Chapter 195: Cabinet Link (K)
Chapter 194 – Cabinet Connection (4K)
Inside the hall, the gentlemen who had been gambling happily threw the poker in their hands onto the card table, and one by one, they rode on their chairs, discussing in whispers about Arthur’s origin.
Although not every gentleman liked music, they had heard of the ‘Paganini Frenzy’ that caused a sensation in London a while ago.
Regardless of whether it was active or passive, almost every gentleman present had taken his wife or lover to a Paganini recital, and even if they couldn’t read the sheet music, the melody could always be memorized.
“La Campanella?”
“Or the piano version.”
“When did the London Philharmonic Society produce another distinguished pianist?”
“Let me guess where he’s from, well …… not bald, maybe from Vienna, Austria or maybe Paris, France?”
“It’s still not very reliable to judge by hair, even the young gentlemen of Britannia are equally lush in their hair. But when he reaches our age, what’s done is done.”
Mrs. Cowper looked smilingly at Arthur, who was making a big show of himself in front of the club members, and couldn’t stop feeling a little smug.
She politely put one finger up between her lips and reminded the gentlemen behind her, “Gentlemen, please keep your voices down, and I’ll introduce Mr. Hastings properly to you when he’s finished playing.”
When the gentlemen heard this, one of them smiled back and shut up.
Whether from the point of view of courtesy to the lady, or respect for the music, or for the sake of Mrs. Cowper’s exalted position in the Ormac Club, they all quite sensibly agreed to her request.
As the performance reached its climax, the gentlemen felt only as if the glasses on the card table were trembling with it.
Combined with Arthur’s powerful movements, formed either by his beginnings or by his habit of practicing sword strokes, even the gentlemen who were not well versed in music could not help but marvel.
“It’s almost like dancing.”
“This kind of expressive power shouldn’t have been unknown before at all!”
“This way of playing is not only skillful, but also powerful. You guys see clearly, every time he skips a note, he uses the power of his arm, which drives his fingers across 8 degrees, and then smashes down heavily, but stays just right, sounding without dragging. It shows that he’s gotten quite perfect in his use of arm and finger power.”
“Are you talking about playing the piano? Why does it sound similar to the fighting arts I practiced, the wrist flow of the thin sword versus the arm flow of the heavy sword. When you say it like that, I have a feeling that this young gentleman is being condescending by practicing the zither, and that he would definitely be able to achieve something if he went to practice sword fighting for two years.”
Amidst the gentlemen’s discussion, the recital gradually came to an end.
Viscount Palmerston and Viscount Melbourne stepped down the spiral staircase, and one of them looked at Lady Cowper and the other at Lady Norton.
The two older men stepped forward quietly and stood behind the two ladies.
But the sixth sense of women is always keen, and they were the first to perceive their approach.
Mrs. Cowper, whose skin was fair and rosy, and whose cheeks were flushed, and who could not see at all that this was a woman in her forties, took Viscount Palmerston by the arm, and gently nestled herself in his bosom: “Henry, have you and William talked it over?”
Viscount Palmerston took off his hat and said with a smile, “A small matter, William can take care of it by himself, I can’t be used.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Cowper also happily shook the hand of Mrs. Norton who was beside her, “Caroline, I told you, things will surely be resolved satisfactorily. It won’t be long before you see Mr. Norton appearing in a London courtroom. Judge is a good profession, more than a thousand pounds a year, enough to let you and the children live a good life.
With that income, you won’t need to write those verse novels either, and while female authorship is a fine profession, it’s still slightly condescending for the elegant ladies of the Norton family to do it. Perhaps you might consider taking the children on a trip to the Continent when your husband’s job stabilizes? Whether it be Iberia, the Apennines or perhaps France, the climate there is much better than in Britain.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Norton first reluctantly smiled, she twisted her head to look at Viscount Melbourne behind her who had a gentle smile on his face, only to lower her head with a red face, “I …… will think about it. But before that, I still want to be able to stay in Britannia to get my housework sorted out.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Cowper just reached out and patted the face of this lady twenty years younger than herself, “Caroline, don’t be silly. Even if you really can’t stand it, there’s no need to hold out for a divorce. Divorce is too costly for a woman, and even if you agree to a clean break, you most likely won’t get court approval.
Unless you’re really determined to take this to the House of Lords, according to the laws of Britain, you can only be separated from him if you’re diagnosed as insane. Do you want to be thrown into the Royal Hospital in BETHLEHEM? Caroline, there’s no going back to that place.”
Mrs. Norton’s face paled with shock at the sound of the Bettlem Royal Hospital, and after a moment’s thought, she finally bowed her head before the aristocratic Mrs. Cowper.
“Madam, I …… understand.”
Mrs. Cowper nodded, she held Mrs. Norton’s hand and comforted, “In fact, it’s nothing if you don’t get divorced, if you really can’t reconcile it, then at most you’ll live separately, although divorce is not permitted in the law, but how each of you wants to live, the law does not stipulate. Think about it, when my brother first encountered your situation, it was much harder for him than for you.”
Viscount Palmerston sniffed and nodded his head as well, “Mrs. Norton, to be honest, you actually should have married William. Let Ponsonby go and be with your husband, two rotten people tormenting each other, and they each get what’s coming to them.”
Hearing this, Viscount Melbourne half-opened his mouth to say something, but due to the large number of people in the hall, he finally swallowed the words that came out of his mouth, “Henry, the past is the past. I don’t want to mention those things again, and you shouldn’t reveal my scars.”
Viscount Palmerston listened and also realized that he had slipped up, he nodded his head with an apologetic hold, “William, I didn’t mean to insult her, I just, as a friend, felt that you have been living in too much pain all these years.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Palmerston took the lead in changing the topic, he bent down and brought his face to Mrs. Cowper’s side, “Emily, you haven’t told me yet, that gentleman is?” Mrs. Cowper smiled and responded, “Henry, you will remember, I mentioned it to you. That brilliant naturalist, friend of Mr. Faraday, the star of science, and Mr. Wheatstone, the great inventor, the finest policeman in Great Britain, the nemesis of slave smuggling ships, and Superintendent of Scotland Yard, Mr. Arthur Hastings.”
“Arthur Hastings?” Viscount Palmerston heard this name, first stared, then the corners of his mouth more than a trace of indefinable smile: “Ah …… I remember, my dear, I remember you seem to be very fond of him.”
Mrs. Cowper sniffed, just gently pinched Palmerston with her hand, she blushed and lowered her voice in anger, “It’s not like, it’s appreciate, I appreciate outstanding young people. Henry, I only like you.”
Viscount Palmerston looked at her like this, couldn’t help but laugh out loud and said, “Of course, I have known that I am invincible in the age group of 40-50 years old. Wow …… maybe I’m not right to say that, after all, my friend William is here, but after him I’m in second place is also very satisfying.”
The sound of the piano subsided amidst loud laughter and Arthur took a long breath and put his white gloves back on, pushing off his stool and walking towards the stage, he came to Mrs. Cowper and bowed slightly and curtsied, “Ma’am, I’m done with the test, the piano’s in perfect condition, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
Mrs. Cowper smiled and stretched out her hand at Arthur, who first looked stunned, then remembered that this was a common kissing gesture in the upper class.
He bent down and gently held Mrs. Cowper’s fingertips while searching his mind and hurriedly recalling the “Guide to Socializing in London’s Upper Class” that he had read earlier.
While he was trying to remember how to kiss properly, he was saved by Elder, the delivery boy, who was passing by with a tray of food and the brim of his hat lowered.
“The other person is of high status, and you bend your right leg at the knee in a half-kneeling position before shaking hands and kissing.”
Arthur was relieved to hear this, and he did as he was told, then straightened his back again, and sure enough no one could tell that he was in any way different.
Mrs. Cowper said, “Mr. Hastings, I was afraid that the next time I would see you play would be in a concert hall, but I didn’t expect to meet you again at the Ormac Club.”
Viscount Palmerston, who was on the side, also joined the conversation at the right time, holding his wine glass, he smiled and said, “Mr. Hastings, although I knew of your great name from a long time ago, this is the first time that I have met you. Director Rowan and I have mentioned you, a very capable police officer, I believe you will have a good future in Scotland Yard in the future.”
Arthur had actually been observing the situation in the club early on, and just by virtue of the fact that he could be so close to Mrs. Cowper, it was enough for him to guess the other party’s identity to a tee.
Only ……
Director Rowan praising my workmanship in front of outsiders?
And it was also said to a political bigwig who was about to assume a key cabinet role, how does this sound like bullshit.
But Arthur didn’t show what was in his mind, he just smiled and said back, ”Compared to Director Rowan, there are still a lot of places I have to improve. To be honest, the newspapers have overstated the role I play in policing. In fact, many of my propositions have Director Luo Wan’s guidance behind them.”
The old fox Viscount Palmerston couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow when he heard this, and he asked with a smile, “Is that so?”
The old fox dared to listen, and the young fox Arthur naturally dared to make it up for him.
Arthur laughed, “That’s right, Director Rowan’s work ability is well known, as you also know, when Sir Peel ordered him and Sir Richard Mayne to form the Greater London Police Department, he was given nothing more than a few offices near Scotland Yard, but it’s only been less than two years, Scotland Yard has already grown into a huge force sitting at nearly four thousand police officers.
On top of that, most of the regulations in our policing handbook were drafted by Director Rowan at the behest of Sir Peel, and you may not realize how thick that booklet is, but he made this thing happen the hard way. Sir Peel has also always told me to be at the disposal of Director Rowan, who is an able man with a great deal of experience in the work.
And the fact also verified Sir Peel’s point of view, to deal with the Hyde Park riot that time, we were almost unable to withstand, want to directly to the close guard cavalry regiment to ask for help to send out force to suppress the parade. But Mr. Rowan, considering the adverse effects of forceful suppression, finally persuaded the Duke of Wellington by virtue of the connection he had established with him when he was serving in the army, and only then did he refrain from using the army to suppress the march.
So as you can see the result, Director Rowan’s decision was incredibly correct, he mobilized all the unused police forces in the whole of London to come and support me, and finally handled this crisis smoothly.”
Arthur spoke with intent, and Palmerston listened with intent.
The two foxes smiled at each other as he walked over to the wine cooler and poured Arthur some and handed it over, “You’re right, Rowan is indeed very capable. If it wasn’t for ability, Peel couldn’t have sent him to form Scotland Yard. But perhaps you should meet your new boss here.”
“New boss?” Arthur pretended to be surprised, “Could it be that the new Home Secretary has already been decided?”
Viscount Palmerston smiled and pushed his old brother, Viscount Melbourne, to the front of the stage.
He introduced, “Although this is a party secret, it is not good to celebrate in advance. But for the sake of smooth work in the future, I suggest that you and Viscount Melbourne should have a chat.”
Viscount Melbourne was suddenly pushed to the front, and could only helplessly extend his hand at Arthur, “Mr. Hastings, don’t be nervous, things are not confirmed yet. Let’s just get acquainted in a personal capacity today. However, I am also really interested in the work of your Scotland Yard. I wonder if you have the time to accompany me for a brief talk?”
Viscount Melbourne issued an invitation, and Arthur naturally had no reason to refuse.
He took off his gloves and was about to shake Viscount Melbourne’s hand, unexpectedly at this time, Mrs. Norton, who was on the side, suddenly opened her mouth and asked, “That …… Mr. Hastings? Do you still remember me?”
Arthur turned his head to look at her and smiled, “Madam, of course I remember you. You were present at General Codrington’s party that day, but didn’t speak much, and I thought at the time that you were in a bad mood, so I didn’t take the liberty of going up and striking up a conversation.”
Mrs. Norton looked a little short of breath, the presence of so many honored men made this young lady of twenty-two years old very uncomfortable: “That day, poor …… I was indeed in a somewhat bad mood, and that is why I forgot to ask you about the phonograph …… that …… If you are not busy, could you reserve one for me at Mr. Wheatstone’s? I forgot the address of that musical instrument house.”
Arthur’s smile broadened as he heard this, and he readily agreed, “Of course, it’s on me. I’m sure Mr. Wheatstone will be happy to do an extra business as well, and by the way, there’s also the record of The Bells, do you need a copy of that?”
(End of chapter)