Chapter 13: The Other Arthur
Chapter 13 The Other Arthur
The black carriage traveled slowly down the flat streets of Whitehall Street.
The middle-aged gentleman was sitting in the carriage, holding a stack of information in his hand that he was looking over.
And Mrs. Peel was sitting on the seat opposite him.
She smiled and said, “Wow! My dear, I really didn’t expect that you would have the time to come and see me in court today. Didn’t you used to be in your office at the residence at this hour?”
The middle-aged gentleman, or better known now as Sir Pierre.
He rubbed his sore temples and smiled in response to his wife.
“Where are the written documents in the residence to compare to your beautiful face? I’d rather sit here and look at you all day if I had the choice.”
Mrs. Peel’s complexion reddened and she was a little shy, but she still couldn’t hide the smile in the corner of her eyes.
“Robert, we’re an old married couple, you don’t have to do this with me. You talk about the papers being bad, but what is that thing you’re holding in your hand?”
“This?” Sir Peel held up the document in his hand, “The personal details of Sergeant Arthur Hastings.”
Mrs. Peel also became interested when she heard the name, “You’ve noticed that talented young officer as well?”
“He’s just shining today. Unless I’m blind, it’s hard not to notice him. Have you noticed that he resembles another friend of ours named Arthur, very much so.”
Mrs. Peel thought for a moment, “I presume you mean the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley? Oh dear, you must be confused.
While Mr. Duke is likewise a gentleman of integrity and with a sense of justice, he can’t be as gentle as Sergeant Arthur.
If Sergeant Arthur were to be replaced by the Duke of Wellington today, he would give the magistrate two lashes before the court even started.”
“Haha, my dear, that’s because you don’t know him well enough.
The Duke of Wellington isn’t always so grumpy; he’s only that way when he’s dealing with His Majesty.
He has emphasized to me countless times the principle of his friendships; he can tolerate someone who is stupid or bad, but he cannot tolerate someone who is both stupid and bad.”
Mrs. Peel almost laughed outright when she heard this; she wanted to laugh out loud but felt it would be rude, so she only took her handkerchief and covered her mouth.
“Does His Majesty the King know that you cabinet members talk about him like that behind his back?”
Sir Pierre playfully raised his eyebrows, “The remarks I just made are independent and separate, and have no relevance. Madam, there is nothing about His Majesty the King in this.”
“Robert, you’re a bad influence.” Mrs. Peel’s shoulders shook with laughter, “Well, then tell me about the similarities between the Duke of Wellington and Sergeant Arthur.”
“Everyone knows what a brilliant commander-in-chief the Duke of Wellington is; he is a natural genius of war.
At a time when everyone in the world thought that Napoleon was going to sweep Europe, it was he who told the world at the Battle of Waterloo just who was more worthy of the title of conqueror.
From India to Iberia to France and Holland, he was invincible.
Look at all the honors he received, not only as Field Marshal of England, but also of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Hanover, Spain, Portugal and the Netherland.
However, the man who was born for war often complained to me that the thing he hated most in his life was war, and after every battle he would say that it was the last time he would go to war.
But when the country needed him, it only took a gentle nudge for him to step forward again, braving shellfire to stand at the forefront of the war.”
Mrs. Peel thought for a moment and asked, “Do you think Sergeant Arthur was like that too?”
“Of course.” Sir Peel smiled and nodded, “And all I have to do now is simply give him a gentle push.”
Lady Peel agreed, “I also feel that Scotland Yard cannot afford to lose such a fine officer, it would be irresponsible to the public. But hasn’t he already decided to leave? How are you going to push him?”
Sir Peel lifted the curtains of the carriage as he pointed out the scenery, “My dear, don’t you realize that this is not the way home?”
Mrs. Peel glanced out the window at a four-story building with a tan-red facade as well as a green dome.
“The Admiralty building? What are we doing here?”
Sir Peel smiled, “I was just told by Sergeant Arthur that he intends to take another job in the Royal Navy.
But I think the Royal Navy has enough good people, there’s really no shortage of this one.
What’s more, as the Home Secretary in charge of Scotland Yard, I don’t intend to let go of my most outstanding officer either.
That’s why I’ve made a special trip to talk to some old friends at the Admiralty. I don’t suppose you’d mind if I accompanied them for a little drink later, ma’am?”
“Oh! Robert!” Mrs. Peel looked a little angry, “You have to work this afternoon.”
But Sir Peel had already responded to that, “My shift is done for the day. The only one still busy in the Cabinet right now is the Duke of Wellington who ran off to Windsor Castle to meet with His Majesty.”
“Duke Wellington, what is he doing at Windsor Castle?”
Sir Pierre shrugged, “Shouldn’t be going to see His Majesty for a duel anyway. Well …… probably not.”
……
At this moment, outside the audience hall of Windsor Castle.
The Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley walks down the steps quickly, without the slightest intention of turning back.
Behind him, an angry and snarling old man followed close behind.
His upper body clothing was incredibly flashy, a crimson cloak trimmed in gold and a silver-gray coat with wheat fringe decoration, at a glance, it was clear that it was of great value.
But strangely enough, the old man’s lower body was only covered with a pair of shorts that reached his thighs.
At a glance, it was clear that the old man must have chased after him too quickly and didn’t even have time to change into a full set of formal attire.
He roared at Duke Wellington, “Wellington! You stop right there!”
The Duke of Wellington did obediently stop, only he still didn’t turn around.
His cold voice was like the north wind in December: “Your Majesty, is there anything else?”
That old man was none other than George IV, the fourth king of the Hanoverian dynasty in England.
George IV’s eyes widened as he stretched out his hand that couldn’t stop trembling and angrily rebuked, “Those things you just submitted to me, what exactly do you mean?”
The Duke of Wellington said, “It is the literal meaning, if you can’t read it. I can simply repeat it for you.”
He turned around, stood at the bottom of the steps and looked up at the king and said, “The Parliament and the Cabinet have been bickering over Catholic Emancipation for more than ten years, and now it is with great difficulty that a consensus has been reached, which has led to this Catholic Emancipation Bill that has been recognized by all parties.
This is a hard-won thing, and I don’t intend to go back to Parliament or the Cabinet to rewrite it, because then it will be in the middle of endless wrangling again.
So you now have two choices.
Either you accept the first draft of the Catholic Emancipation Bill which I have just presented to the House of Commons and the Cabinet. And hereby assure the House of Commons and the Cabinet that you will not use your influence in the Peerage of the House of Lords to block the passage of the Bill.
Either that, or you can choose to accept my collective resignation, and that of the remaining fourteen members of the Cabinet, and re-select a member of the majority party whom you trust to come to power and form the Cabinet.
Or, if you prefer, you can call a new election. Anyway, this mess can be cleaned up by whomever you like, and I’m definitely not going to touch it once more.”
When George IV heard this, he was so angry that even his voice line trembled, “Wellington, you, you!”
But Wellington clearly didn’t care about the king’s attitude as he said, “If you still consider yourself the rightful monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, then approve the bill’s passage.
I am obliged to make it clear to you here that although I am as devout a believer in Protestantism as you are, the question of the emancipation of the rest of the Catholic sects can no longer be delayed.
The Kingdom is on the brink of civil war, and I have received reliable information that a large-scale rebellion will break out in the Irish region if the bill is rejected.
Therefore, I must also remind you once again that I will not accept your invitation to become Commander-in-Chief of the Army in the event of a rebellion in Ireland.
As for the exact choice, that is your right, you can see for yourself!”
At the end of his speech, the Duke of Wellington flung his sleeve and left.
George IV growled at his back, “Wellington, you! You! You! How dare you do this to me!!!”
The attendants on the side rushed forward to assist the old king who was almost falling down the steps, and they couldn’t stop their relief.
“Your Majesty, it’s better to forget about it, since he’s not afraid of Napoleon, you shouldn’t expect him to be afraid of you.”
“I …… I …… ah!!!” George IV fell to the ground with a black eye.
“Your Majesty? Your Majesty!” The attendants shook the king’s body, and after realizing that there was no response, then they all panicked: “Quickly, quickly call a doctor!”
(End of chapter)