Shadow of great britain

In the coffee shop, Elder and Arthur talked about matters about the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Suddenly, Officer Tom, who was listening to Darwin's lecture, suddenly stood up, nodded apologetically to Darwin, then came to Arthur and whispered.

"Arthur, I would like to take a leave of absence from you this afternoon."

Arthur asked: "Are you asking for leave? Is there something going on at home?"

Tom crossed his hands and lowered his head, looking a little embarrassed: "It's true... something is indeed wrong."

When Tony saw it, he couldn't help scolding: "Tom! You always look like this! As a man, can you straighten your waist? If you ask for leave, just ask for leave. Why do you look like you have done something wrong? Ya?" Ser is not Willocks, do you think he will deduct your salary?"

Tom turned back and glared at Tony angrily: "Don't I feel sorry for Arthur? I asked for leave on the first day he transferred us to the district police station. How embarrassing!"

Arthur didn't take this matter to heart, but he also saw that Tom must have something on his mind.

So, he pointed at the clock in the cafe and asked: "It's not a big deal to ask for leave. But it's almost twelve o'clock now, why don't you stay for lunch before leaving. You're welcome today, the meal expenses for the four of you are all I'll treat."

Elder, who was sitting opposite Arthur, heard this and said with a smile: "Yo! Arthur! It's different when you become a police inspector. You become so lavish in your dealings. Now how much do you get in a year?" ah?"

Arthur glanced at him and said calmly: "About a hundred pounds."

"You can have one hundred pounds without any hidden income? Ha! Then I'm not welcome!"

Elder turned his head and shouted to the waiter at the bar: "Bring me four more oysters! By the way, remember to remove the leech eggs!"

After saying that, Elder asked Tom cheerfully: "Brother, what do you want to eat? I'll order it for you."

When Tom heard this, he waved his hands repeatedly: "I don't have to, I'm in a hurry, so I won't have lunch."

Arthur picked up the coffee cup and took a sip, pretending to be casual and asked: "Why are you in such a hurry? Your wife is going to give birth? If she is going to give birth, I can give you a few more days off, so there is no need to rush." return."

When Tom saw that Arthur cared so much about him, he was too embarrassed to keep it a secret.

He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, lowered his head and said, "My wife is still some time away from giving birth, so don't worry. I'm asking for leave for little Adam. Today is the day he is released from prison."

Arthur frowned and asked: "What does Adam's release from prison have to do with you? Are you planning to pick him up?"

Tony also echoed: "Oh, Tom, you are such a bad guy. It's not the first time that kid has been in jail. He knows the way home."

Tom blushed, his neck was thick, and he held it in for a long time before he mustered up the courage to speak.

"Arthur, Tony, you two may not know. The day before yesterday, Adam's gambler father got drunk and got into a fight on the street, beating a man seriously.

The verdict of the Magistrates Court came out yesterday. The final sentence was fourteen years of exile in Australia and a fine of twenty pounds.

When I was ordered by the court to go to Adam's house to collect the debt, I discovered that Adam's mother had already run away with the valuables in the house.

His father is in exile and his mother is missing. You should also know what happens to children who encounter this situation these days.

Either work as child labor in a factory and die on the production line. Or he could continue to do petty theft on the streets, and if he was lucky enough to be beaten to death in the street, it would be possible.

In any case, there was no way he would survive to adulthood.

Last night, after I told my wife about this, she said she might as well adopt Adam.

I thought about it and realized what my wife said made sense.

Although my family is a bit poor, but, as for raising one child and taking care of two, there should be no difference..."

After listening to Tom's words, everyone present didn't say a word. They just looked at Tom and smiled.

Tom's face turned red and he waved his hands shyly: "Why are you all staring at me?"

Elder held a toothpick in his mouth and gave Tom a thumbs up: "Awesome, brother!"

Darwin closed the book and said: "Officer Tom, you have been apologizing to me just now, saying that you are too stupid and can't be taught no matter how hard you teach me. But in my opinion, stupidity is not the problem, but lack of conscience is the problem."

Tony waved his hand and gave him a slap on the head. He laughed and cursed casually: "Damn it, you kid! I thought you were going to do something immoral! Why are you hiding this kind of thing?"

As for Arthur, he stood up and patted Tom on the shoulder, pursed his lips and smiled.

"Tom, everyone says that I am the most classy man in Scotland Yard. But I disagree. Because in my opinion, you are the most classy man in Scotland Yard!"

When Tom heard this, his red face finally couldn't help but smile.

His face was covered with sweat, but this did not affect him from standing at attention and giving the most standard salute to Arthur.

"Learn from you, sir!"

Arthur patted his arm, took out two bills from his pocket and stuffed them into his pocket: "Go ahead. You don't have to eat, but I still have to pay for your meal today. No refusal is allowed, because this It’s an order.”

"Yes, sir!"

Arthur watched Tom walk out of the cafe door and felt that the dark clouds and drizzle outside the window had become a little beautiful.

"Everyone, just order whatever you want to eat."

As soon as he finished saying this, the bell in the coffee shop rang again.

A uniformed police officer pushed open the door and came in. He looked around and ran towards him immediately after spotting Arthur.

"Sir, someone from the district police station came and said he was looking for you."

"Looking for me? Are you here to report a crime?"

The police officer shook his head and said: "Probably not. That person has been here for several days in a row. But you were on vacation a few days ago, so he missed everything. Today, after he knew you were here, he said he had to see you at all costs. Be willing.”

Elder took a bite of the oyster that was just served and muttered: "Who is he? So stubborn?"

The police officer seemed to be speechless about the uninvited guest. He replied: "Anyway, he is a strange man, but he doesn't look like a thug. He is dressed seriously, with a cross hanging on his chest. He looks like a priest. .”

"Pastor?" Elder joked at Arthur: "Could he be an ultra-purist person from the state religion, deliberately coming to cause trouble for you, a non-conformist police inspector? Arthur, if you fight later, But he might as well change the letter on the spot and save himself a lot of trouble."

In fact, Arthur himself doesn't care about religious beliefs. He doesn't believe in the state religion simply because there are too many state churches in London.

Because Scotland Yard has a troublesome rule, if the police are Anglicans, they need to go to church in a team every Sunday morning.

In order to be lazy on Sunday, Arthur pretended to be Catholic.

Moreover, he has always claimed to be a fundamentalist, so for him, all churches in London are not authentic and authentic, and do not conform to his understanding of the church, so he refuses to participate in all religious activities organized by Scotland Yard.

If it weren't for the fact that non-believers were not very socially acceptable in this era, Arthur wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble.

After hearing what the police officer said, he sighed helplessly: "Forget it, take me to meet him."