shadow of britain

Chapter 156 Unorganized Crime

On the rickety carriage, Arthur held a box containing a gramophone in his arms.

In his hand, he held a freshly recorded round record made of tin, wax and wood.

This record is far less expensive and exquisite than the thousands of dollars a piece of vinyl records in later generations, but its service life is uncharacteristically short and surprisingly short.

According to Wheatstone's estimate, the sound quality of this temporarily produced record may not be guaranteed after playing it about twenty times.

Although he was confident of making better ones, it was definitely too late to bring them out at the Sunday dinner.

But even such a shoddy rush work was enough to surprise Arthur. After all, he originally thought that it would be good enough for Wheatstone to make a prototype of the phonograph in just a week.

But he obviously underestimated Charles Wheatstone's attainments in acoustics, as well as the hands-on ability and creativity of this young British scientist who came from a family of musical instruments to combine new inventions with musical instruments.

Elder, who was sitting across from him, was still in the shock of the first piano music played on the phonograph.

"This... This is really a great invention! It can actually seal the voice of a person, my God, I always thought that maybe only God can do this thing."

Elder murmured: "With this phonograph, I'm afraid musicians will be unemployed from now on, right?"

Arthur replied: "Instead of worrying about the musicians, you might as well worry about your next sea training."

Elder raised his eyebrows and said, "Arthur, speaking of which, I know you understand art, but what I don't know is that you fucking can play the piano. When did you learn this?"

Arthur glanced at the Red Devil sitting by the window.

Agares bought a decent black tuxedo from there. The Red Devil hummed a little song, closed his eyes, and waved his arm like a whip, as if he was not sitting on the car window at this time, but is standing in Vienna's Golden Hall.

Arthur sighed: "Would you believe me if I said that I just learned it?"

Elder was full of disbelief: "Come on, Arthur, if you can play to this level when you just learn it, it can only show that your musical talent is beyond reach. Back then, the British song " Wellington's Triumph, instead of spending a lot of money running to Vienna to get Beethoven to compose it, you should go straight to the Yorkshire countryside to find you."

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help raising his eyebrows and said, "That's not okay."

"why?"

Arthur said: "Because playing the piano is too fatal. Elder, I remember the Battle of Victoria in 1813. I was 3 years old at the time. A three-year-old child can't do such a big business."

Elder curled his lips: "Don't you have to work hard for everything? However, it doesn't seem to be a big deal not to become a musician. You are the superintendent of Scotland Yard at a young age, and you live in a small independent next to Hyde Park There are six rooms and two halls in the building, and even General Codlington has to invite you to the banquet. Calculated from this, it seems that ordinary 20-year-old musicians are generally not good at mixing compared with you."

When Elder said this, he picked up his pipe and started to care about Arthur's emotional problems with his legs crossed.

"At the age of 20, it may be a little early to get married, but you have to think about it carefully. If you climb up to a lady from a wealthy and noble family, you can take advantage of the momentum of the other family to soar into the sky."

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help joking: "Elder, what you said is not like you. Don't you always say that you want to make a fortune on your own? It's only been more than a year, and your life path Just turn the whole thing upside down. Forget about the awakening of the 'Royal Navy bloodline' in yourself, and now even choose a partner, are you going to find someone who has both wealth and background?"

Unexpectedly, Elder didn't care about these things at all. He said, "Arthur, you don't understand. You have to seize the opportunity you should seize. You have handled so many big cases in Scotland Yard. If the same achievements are released In the case of a nobleman, maybe he has been transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at this moment. But you still stay in Scotland Yard. What does this mean? It means that you still lack background.

Besides, even if you don't like it, you can play it every now and then.In London's social circle, there are many people who get promoted and make a fortune by playing this trick. "

Seeing his expression of 'young people should not be too young', Arthur asked in unison, "Is this kind of thing played by the upper class in London?"

Sure enough, when Elder heard this, it was as if he had been beaten.

He whispered: "You are asking the right person. Let me ask you, do you know General Nelson's mistress—Ms. Hamilton's Emma Hart?
As soon as Arthur heard the name, he felt a little familiar, as if the Red Devil had mentioned it to him before: "I just heard it a little bit."

Seeing that he didn't know, Elder immediately introduced with great interest.

"Mrs. Hamilton is one of the legends in London's high social circle. Mrs. Hamilton was originally an ordinary commoner. Her father was a blacksmith, her mother was a maid, and she herself was doing jobs such as odd jobs and babysitting. Even she was almost deceived into a prostitute by a man.

But her fate changed because she met Lord Charles Grenwell. Lord Grenwell took a fancy to her beauty, so he took her home and taught her various high-society dresses. Dressing up, behavior, and even specially invited someone to educate her in literature and art.

Under the cultivation of Lord Grenwell, Emma Hart was an instant hit when she appeared at a social banquet for the first time. It didn't take long for her to become the "British No. [-] Beauty" recognized in the circle.

Just when everyone thought that Emma Hart would be with Lord Grenwell, the Lord actually transferred her to his uncle Sir William Hamilton in order to repay his high debts, and Emma naturally Became Mrs. Hamilton. "

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help frowning: "But how did she get involved with General Nelson?"

Elder replied: "That's because Sir Hamilton served as the British ambassador to Naples at that time, so Emma naturally followed. She made good use of the social skills she learned in London, and soon became the British ambassador at the time. The darling of Naples high society.

At this time, General Nelson had just defeated the French Navy at the mouth of the Nile in Egypt and was promoted to the commander of the Mediterranean Fleet. The two fell in love at first sight in Naples, and their relationship developed rapidly.Not only did Sir Hamilton not blame them, but he also returned to London with them very generously. "

Arthur's eyelids twitched when he heard this: "Are you sure? I know it's not uncommon to have a mistress these days, but I'm afraid not many British people would accept this kind of behavior publicly, right?

After all, our old King George IV, who just passed away, was attacked by public opinion every day when he wanted to get a divorce, and even some of the MPs complained about Queen Caroline.

Even if Sir Hamilton didn't care about Nelson and Emma, ​​didn't the big and tabloid newspapers in London attack them? "

Elder said disdainfully: "If someone else did this, they would definitely be trampled into the mud. However, that is Horatio Nelson, the soul of the Royal Navy! If General Nelson is still alive, I am afraid that even Wellington Even the Duke can't hold him steady, so how can our former King compare with him?"

Arthur asked: "What about after the Battle of Trafalgar? Without Nelson, Mrs. Hamilton's fate may not be very good."

Elder nodded and said, "You guessed it right. Before the Battle of Trafalgar, General Nelson could still be regarded as a human being, but after his death in Trafalgar, he has become a kind of hero in Britain." This kind of hero obviously cannot have any stains, so for the sake of Nelson's reputation, Mrs. Hamilton was quickly abandoned by the London social circle. Everyone regarded her as air, and her name and experience became one. An unspeakable taboo."

Arthur asked: "Isn't this a failure case? What did you tell me about her?"

"Successful!"

Elder said: "The most typical female success story is Harriet Wilson. She relied on her lover relationship with a bunch of people to make a lot of money in the upper class. Even at that time After she retired, she continued to serialize her past love history in newspapers.

As long as those old lovers don't pay, she will expose their names and eccentricities in the love history.And if the money is in place, she will even sing a few words for them.

The most successful male case in recent years is none other than Henry Temple, Viscount Palmerston.Although there is no conclusive evidence, I have been told by many people that Viscount Palmerston had affairs with at least three women out of the seven main patrons of the Almark Club.

If it weren't for the great help of these ladies, it would have been impossible for Viscount Palmerston to be so comfortable in social circles and political circles, nor would it be possible for him to be accepted by the Whig Party immediately after leaving the Tory Party. "

Arthur had heard of the name 'Almark Club' a long time ago. As for the title of 'Viscount Palmerston', it was even written in textbooks, so he couldn't learn it.

He suddenly became interested and asked, "Can you tell me the story inside in detail? For example, the seven female patrons of the Almark Club, or Palmerston."

When Elder heard this, he thought that Arthur had figured it out, and he patted Arthur on the shoulder in relief: "Arthur, you finally understand that if you want to be a big shot, you can't do it on your own."

"Of course." Arthur smiled and patted the box in his arms: "I can't rely on myself alone, I have to rely on recording."

Elder was taken aback by what he said: "Recording? What do you want to do?"

"It's nothing."

Arthur smiled and replied: "Elder, you don't always think that the invention of the phonograph is just for a dinner party, or to listen to a piece of music? If possible, I hope it can become our Scotland Yard, Or a powerful tool for the LPS to fight organized crime."

Elder was taken aback by Arthur's thoughts: "Arthur, don't you think Whig and Tory MPs are also organized crime?"

Arthur didn't respond directly when he heard the words. He just shrugged slightly and replied with a smile: "Elder, our duty also includes combating unorganized crime."

When Arthur and Elder's carriage drifted away, Charles Wheatstone stood in front of the shop and lingered for a long time without leaving.

Seeing the sun shining on Wheatstone's face, he covered his sweaty forehead with an expression of disbelief: "My God! What the hell is that thing that Mr. Hastings played just now?"

(End of this chapter)