shadow of britain

Chapter 454 The secret voyeur

Every corner, every moment, regardless of the home country or overseas territories, whether it is Britain or France, is under our surveillance to ensure your safety and order. Wherever you are, don't forget, Sir Arthur Hastings, our Big Brother is watching you.

——"The Man Behind the Secret Intelligence Service: Arthur Hastings"

After 25 years of war and peace, I still believe this is the best intelligence service in the world and it is only the politicians who play with it that are wrong. They abuse their intelligence personnel to discredit their domestic political opponents. The intelligence personnel under this government do not seem to be keen on maintaining the military and territorial security of the empire. Instead, they like to focus on digging up tidbits about the Prime Minister’s political opponents to see who is not. Sleeping with someone's sister-in-law, and doing everything he could to leak the news to The Times or The Anglican.

Ever since Sir Arthur Hastings established the intelligence system, Britain's intelligence work has never fallen to such a degenerate level today! We knew nothing about the conspiracy in Munich, we knew nothing about Italy's decision to invade Albania, but the intelligence officers knew full well that I drank two bottles of whiskey last night! British counterintelligence work was a great success for me, but achieved nothing in other aspects, and this was all thanks to Chamberlain and his group.

——Winston Churchill publicly questioned Prime Minister Arthur Chamberlain in the House of Commons in April 1939.

I always think that Churchill’s criticism of the Chamberlain government’s intelligence is unfair, because according to data, the British intelligence system’s keenness on collecting tidbits has actually been developed in the 19th century. And this tradition seems to have an inexplicable relationship with some unexplainable personal quirks of Sir Arthur Hastings, the founder and first governor of the system.

There is such an interesting little story in the autobiography of François Vidocq, a friend of Hastings and the Paris detective. When Sir Arthur Hastings visited Paris, he briefly joined the detective agency founded by Vidocq, and the only task he performed there was to dig up a small tidbit with Vidocq. news.

Maybe bumping into a French guy isn't news. But Sir Arthur Hastings at least proved with his actual actions that while digging for tidbits, he could also do a good job in spying on foreign intelligence. At this point, it can indeed be said that the British intelligence system under Arthur Hastings was stronger than it was in the 20th century.

——"The Rise of British Intelligence Agencies"

"Cultural Counselor in Russia?"

Faced with the invitation from Count Dalamo, it was difficult for Arthur to deny that he would not be tempted.

Although the second secretary he currently serves as the second secretary of the legation in the Kingdom of Hanover cannot be equated with the ordinary second secretary, because he is personally appointed by the king and is responsible for assisting the kingdom of Hanover in amending the constitution.

The Red Devil put his arm around Arthur's shoulders, winked at him and said sarcastic words: "Arthur, you little bastard, don't tell me that you have forgotten that day three years ago. Now you are still complaining about yourself Do you still think Oxford and Cambridge are better choices than the University of London? I told you before that the University of London is better than both Oxford and Cambridge.”

According to Arthur's observation, this guy does not have the ability to predict the future, so when Agares sent him to the University of London, it was not foresight at all, but simply to make fun of him.

For Arthur, this was tantamount to directly offsetting the drop in administrative level caused by his being sent to Hanover, and it also slightly improved it. After his term in Russia ends, even if he is transferred back to China, he will be able to sit on an equal footing with Luo Wan openly.

You should know that I have advocated several things in Parliament throughout my life. The first is parliamentary reform, the second is Catholic emancipation, the third is to popularize education and establish the University of London, and the fourth is to promote free trade. Now the first three projects have been declared successful, and the fourth project is also in progress. Therefore, no matter whether the process of stabilizing relations with Russia is good or bad, I hope that we can go further than previous ministers. "

Arthur, let's make a deal. As soon as your work in the Kingdom of Hanover is over, you will come directly to see me in St. Petersburg. I will write directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the situation. However, you have to be mentally prepared to work with me. I have very high requirements.

Both Lord Brougham and Earl Daramore were very happy to see students spread across all walks of life in Britain, and were willing to give them a helping hand at critical moments.

If you had studied at Oxford or Cambridge back then, you would have probably just managed to get a second-class diploma as a work-study student. After all, even Sir Isaac Newton, who was as powerful as Sir Isaac Newton at that time, failed to obtain a first-class degree from Cambridge. Although Sir Isaac can dominate the history of human science with one hand, this does not prevent him from being ranked 23rd in the Master's Degree Examination at Cambridge University.

Arthur ignored the red devil's ridicule and could not believe his lies about claiming credit.

What is even more commendable is that although the University of London went through many hardships in the early days, now a few years later, they have finally achieved success. Moreover, the sponsors who founded the University of London at the time were eager to bring the University of London, the advanced base of the education industry, to the forefront.

However, at least from an administrative level, a second secretary is a second secretary and there is no difference between the two.

As a trend-setter standing on the cusp of the new era, Arthur just smiled and bowed his head and said: "Of course, Your Excellency, I am very happy to accept your invitation. It is always happy to apply what you have learned, if this knowledge of mine can help British diplomacy could not be better."

The situation where he had been struggling to break through the situation suddenly cleared up just because of Count Daramo's words. Even Arthur had to sigh. Although knowledge alone may not necessarily change his destiny, studying at the University of London can help him gain more. Knowledge can indeed change your destiny.

Arthur, who studied at the University of London, is very different from Newton. Not only did he win academic gold medals every academic year during his schooling, but he also had an undisputed and overwhelming advantage among the weak-legged students at the University of London. , gloriously won the first-class degree and graduated successfully with the first place.

As the minister's deputy, according to Britain's long-standing practice, if the counselor is transferred directly from the Royal Navy or the Army, he usually corresponds to the rank of colonel, which is the rank held by Scotland Yard's top administrator, Charles Rowan, when he retired from the army.

After all, it's still the same old saying. A person's destiny must take into consideration not only personal struggle, but also the process of history.

In the foreign affairs system of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassy personnel are mainly divided into seven levels: ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, minister abroad, counselor, first secretary, second secretary, third secretary and attaché.

As for what happened later, the elements of self-defeating and historical trends were obviously greater.

Seeing Arthur agree, Earl Durham happily raised his glass to touch him and said: "Being able to go to Russia with the best police officer in Britain also makes me feel a lot more at ease. It seems like I was right not to accept the Foreign Office's recommendation at once, for if I had accepted it I would have been close to replacing our London graduates with a staid Oxford student.

Faced with Count Daramo's lofty ambitions, Arthur did not respond directly.

As for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' attitude towards Russia, Arthur had already learned from the Liverpool case, but the bright fireworks that exploded in front of the Golden Lion Hotel in Liverpool's old dock still made him unforgettable for a long time.

Arthur just smiled and responded: "Don't worry, I will do my best to do my job as cultural attaché. Regarding the definition of cultural exchange, I have received a complete explanation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before setting off from London. "

Boom boom boom!
As soon as Arthur finished speaking, there was a knock on the door of the room.

The servants guarding the door opened the door, and they found a lady wearing a lace hat. They politely took off the hat and greeted: "Madam, are you in the wrong room?"

Vidocq just covered his mouth and replied in a high-pitched falsetto: "Is Sir Arthur here? I just seemed to see him coming this way."

Count Daramo and others looked up at Vidocq and smiled knowingly. They stood up and said goodbye: "We can chat again at the Paris legation later. It is very rude to keep a lady waiting for a long time."

When Arthur saw this, he took off his hat without blushing and said, "I can't thank you enough."

Arthur was about to go out. Suddenly, Earl Dalamo seemed to have remembered something again and stopped Arthur: "By the way, Arthur, there is a banquet at the legation tomorrow night. If you are not busy, You can come and join us, and bring your female companion with you.”

"Banquet?" Arthur turned to look at Count Dalamo with some confusion. Count Daramo nodded slightly and said: "Yes, we are not the only ones attending the banquet, but also some high-ranking officials of the French government, such as Louis-Adolphe Thiers, the French Counselor, and François Guizot, the Minister of Education. , Jean Arago, Director of the Paris Observatory, and Migne, Director of the Archives of the Admiralty, will be present. In addition, there will be many celebrities from the cultural and artistic circles at the banquet. As a diplomat, especially the Cultural Counselor, you. It’s always good to know more people.”

"Guizot?" Arthur responded with a smile: "I have only read his name in books before. It is really an honor to meet him in person."

Earl Durham replied naturally: "Are you talking about the "History of the British Revolution during the Reigns of King Charles I and Charles II"? This book is indeed very famous in Britain. In addition to "European Representative System" "History of Origins" is also a very good work. I always believe that if Britain can recruit some senior scholars like Guizot to join the government, it will definitely make our system more perfect. "

When Arthur heard this, he just smiled and shrugged: "You have a good sense."

After saying this, he walked out of the room and gently closed the door.

Unexpectedly, before returning to the room, I heard Vidocq's deep voice ringing in my ears: "Brother, I didn't expect that you would also attend the banquet tomorrow!"

Arthur asked as he walked: "Are you also among the invited people?"

Vidocq nodded slightly: "To be precise, that banquet was hosted by a friend of mine. Benjamin Appel, he is the most famous political broker in Paris. Although he is not from a high background, he knows how to communicate with others very well. Some people call his skills in getting along with people, but in any case, Benjamin is dealing with the entire upper class in Paris. Do you remember the executioner Samson I met last time? Taking Samson to the banquet was what Benjamin requested by name.”

Arthur asked: "Why did he find Mr. Samson? Are executioners also part of the upper class?"

Vidocq pushed open the door of the room, took out his pipe and smoked: "No, of course people like Samson do not belong to the upper class, but he is Benjamin's bridge into the upper class. He knows what those gentlemen and ladies like. So Benjamin has always liked to collect criminals and some friends with legendary experiences. He invited Samson to add some necessary spice to the banquet. What could be better than beheading the king and queen. What’s more attractive about the executioner of the head?”

"That's not certain." Arthur borrowed inspiration from Vidocq: "I think a criminal gang that plots to spy on Pooh, the popular playwright in Paris, also has the power to attract attention."

"Yes!" Vidocq said with a laugh: "If there is only one person in this criminal gang, and his name is Victor Hugo, then this play will be really popular."

When Arthur heard this, he spit out the smoke he had just swallowed in his throat before he could breathe fully: "Victor Hugo? I remember that he is not recognized as a gentleman by the entire Paris literary world? And Pooh is still his friend, Yu Why would Mr. Guo do such a thing?”

"I don't know either. But... look at what this is?"

Vidocq raised his thumb and pointed at the small hole drilled in the room.

Arthur leaned down and looked through the hole into the next room.

The decoration of the room next door is obviously much more luxurious than the small single room here. Whether it is the large double bed, the landscape paintings on the wall and the enamel tea set on the mahogany table, it all shows that this is a lounge exclusive for VIPs.

But the focus of the problem was not the furniture, but the tall man who was kneeling on the bed, leaning over and looking at the wall.

Vidocq leaned on the sofa chair and smoked: "I never expected that we were not the first ones here to think of drilling holes in the wall. I guess there is probably a small hole in the wall of that room. , and that’s where Winnie and Mrs. Doval feel they’re being watched. As for the man lying on the bedside peeping, you might be shocked to know his name.”

"Who is he?"

"Victor Hugo is a moral model in the entire Paris literary world, a good husband who is praised by everyone, and a good father that is praised by everyone. Who would have thought that he was actually doing this kind of work in private?"

Although Arthur had been mentally prepared for a long time, when he heard the name Hugo, he was still stunned for a while: "Are you sure?"

Vidocq curled his lips: "I didn't believe it at first. So while you were having a heated chat just now, I went to the counter downstairs to confirm that the room next to us is a long-term private room, and the rented The gentleman of this house is none other than Mr. Victor Hugo.”

Arthur straightened up and looked at each other with Vidocq: "If I remember correctly, guests who come to this hotel usually have unusual purposes, right?"

Vidocq also agreed with Arthur's point of view: "I also think this is the place where Hugo had a private meeting with his lover Miss Drouet. However, why he wanted to peep at the good things between Pooh and Mrs. Dorval is another question. I I am temporarily leaning toward him because I am jealous of the relationship between the two, or because I want to win over her love?"

Arthur frowned and thought for a while: "Maybe we should ask Alexander. After all, he and Mrs. Dorval once had a relationship that went beyond friendship. Maybe the fat man can find some clues from Mrs. Dorval's daily interactions. There are clues that Mr. Guo loves Mrs. Dorval."

The two detectives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait were concentrating on their own reasoning. Unexpectedly, there was a burst of light footsteps and cheerful conversation outside the door.

"Miss George, can we really use that room for free?"

"Of course, dear, this is Mr. Hugo's long-term rental house. He is a very generous person. He told me that except for the weekday mornings when he needs to write quietly here, we friends can use it as we please at other times. "

"But... if we make a mess in there later and let Mr. Hugo see it, wouldn't it be..."

"Heh... dear, if you are so worried, why can't you be gentler to me later?"

Vidocq and Arthur heard this conversation, and the detective's intuition came to both of them almost at the same moment.

They quickly bent down and looked at the small hole.

Sure enough, the conversation of passers-by outside the room was not only heard by the two of them, but also by Hugo.

It was seen that this tall leader of the French Romantic School had no intention of going out to greet his friends, nor did he take the initiative to disperse the pair of wild mandarin ducks who were about to turn the tables.

Under the gaze of Vidocq and Arthur, Hugo just stood up from the window in a hurry, pushed open the wardrobe that was full of people beside him, and revealed the secret door hidden behind the wardrobe.

Even with Vidocq's decades of experience as a police officer, he couldn't help but be stunned and said: "Oh my God! There is a secret door. Is he a habitual criminal who has already planned it? Could it be that he plans to hide in that secret door?" The door, and then quietly peeked in the dark... Damn it, I finally figured out what Hugo was spying on Winnie, he just had this habit! "

Arthur raised his hand to wipe his sweat, and breathed out a sigh of relief: "These guys can always come up with something new for us!"

(End of this chapter)