In the hall, the gentlemen who had been happy gambling threw their pokers on the card table, and they rode on their chairs one by one, whispering about Arthur's origins.

Although not every gentleman likes music, they have heard of the 'Paganini frenzy' that caused a sensation in London a while ago.

Whether active or passive, almost every gentleman present took his wife or lover to a solo concert of Paganini, and even if they could not read the score, the melody was always memorized.

“La Campanella？”

"It's still the piano version."

"When did the London Philharmonic Society produce another outstanding pianist?"

"Let me guess where he's from, huh...... Not bald, maybe Vienna from Austria or Paris, France? ”

"Judging by hair is still not very reliable, even young gentlemen in Britain have very thick hair. But when he reaches our age, what should be done. ”

Mrs. Cowper smiled as she looked at Arthur, who was showing off his skills in front of the clubmates, and couldn't help but feel a little proud in her heart.

She politely put a finger between her lips and reminded the gentlemen behind her: "Gentlemen, please be quiet, and when Mr. Hastings is done playing, I will introduce him to you." ”

When the gentlemen heard this, they all smiled and closed their mouths.

Whether it was from the point of view of the courtesy lady, or from the point of view of respect for music, or for the sake of Mrs. Cooper's high position in the Allmark Club, they all quite sensibly agreed to her request.

As the performance reached its climax, the gentlemen felt as if the wine glasses on the table were fluttering with them.

Coupled with Arthura's powerful movements, either because he was a beginner or because he was accustomed to practicing sword moves, even a gentleman who was not proficient in music couldn't help but exclaim.

"It's like dancing."

"This kind of expressiveness shouldn't have been unknown before!"

"This way of playing is not only technical, but also powerful. You can see clearly that every time he jumps, he uses the strength of his arm, and the arm drives his fingers across 8 degrees, and then smashes down heavily, but he can stay just right, and it doesn't sound procrastinating. This shows that he has reached a fairly perfect level of use of arm and finger strength. ”

"Are you talking about playing the piano? How do I sound similar to how I practiced martial arts, a thin sword flowing at the wrist and a heavy sword flowing with an arm. When you say this, I feel that this young gentleman is a genius in practicing the piano, and if he goes to practice sword fighting for two years, he will definitely be able to achieve something. ”

Amid the discussion among the gentlemen, the performance gradually came to an end.

Viscount Palmerston and Viscount Melbourne descended the spiral staircase, one looking at Mrs. Cowper and the other at Mrs. Norton.

Two old men quietly stepped forward and stood behind the two ladies.

But women's sixth sense is always keen, and they are the first to perceive their arrival.

Mrs. Cooper's skin was fair and ruddy, her cheeks were flushed, and she couldn't tell that this was a woman in her forties, she grabbed Viscount Palmerston's arm and gently snuggled into his arms: "Henry, have you talked to William?" ”

Viscount Palmerston took off his hat and said with a smile: "It's just a small matter, William can handle it himself, and he doesn't need me." ”

When Mrs. Cowper heard this, she happily shook Mrs. Norton's hand beside her: "Caroline, I will say it, and the matter will definitely be resolved satisfactorily." It won't be long before you see Mr. Norton appear in the London courtroom. Judges are a good profession, and the income of more than a thousand pounds a year is enough for you and your children to live a good life.

With this income, you don't have to write those poems, and while female writers are a good career, the elegant ladies of the Norton family are still a little condescending to do this. Maybe you could consider waiting for your husband's job to settle down and take the children on a trip to mainland Europe? Whether it's Iberia, the Apennines, or France, the climate is much better there than in Britain. ”

When Mrs. Norton heard this, she first smiled reluctantly, she turned her head to look at the Viscount of Melbourne with a gentle smile behind her, and just lowered her head with a red face: "I...... I'll think about it. But until then, I wanted to be able to stay in Britain and take care of the housework. ”

When Mrs. Cooper heard this, she just stretched out her hand and patted the face of the lady twenty years younger than herself: "Caroline, don't be stupid. Even if you really can't bear it, there's no need to have the heart to divorce. Divorce is too costly for a woman, and even if you agree to leave the house, most of the time it will not be approved by the court.

Unless you really make up your mind to take this matter to the House of Lords, according to British law, you can only be separated from him if you have been diagnosed with mental illness. Do you want to be thrown at the Royal Hospital in Bertheme? Caroline, there's no going back to that place. ”

Mrs. Norton was pale with fright when she heard of the Royal Hospital in Bertlem, and she thought for a moment, and finally bowed her head in front of the noble Mrs. Cowper.

"Madame, I ...... I understand. ”

Mrs. Cowper nodded, she took Mrs. Norton's hand and comforted: "Actually, it's nothing if you don't get divorced, if you really can't reconcile, then you have separated at most, although divorce is not allowed by law, but how you each want to live, the law does not stipulate." If you want to open up a little, when my brother first encountered your situation, he was much more uncomfortable than you. ”

Hearing this, Viscount Palmerston also nodded: "Lady Norton, to be honest, in fact, you should have married William. Let Ponsonby go and be with your husband, two rotten people torture each other, and they can each get retribution. ”

When the Viscount of Melbourne heard this, he 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 to his mouth: "Henry, the past is over." I don't want to mention those things again, and you don't want to expose my scars. ”

Viscount Palmerston heard this, and also realized that he had lost his words, and he nodded apologetically: "William, I didn't mean to insult her, I'm just a friend, and I think you've been too miserable all these years." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Palmerston was the first to change the subject, and he leaned down and brought his face to Mrs. Cooper's side: "Emily, you haven't told me yet, who is that gentleman?" ”

Mrs. Cooper smiled and replied, "Henry, you should remember, I mentioned it to you. Mr. Arthur Hastings, the brilliant natural scientist and star of science, friend of Mr. Wheatstone, the great inventor of Great Britain, the best policeman in Great Britain, and the nemesis of the slave smuggling ship. ”

"Arthur Hastings?" When Viscount Palmerston heard this name, he was stunned for a moment, and then there was an indescribable smile on the corner of his mouth: "Ah...... I remember, my dear, I remember that you seemed to like him very much. ”

When Mrs. Cowper heard this, she only gently pinched Palmerston with her hand, and she blushed and lowered her voice and said angrily: "It's not that I like it, it's that I appreciate it, and I appreciate outstanding young people." Henry, I only like you. ”

Seeing her like this, Viscount Palmerston couldn't help laughing and said, "Of course, I knew that I was invincible at the age of 40-50 years old. Oh...... Maybe I'm not right, my friend William is here, but it's satisfying that I'm second after him. ”

In the midst of the laughter, the piano calmed down, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, put on his white gloves again, pushed away the stool and walked to the stage, he came to Mrs. Cowper and bowed slightly, and said, "Madam, I have finished my try, and the piano is in very good condition, and I think there should be no problem." ”

Mrs. Cowper smiled and held out her hand to Arthur, who was stunned for a moment, and then remembered that this was a common kiss in the upper class.

He bent down and grasped Mrs. Cooper's fingertips lightly, and as he searched his stomach and quickly recalled the "Guide to the Social Interaction of London's Upper Class" that he had read earlier.

Just as he was remembering how to kiss properly, Elder Ed, a delivery guy who was passing by with a plate and a low brim of his hat, saved his life.

"The other party has a high status, you bend your right leg to the knee in a half-kneeling position, and then shake hands and kiss him."

Arthur was relieved to hear this, and he did so, and then straightened his back again, and sure enough, no one saw anything unusual about him.

Mrs. Cowper said, "Mr. Hastings, I thought that the next time I saw you play, I would probably be in the concert hall, but I did not expect to meet you again at the Allmark Club. ”

Viscount Palmerston, who was on the side, also joined the conversation at the right time, and he held his wine glass and smiled: "Mr. Hastings, although I have known your name for a long time, this is the first time we have met. Director Rowan and I have mentioned you, a very competent police officer, and I believe you will have a good future at Scotland Yard. ”

Arthur had been observing the club for a long time, and the mere fact that he was so close to Mrs. Cooper was enough for him to guess the identity of the other party.

Merely......

Director Rowan praised my work ability in front of outsiders?

And it was said to a political bigwig who was about to take up a key role in the cabinet, how does this sound like nonsense.

However, Arthur didn't express what he thought in his heart, he just smiled and replied: "Compared with Director Rowan, I still have a lot of improvements. Truth be told, the newspapers exaggerated my role in policing. In fact, many of my ideas are guided by Director Rowan behind his back. ”

When the old fox Viscount Palmerston heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and he asked with a smile, "Is it?" ”

The old fox dared to listen, and the little fox Arthur naturally dared to make it up for him.

Arthur smiled: "That's right, Director Rowan's work ability is well known, and you know, when Sir Peel ordered him to form the Greater London Metropolitan Police Department with Sir Richard Mayne, all he got was a few offices near Scotland Yard, but in less than two years, Scotland Yard has grown into a huge team of nearly four thousand police officers."

In addition to this, most of the regulations in our policing manual were drafted by Director Rowan at the behest of Sir Peel, and you may not know how thick the booklet is, but he did it by himself. Sir Peel has always told me to listen to Director Rowan, who is a man of great experience.

And the facts also confirmed Sir Peel's point that we could not resist the riots in Hyde Park, and wanted to ask the Guards Cavalry for help and use force to suppress the demonstration. However, Director Rowan considered the adverse effects of the repression by force, and finally relied on the connection he had established with the Duke of Wellington when he served in the army, so he did not send the army to suppress it.

So as you can see, Director Rowan's decision was extremely correct, and he mobilized all the idle police forces from all over London to support me, and finally managed to deal with this crisis smoothly. ”

Arthur speaks with intention, Palmerston listens with intention.

The two foxes looked at each other and smiled, he walked to the wine cabinet and poured a little for Arthur and handed it over: "You're right, Rowan is indeed very capable. If it weren't for his ability, Peel would not have sent him to form Scotland Yard. However, perhaps you should meet your new boss here. ”

"New boss?" Arthur pretended to be surprised: "Could it be that the new Secretary of State has been decided?" ”

Viscount Palmerston smiled and pushed his old brother, Viscount Melbourne, to the front of the stage.

"Although this is a secret within the party, it is not good to celebrate it in advance," he said. But in order for the future to work, I suggest that you and the Viscount of Melbourne should have a conversation. ”

The Viscount of Melbourne was suddenly pushed to the front, and he could only helplessly stretch out his hand to Arthur: "Mr. Hastings, don't be nervous, the matter is not decided yet." Let's get to know each other in a private capacity today. However, I am also very interested in your work at Scotland Yard. I wonder if you have time to talk to me briefly? ”

The Viscount of Melbourne sent an invitation, and Arthur naturally had no reason to refuse.

He took off his gloves and was about to hold the hand of the Viscount of Melbourne, but at this time, Mrs. Norton on the side suddenly asked, "That...... Mr. Hastings? Do you remember me? ”

Arthur turned to look at her and smiled, "Of course I remember you, ma'am. You were there at General Codrington's party that day, but you didn't talk much, and I thought you were in a bad mood, so I didn't go up and talk to you. ”

Mrs. Norton looked a little cramped, and the presence of so many nobles made the twenty-two-year-old young lady very uncomfortable: "That day, poor...... I was in a bad mood, so I forgot to ask you about the gramophone...... That one...... If you're not busy, can you help me book one with Mr. Wheatstone? I forgot the address of the instrument shop. ”

Hearing this, Arthur smiled brightly, and he readily agreed, "Of course, it's on me." I'm sure Mr. Wheatstone will be happy to do more business, and by the way, there's a record of "The Bell", do you need a copy? ”

(End of chapter)