shadow of britain

Chapter 472 On the Crater
Before I first visited Paris in 1833, my knowledge of the country was almost entirely based on paper. But after talking with the royalists in Vendée and Brittany, I realized that the royalists were not based on the orthodox aristocracy. Although the aristocracy played a leading role in this group, they would never be able to compete with the republicans and Bonapartists without the support of the peasants in the provinces.

Looking back at the development process of France from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, it can be clearly seen that Paris, the center of the European continent, is constantly expanding. At the same time, the local autonomy of rural areas is shrinking, the passion and characteristics of independent life are disappearing, many rural-specific traditions are disappearing more and more, and the old country life is gradually fading away until no trace of history can be found.

The countryside was decaying and dying, while the country was alive and well, and never had it been so alive. But the source of its life was only one: Paris. The cities were a selfish monopoly, looking only at their own interests and always ready to sacrifice the interests of the countryside. The peasants seemed to be eliminated from the nation and thrown aside.

In the 1780s, no one in France thought that France was in decline. The French had won the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. So naturally, everyone thought that the country had a bright future and would prosper forever.

However, this superficial prosperity did not bring stability and peace, but a great revolution. The three most politically literate classes in France, namely the first class of clergy, the second class of nobles, and the third class of citizens, set the agenda for the revolution.

They ignited the flame of revolution. But what they did not expect was that once the revolutionary enthusiasm was ignited, the direction it would burn in was no longer something that individuals could control.

Why was the actual process of the Revolution so inconsistent with the slogans he shouted? Why was Thomas Paine, who wrote "The Rights of Man", forced to flee during the Revolution? Why did British poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, who had enthusiastically supported the Revolution in their early years, eventually become insane and become the most ardent opponents of the Revolution?
I think this is because they discovered that the people who were responsible for implementing the revolution were not the same people as those who formulated the revolutionary plan. The ideals of the Great Revolution actually only existed in the initial period. Soon after, it was wiped out in the streets and fields of France by bloody conflicts and violent incidents one after another.

The republican government of the Revolution was not as innovative as it had hoped. On the contrary, in many places, it was just a new name for government. In fact, the republican government was still based on the Bourbon fleur-de-lis flag, and even more so. History is like a gallery, but there are few original works in it, and most of them are copies.

The Republicans were eager to abolish religion and law because they believed that these were old things that had to be overthrown. However, they did not prepare a set of moral standards that would convince everyone. This should have been a process of replacing parts for a locomotive, but the solution given by the Republicans was to start from inventing the wheel.

The result of this behavior was that the entire French people began to lose their balance. They didn't know when to stop, what principles to refer to, and how to manage the country. They sank the broken canoe and naturally drowned. When they found that the old system they had destroyed had such a bad result, they were eager to find the rotten rope of the old system to pull themselves ashore.

However, because the old system has been partially destroyed, they have torn off the mask of hypocrisy that they think is the easiest to tear off, so the remaining part they grasp is precisely the most difficult to eradicate and the most vicious remnant. Theocracy has not disappeared in this land, but has merged with the government, and the government has replaced God.

A farmer who lost his cow or horse begged the government for compensation. A wealthy person asked the government for a loan to help him better develop his land and gain more profits. An industrialist begged the government for a special privilege to exclude his competitors. A businessman confided in the governor that he was short of money and asked if he could get help, at least a loan.

The French middle class has never been more eager for public office than in the past. When a man acquires a small sum of money, he immediately buys a position instead of investing it in business. This pitiful obsession with public office has done more harm to the development of French agriculture and commerce than monopoly and agricultural taxes.

As for obtaining official positions, today's enthusiasm is greater than that of the past, but there is one biggest essential difference between that time and this era: the government sold official positions back then, while the government today grants them. Today, people do not need to spend money, but only need to sell their souls to achieve their goals.

When the love of freedom was severely wounded by disorderly rule and anarchy, the ideal of revolution gradually became pale. Until this time, the helpless country began to look for a master. The revolution with freedom as its ideal eventually gave birth to the most autocratic government and a great dictator-Napoleon Bonaparte.

This great military genius keenly smelled the breath of opportunity and found that he was destined to be the successor and gravedigger of the Great Revolution. Who put Napoleon on the throne of emperor? The Republicans would say that it was all the work of those ignorant provincial peasants. They would never admit that they themselves played the greatest role in promoting it.

They didn't understand this half a century ago, and they still don't understand it today. But unfortunately, I have to tell them: because of your impracticality and selfishness, you have long ignored the peasants from the provinces, who account for three-quarters of the population. I can vaguely see the imperial eagle flag replanted on the high ground outside Paris. Soon, you will suffer the consequences again.

Arthur Hastings
Written on the eve of the 1848 French presidential election.

—Eld Carter, The Letters of Arthur Hastings

Arthur walked out of the alley. It started to drizzle on the streets of Paris. The cold raindrops hit his face. The switch between hot and cold made his mind clearer. The ebb of adrenaline also made him gradually feel the burning wound on his shoulder.

Arthur leaned against the lamppost, ignoring the passers-by on the street, and lit his pipe.

He was just lighting a cigarette when a red-nosed robber with a knife suddenly jumped out of the alley. He pointed the bright blade in his hand at Arthur viciously and threatened, "Sir, do you want to be decent or let us do it in an undignified way?"

Arthur glanced at him, took off his pipe and slowly blew out a puff of smoke, then suddenly kicked the robber in the crotch: "Fuck you! You robbed me!"

The robber fell to the ground, holding his crotch and wailing. Arthur was about to turn around and leave when he suddenly heard a shout behind him.

"Arthur, did you catch them?"

Arthur turned his head and saw that it was Victor and Dumas who had been following him all the way.

Hearing this, Arthur looked down at the robber on the ground and spat, "There is no future in robbery. I will show you a way out. You should become an assassin."

Dumas ran all the way to Arthur. The fat black man leaned on his knees with his hands and panted heavily: "Arthur, what is that on the ground?"

"What do you think?" Arthur did not admit it directly, but hinted with the usual tricks of the Scotland Yard Blue Lobster: "Why do you think I knocked him down?"

Victor was also surprised when he saw this: "Brother, you are really amazing! You caught this? It seems that you will be famous in Paris now!"

"No, Mr. Vidocq." Arthur shook his head slightly. "This is all thanks to the Breock Detective Agency. I am just a temporary worker you hired."

Victor was stunned at first, then he patted Arthur's shoulder with gratitude and said, "Brother, are you willing to give this kind of credit to the firm?"

"What else?" Arthur smoked his cigarette. "Can a British man like me become the Minister of Police in France with this? Mr. Vidocq, this job should be enough for you, right?"

Victor nodded his head in delight: "Brother, I am really grateful to you. Our Breock Detective Agency will surely be a big hit!" Arthur took off his hat and fanned himself: "I will leave the man to you. I have to find a clinic to bandage my wounds."

"No problem, go ahead." Victor added, "Your medical expenses will be reimbursed by the firm."

Seeing Victor so enthusiastic, Arthur did not refuse, but waved his hat to him leisurely and said goodbye.

The robber saw Dumas and Victor rushing towards him, and his lips trembled with fear as he spoke: "Call for help, call for help? Don't think you are the only ones with help, my brothers are nearby, if I shout, none of us will survive."

When Victor heard this, he was not afraid at all. Instead, he snorted coldly and kicked him in the chest: "Shout! I want to see how big your gang is!"

Dumas saw Victor kicking and punching the robber and repeatedly advised him, "Enough, Mr. Victor. You are almost using torture to extract confessions from the Ministry of Security..."

Arthur walked back the way he came in the drizzle on the streets of Paris. Not far away, he saw a group of dragoons galloping past and National Guard soldiers running forward. Needless to say, they were also chasing the assassin.

Arthur didn't want to talk to them much because he was in a really bad mood tonight.

At this time, he suddenly felt that being a policeman in London was actually quite good. At least at that time he had clear goals and disciplinary requirements, and he did not need to reveal his political stance. When faced with the torture of conscience, he could always use the "Housekeeping Regulations" to deceive himself.

Now, he slowly understood the true meaning of what Talleyrand had said to him.

If you can't remain calm in the face of blood, painful scenes, and obvious evidence, you can't become a surgeon.

If you cannot remain calm in the face of passion, you cannot become a strong person; if you cannot remain indifferent in the face of events, you cannot become a politician and statesman.

He is indeed not cut out to be a politician. He is only suitable to be a policeman. It actually feels good to be a humble public servant.

Arthur walked back in the rain, and suddenly looked up at the dark sky.

The sky in London was cloudy and rainy, and the weather in Paris was not much better.

"Is it... is it Sir Arthur Hastings?"

The carriage stopped beside Arthur, and a delicate hand holding a handkerchief stretched out from the curtain.

Arthur turned his head and saw a familiar face. She looked a little nervous, and perhaps a little surprised.

"You don't have an umbrella? You can wipe your face with a handkerchief. Although I heard that Londoners generally don't like to use umbrellas because it rains frequently. But if you walk on the street like this, you will get sick when you go back."

Arthur stared at her face in fascination until he saw Miss Delysette blushing. Then he came to his senses, took off his hat and thanked her, saying, "Thank you for your concern."

He took the handkerchief, wiped his face, and then handed back the handkerchief with his name embroidered in gold thread.

Seeing him like this, Miss Delysert asked cautiously, "Have you lost your servant? Fortunately, nothing happened to you. What happened at the Kedosai Mansion tonight was really terrible. If you don't mind, you can take my car. Where do you live? I can give you a ride."

Arthur was quite surprised when he heard this and asked, "No, of course I don't mind, but you... doesn't your husband mind?"

"Husband?" Miss Dresset blushed and replied, "Sir, I don't have a husband. My father came with me today. But he was called to a meeting after the explosion tonight. So there is still an empty seat on the bus now."

Arthur thought about it for a while after hearing this, and finally asked politely: "I don't know much about the situation in Paris, but as an unmarried lady like you, can you sit with me?"

Miss Delysette nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course! I have a male servant with me, and we are not alone. The atmosphere in Paris is not as conservative as that in London."

"Then I'd rather obey you than submit. Thank you for your generosity."

Miss Dresset asked the coachman to open the door for Arthur, Arthur got on the carriage, and the wheels started turning again.

Arthur first looked around the warmly decorated carriage, then sat in it and didn't know what to say, so he could only chat with Miss Dresset about tonight's events.

"You weren't hurt tonight?"

(End of this chapter)