shadow of britain

Chapter 161 The Juniors of the Royal Navy
Marylebone District, a well-known wealthy residential area in London in the 19th century.

In this not-so-large area, the best parts of British art, culture, education, environment, etc. are gathered.

The Royal Academy of Art, St. Mary's Bonn Church, Regent's Park, and the London Zoo and Queen Mary Rose Garden in Regent's Park, as well as the British Museum and Arthur's alma mater, University of London, around it.

Of course, Baker Street, the pilgrimage site for later generations of detective novel lovers, is indispensable here. In the future, the Sherlock Holmes statue and memorial will also be set up at the Marylebone intersection that Arthur just passed.

And just five years later, French socialite Madame Tussauds, who has moved to London, will set up her first wax museum here, ahead of Sherlock Holmes.

It's just that Madame Tussaud's wax figure making experience is not as romantic as most people imagine. The reason why she is so proficient in wax sculpture skills is actually because too many people were beheaded during the French Revolution.

Therefore, at that time, Madame Tussauds, who followed the medical scientist Curtis as a housekeeper and learned waxwork skills from him, never lacked vivid and fresh materials.

Not far ahead is a restaurant that specializes in selling sandwiches. It is interesting to say that this sandwich restaurant is the property of the Earl of Sandwiches.

Why is this snack of vegetables, eggs and meat on two slices of bread called a sandwich?

You can guess, of course, because the sandwich was invented by John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich.

The Earl, who served as Lord of the Admiralty three times, made great contributions to the reform and exploration of the Royal Navy during his tenure, but in London, whenever people mention him, what they talk about the most is not his achievements, but It's about his gambling personality.

Many Londoners say that the sandwich, a quick and easy snack, was invented by the Earl of Sandwich so that he could not leave the gaming table.

According to legend, whenever the earl got hungry from gambling, he would yell 'bring a sandwich', and in this way, the name has been passed down.

Although the Montagu family has always claimed that this is a rumor fabricated by political enemies to attack the noble Earl, but after a long time, this incident has become an anecdote, and no one is willing to go online to find out what it is Is it true or false?

This is like the nickname 'Iron Duke' of the Duke of Wellington. Maybe after a hundred years, people will forget that he got this nickname because the newspaper ridiculed him for blocking parliamentary reforms, and the result was under the attack of the mob. , had to replace the windows at home with iron ones.

And when it comes to the surname Montagu, I have to talk about another Montagu, Mrs. Mary Montagu.

The founder of the 'Blue Sox Club' is known as the most individual woman in Britain in the 17th century.

In her early years, she rejected the marriage arranged by her father, the Earl of Kingston, and eloped with Edward Montague, a Whig MP lawyer, but this relationship was not particularly smooth. After her husband became the British ambassador to Ottoman, they Feelings quickly cooled down.

After that, she fell in love with the Italian writer Algarotti Francesco, who was visiting London, but this relationship soon ended without cause when Francesco was recruited by the Prussian king Frederick the Great.

After that, Mrs. Montagu, who lived in France, fell in love with a young Italian viscount again. This time, the time was not too long, and their relationship lasted for ten years.

After finishing her sojourn life for many years, Mrs. Montagu finally set off to return home.

What is gratifying is that during her life, Mrs. Montagu was not only inspired by her uncle Henry Fielding, but also engaged in literary work all the year round, which opened up many themes and templates for novelists of later generations.Of course, the most important thing is that she gave full play to her travel knowledge and brought back to Britain the method of planting vaccinia to prevent smallpox, which really saved many lives.

Arthur's thoughts were flying, and before he knew it, the open carriage he was riding in slowly stopped in front of a courtyard with a red brick exterior wall as protection and black iron carvings as decoration.

The coachman took off his hat, turned his head to greet Arthur and said, "Mr. Hastings, I will have dinner at the nearby Ponsonby Restaurant, and then I will continue to come back here to wait for you until nine o'clock in the evening. This trip The bill will be sent to your mansion within a week by the London Carriage Hire Company."

Arthur looked at the well-dressed coachman, put on his top hat and joked, "Maybe I should change my job. I'm afraid I can earn more money as a decent coachman in your company than as a policeman in Scotland Yard." ?”

The coachman smiled when he heard the words: "You are serious, we are just earning some money to live on. You are just a police officer from Scotland Yard, and you are not a real Scot. If you are Scots, then I have to admit, I Might be better off than you are."

When Arthur heard this, he knew what he was talking about, and he replied with a smile: "Yes, after all, everyone knows that the grooms in England feed their horses with oats, but in Scotland, oats are theirs. The national delicacy. That is why the horses in England are as good as the horses in Scotland."

Hearing this traditional English joke, the coachman couldn't help laughing like he was hearing it for the first time.

He raised his horsewhip and lightly tapped his brow, and said, "Mr. Hastings, although I haven't known you for a long time, we get along very well. If you need a carriage rental next time, feel free to You can come to the company to name me. Then, I won’t bother you, and I wish you a good time tonight.”

"I also wish you a pleasant stay at Ponsonby's Restaurant, and please don't get too drunk there for the sake of taking me home. Finally, this is a little thank you for your high-quality service."

After finishing speaking, Arthur took out two shillings from his pocket and left them on the seat of the carriage, then got out of the carriage and watched the driver drive away.

It wasn't until he was no longer seen on the street that Arthur breathed a sigh of relief: "What is high society? High society is the usual travel expenses for the entire journey, and it can only be used as a tip here."

Agares, who was squatting on the iron guardrail of the red brick wall and watching, couldn't help but smiled and nodded when he heard this, "Arthur, it seems that you have already grasped part of the essence."

Arthur didn't pay attention to the Red Devil either, he just walked to the pitch-black gate and gently shook the copper bell tied with a red ribbon hanging in front of the gate.

There was only a clanging sound, and the front hall supported by ivory white marble columns behind the courtyard door quickly opened its double doors.

Two people walked out of it, one was a middle-aged butler with half-long hair in a simple and neat tuxedo, white gloves, and the other was wearing a lace kerchief and woolen stockings on his legs , a young maid in a black linen dress and a white pleated apron.

Arthur looked at the butler, then at the maid, and nodded slightly.

There are indeed similarities, but they are definitely not as exaggerated as those drawn in Japanese manga.

He took out a business card from his pocket with a handkerchief on his chest and handed it over, and said with a smile: "Please inform Your Excellency and Mrs. Codrington, Superintendent of the East London District of the Greater London Metropolitan Police Department. Philosopher, Arthur Hastings, by appointment."

The butler stretched out his white-gloved hands to take the business card, examined it carefully, and soon half-bowed with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Hastings, I didn't expect you to come so early. Your Excellency Codrington thought you might be late. After all, a scholar like you may need to spend some time preparing experimental equipment and thinking."

Arthur smiled and said: "After all, this is my first time to attend General Codlington's banquet. It is always good to arrive early. However, your words remind me. In order to demonstrate the progress in the field of electromagnetism today Achievement, I borrowed some things from Mr. Faraday. There should be a carriage from the Royal Society to deliver related equipment later, if they arrive, please let me know at that time."

The housekeeper nodded slightly and said: "Please rest assured, wrap it on me."

After finishing speaking, the butler ordered to the maid behind him: "Jenny, take Mr. Hastings to the lounge first. By the way, inform the kitchen that the snacks prepared earlier can be served one after another."

A maid named Jenny came forward and slightly bent her knees, then said, "Mr. Hastings, please follow me."

According to the teaching in the "London Social Guide", Arthur raised his right hand and lightly touched the brim of his hat in return, and then followed the maid to the front hall in three or two steps, and walked into the three-story house of the Royal Navy White Banner Vice Admiral Mansion.

Just stepping into the front hall, the first thing that catches the eye is a portrait of General Codrington hanging on the wall.

His Excellency Codrington's appearance is indeed reasonable, and his beautiful navy uniform also makes him majestic, and the bald part on the top of his head is also a good illustration of the veteran's past experience, which makes people understand at a glance He must have been commander of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Of course, in order to prevent impoliteness, Arthur still restrained himself from publishing his artistic comments on this portrait in public.

He just asked gently: "Am I the first one here today?"

Jenny put her hands on her stomach and smiled reservedly. She led the way and replied: "Several guests have arrived in the lounge, and they are chatting and playing cards. If you feel bored by yourself, you can join them, or Just read a book."

Arthur heard the words and couldn't help asking: "Can you tell me who they are?"

"Well... those who came early are usually young people. I remember that they seem to be the current or former subordinates of His Excellency Codlington. The gentlemen are all from the Royal Navy. Like Colonel John Franklin of the Royal Navy Reserve, Commander Captain Robert Fitzroy of the Beagle, and His Majesty's Naval Attaché, Sir George Elliot in command of the Admiral's flagship HMS Victory at Portsmouth Naval Station."

Hearing this, Arthur had a general understanding of the scale and level of the banquet. He felt confident and relaxed, and he couldn't help but joked: "I can remember so clearly, ma'am, it seems that you will definitely be able to be here in the future." head maid."

When Jenny heard this, she couldn't help blushing and said with an apologetic smile: "Mr. Hastings, you are really joking."

After finishing speaking, she lightly knocked on the mahogany door of the lounge, and then bowed slightly: "Gentlemen, there is a new visitor."

(End of this chapter)