuktu", it is There is still a distance."

""Timbaktu"?" Elder couldn't help frowning when he heard the name. Although he usually looks out of tune, besides reading tabloid stories, he does pay attention to the literary circle occasionally. things.

Elder asked, "Is that Alfred Tennyson from Cambridge?"

Tennyson nodded shyly and said, "Have you read my poems?"

Elder pouted: "I saw it by accident."

"Accidentally saw it?" Hearing this, the young man named William became furious: "Sir, what do you mean?"

Elder shrugged his shoulders and said with a look of embarrassment: "It's nothing, I just think that as far as literature is concerned, everyone has their own opinions. I think that "Timbuktu" is indeed well written, but it is only It’s just okay. In a sense, I think he’s not even as emotional as this... er... Arthur, what’s the name of that poem?"

Arthur glanced at the kid. He didn't want to answer, but in a moment he found that Elder had been winking at him.

Judging by his posture, today he must compete with these two young people from Cambridge.

Arthur sighed: "That poem is called Farewell to Cambridge."

"Yes, that's right, "Farewell to Cambridge"! From the standpoint of a serious literary critic, I think "Timbuktu" is not as good as "Farewell to Cambridge"!"

William was directly irritated by Elder's provocative tone. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Literary critic? I don't know your name. What works do you have in the field of literature?"

Elder heard this: "My lord, Elder Carter, the professional critic, does not bother to write."

William laughed angrily at his answer: "Boy, so you have never written anything, but here you are questioning Alfred's poetry level?"

Elder took advantage of the momentum and asked back: "So what about you? Who are you, and what works do you have in the field of literature?"

"Me?" William was still aggressive at first, but when Elder asked, his cheeks flushed instantly, and he held back for a long time before he said: "My name is William Thackeray, I just like literature, and I have written some Things, but, but not very famous..."

When Elder heard this, he seemed to have seized some good opportunity to win. He sneered: "So you are also an unknown person? Since you think that you must have status and works to comment on poetry, then your point of view? Isn't it equally insignificant?"

When William Thackeray heard this, he wanted to refute, but he didn't know how to reply.

In desperation, he clenched his fists tighter and tighter, and then, with a bang, Thackeray pushed open the door of the store, snatched the door and ran out without looking back.

Seeing this, Tennyson hurriedly apologized to Arthur and Elder: "I'm sorry, gentlemen, my friend's family situation is a bit complicated, so his personality is a bit extreme. Don't worry about it, he usually Really a nice guy."

After finishing speaking, he didn't care about choosing a musical instrument for his speech, but hurriedly chased him out: "William! Wait for me!"

Seeing this, Elder snorted triumphantly: "Look, this is Cambridge education."

But he waited for a long time without Arthur's response. He looked back, only to find that Arthur was holding his chin and looking at the two people's backs.

Elder pestered Arthur and asked, "What are you thinking?"

Arthur pursed his lips, glanced at his friend, and said, "Elder, I want to congratulate you."

"Congratulations?" Elder grinned and said, "It's no big deal, I just beat a guy from Cambridge."

"No, I didn't mean congratulations in that sense."

Arthur said: "Offending Alexander Dumas of France is enough to make you famous in history, and now there is William Thackeray of Britain. I simply don't know, in the distant future, what will your name be? How many famous novels will appear in the world. Maybe you will become a villain template all over the world.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot, and Charles, maybe later in his book, you have to put it with the illustration of the monkey.First the monkey, then you. "

When Elder heard this, his face was full of disbelief: "Arthur, you like to scare me with this kind of thing every day. You said that the bald Charles will be a big man in the future, and so will the one wearing the hat. Now even the two A guy who graduated from Cambridge, you also give such a high evaluation. Does it mean that as long as he is a person, as long as he sees you, he can become a big shot in the future?"

"No, how come?" Arthur smiled slightly, and he patted Elder on the shoulder: "Elder, isn't there still you here?"

"Tch!" Elder rolled his eyes: "Aren't I the villain template of the world in your mouth? How can I be unknown?"

"That's true." Arthur nodded: "Alexander has already included you in his manuscript, and Mr. Thackeray will definitely not let you go casually."

"Ah?! Alexander choreographed me?" Elder raised his eyebrows when he heard the words: "No wonder he never showed me his manuscript! I didn't do anything to him, and I have been taking him around London these days What! In the end, when I turned around, he treated me like this?"

Arthur asked, "Are you sure you really didn't do anything to him?"

After hearing this, Elder replied with a guilty conscience: "To be honest, maybe...maybe...probably...I said something that made him unhappy...but I didn't mean it."

"What did you say?"

Elder said: "He said he couldn't figure out why so many British people would be crowded on this small island. Whether they immigrated to France or the United States, they could have a better life. I said that I also agree with him. opinion, and it would be good for the world to do so, because every emigration of people from Britain to France or America raises the average level of intelligence in all three countries a little."

As soon as Elder finished speaking, he heard a low and suppressed laughter from under the counter of the store.

Hearing this voice, Arthur couldn't help putting a finger between his lips: "Shhh, take your steps lightly."

Arthur walked lightly around the counter, bent slightly, his smiling face just met Charles Wheatstone's face whose smile was uglier than crying.

Wheatstone's lips were trembling, and he held a black suitcase in his arms. Looking at his posture, if Arthur came a step later, he might never be able to find this guy again.

Arthur took off his hat, stretched out his hand to him, and greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Wheatstone, long time no see."

Wheatstone shook Arthur's hand: "Black...Mr. Hastings, you...you really can't let me go?"

"Let you go? No, what are you talking about? I just hope to gain your friendship and help you complete your new invention along the way."

Wheatstone sighed, and he leaned forward, but before he could get out of the counter, he heard a faint sound from the box he was holding in his arms. It was a burst of lightning, followed by , The voice of a man who was familiar to a little strange came out of the box.

"We are not thugs, we are not accomplices, we are just a group of former shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, grooms, thatchers, fitters, builders, bakers, and unemployed workers and landless farmers... Today, we A demonstration by workers' groups is about to be suppressed..."

Hearing this voice, Wheatstone hurriedly raised his hands in fright. He stammered and said, "Mr. Hastings, you... listen to me, I really didn't record this on purpose. After I produced this thing, I planned to send it to your mansion, but when I passed the Wellington Arch...you...if you don't like it, I will destroy this thing now."

Arthur looked at Wheatstone's remorseful expression, was silent for a while, and then tapped the suitcase with his knuckles with a smile: "The tone may be a bit poor for the time being, and some parts don't sound very clear. Nevertheless, Mr. Wheatstone, I should like to congratulate you on your wonderful new invention."

Wheatstone was taken aback by what he said, and he asked, "You...don't you care about these recorded things?"

"I care, of course I care. But..."

"But?" Wheatstone was shocked: "Then I'll smash it now!"

But just as he was about to smash the box with his fist, he found that his arm was tightly squeezed by Arthur.

Wheatstone asked puzzled, "You?"

Arthur smiled and lifted him up from under the cabinet, and patted the dust off his body: "Don't smash it, you may not understand, maybe recording this passage is also one of the meanings of inventing it."

(End of this chapter)