36 Lancaster Gate, Westside London, Bayswater, at night.

There were few people on the promenade by Hyde Park, and at this time in the past, Arthur and the others had already finished dinner and gone back to the house to rest, but today the seats in the restaurant were crowded with young people from both sides of the English Channel, tall and short, fat and thin.

The Red Devil sat on the chandelier swinging with his legs crossed, looking from near to far from his perspective.

Sitting on the right side of the table are three Charles, Charles Darwin, who looks inexplicable, Charles Wheatstone, who is nervous, and Charles Dickens, who is carrying a dark green canvas bag.

Sitting on the left side of the table is also not to be underestimated: the Avengers, who have just been rejected three times with one click, vowing revenge: Alexandre Dumas, a fat French man who scolds the British for being illiterate, Alfred Tennyson, a Cambridge student who was inexplicably brought in, and Mr. Elder Carter, who somehow blends in with it and is so otherworldly that he looks out of place with everyone.

At the head of the table, Arthur sat next to Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, a candidate for the Failed Parliamentarian who was notorious in British literary circles and dreamed of the bankruptcy and liquidation of "Blackwood" every day.

Wheatstone looked back and forth at the group of people with his head deflated, and suddenly cautiously stretched out his hand: "Mr. Hastings, I don't think there's anything to do with me here, or I'd better go first." As you know, I've been in a hurry lately, and I've been in a hurry. ”

When Arthur heard this, he didn't say much, he just pointed to the door and said, "The door is over there." ”

When Wheatstone heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then said in ecstasy: "I know that you are not completely unreasonable. ”

He raised his ass and was about to leave the table, when he heard another snap, and a flintlock pistol slammed on the table.

Arthur pointed to the pistol and said, "The bullets are here." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wheatstone's newly raised ass was put back down, and he looked up to the sky and sighed, "I thought about it again, maybe I'm not in such a hurry." ”

Tennyson was also shocked to see this, he didn't know much about Arthur, and he didn't know the complicated feud between Arthur and Wheatstone.

He glanced at the gun on the table, then at the large, bright and spacious house, and asked tentatively, "Mr. Hastings, can I take the liberty of asking what you do?" ”

Before Arthur could answer, Alexandre Dumas was the first to answer for him, and the fat man leaned back in his chair and opened his mouth.

"Mr. Hastings has a lot of business, high seas raids, financial insiders, labor fraud, street fights, monkey breeding, secret imprisonment...... Anyway, most of the people you meet here have been persecuted by Mr. Hastings. ”

When Arthur heard this, he was not angry, he just said calmly: "Alexander, now that the Tories Cabinet has gone down, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' surveillance and protection order for you will also be revoked. If you want to move out, you don't have to apply to me. However, before leaving, please remember to settle your rent. ”

Dumas put one hand on the table, and the other took a piece of candy from the fruit bowl and threw it into his mouth: "Now there is one more, the suppression of French republicanism." ”

Tennyson, confused by the big hats that Dumas threw out one after another, asked, "Is Monsieur Hastings so bad?" I think judging from the song "Farewell to Cambridge", which won the gold medal, he should be a very peaceful and romantic person. By the way, Mr. Hastings, I forgot to ask you last time, which class of Cambridge did you graduate from? I don't think if I weren't a Cambridge student, I am afraid that I would not be able to have such a strong affection for Cambridge! ”

As soon as Tennyson finished saying this, Elder couldn't sit still again, and he asked with wide eyes, "Arthur's poem won a gold medal?" Still Cambridge? Are you sure you're not kidding? ”

Seeing that the situation was not right, Arthur hurriedly spoke: "Elder, I know that you, an Oxford graduate, are naturally hostile to Cambridge, but Alfred cannot be blamed for Cambridge's problems. Besides, don't you get along well with Charles? Have you forgotten? He is also a Cambridge graduate.

If you can get along well with Charles at Cambridge Christ's College, can't you get along well with Alfred, a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge? ”

Darwin was also much more intimate when he heard that Tennyson was actually his alumnus, and he stretched out his hand to the other party and said, "Mr. Tennyson, please don't pay attention to the rude faux pas of my vulgar friend, you know, he served in the Royal Navy, and the sailors there usually use some fierce words to express friendship. ”

"Yes...... Is that so? Tennyson will be skeptical.

But in any case, under Darwin's explanation, the matter was finally fooled.

Taking advantage of the gap between the review of the manuscript by the new editor-in-chief Disraeli, everyone soon began to chat, and the atmosphere in the restaurant gradually became lively.

Wheatstone looked restless in the midst of the chattering chatter, gritted his teeth and got up to Arthur's side, and whispered, "Mr. Hastings, what are you bringing me here for today?" Haven't all the things about losing guns been revealed? And you're going to make a literary magazine, what does that have to do with me, the musician? ”

When Arthur heard this, he just smiled and pressed him to the chair next to him: "Charles, don't be so anxious. I really want to treat you as a friend, think about it, since you met me, has your business been getting bigger and bigger? You should have received a lot of orders for gramophones these days, right?

Even if you make a profit of five pounds for a gramophone, according to its popularity in London social circles now, a few will be able to sell three or five hundred units in the future, which is an income of one or two thousand pounds. If you're willing to work a little harder, hire a dozen apprentices to work with you, boost productivity, and keep costs down, then maybe a slightly more affluent middle-class family will be willing to buy one.

Haven't you realized that you can rely on the invention of the gramophone for the rest of your life? ”

If Arthur had mentioned something else, Wheatstone might not have been receptive, but he did receive a lot of help from Arthur in the invention of the phonograph. And as Arthur said, these days he has accumulated orders for more than a hundred gramophones.

While Wheatstone has a social averse, he's been thinking about expanding production capacity lately.

As for dealing with his apprentices or something, in the face of glittering wealth, Wheatstone felt that he could still overcome it.

After all, the so-called social fear, it is only people who are afraid, and he has no trouble with money.

When Wheatstone heard this, he just pinched his chin and asked softly, "Actually...... I'm also thinking about hiring people. You may not know it, but since my grandfather's generation, we have been making musical instruments in the Wheatstone family, and my father also ran a musical instrument workshop, so he has a bit of experience in this area.

The gramophone is certainly a good new invention, but if I just open up a workshop for it, in case everyone buys it just to make it fresh, then when this heat passes, I will not only not make money, but also have to pay for the labor costs. ”

Arthur nodded and said, "You're right, but do you think the gramophone will be a three-minute heat?" In case you don't know, I went to the Royal Society a while ago, and according to Mr. Faraday, the gramophone is also hotly debated within the Royal Society, and many members have called it the best invention of the year. ”

When Wheatstone heard this, he was surprised and said, "This ...... While I think the phonograph is really amazing, the people at the Royal Society think so too? ”

"Of course." Arthur's smile was warm and innocent: "Not only that, but they are also going to give you another lecture dedicated to the phonograph." ”

"What did you say?!"

When Wheatstone heard this, he almost fainted directly while holding his heart: "Oh my God! Can't they come up with some good ideas? ”

The Red Devil sitting in the chandelier couldn't help but raise his brow when he heard this, he took a bite of the apple and muttered, "Fuck, Arthur, you're getting more and more skilled at doing this kind of thing." ”

Arthur glanced at the Red Devil, and then changed to a gentle voice and said in relief: "Mr. Wheatstone, don't always think badly about everything, think carefully about who is the audience of the Royal Society's lectures?" Mainly ladies above the middle class, this group of people has a strong spending power. As long as you are willing to stand on the podium, maybe you can bring hundreds of orders at a time, isn't that a good thing? ”

"Yes...... A good thing is a good thing...... But what about speeches......"

Wheatstone felt the hairs on his body stand up when he thought of the countless pairs of eyes converging on him, and even his calves and stomach were shaking.

"That's exciting! Arthur, I know I'm going to make some money doing this, but I'm afraid I'm going to be scared to death at the lecture, and now that the gun you gave me is gone, I really can't muster the courage.

Alas...... Arthur, even if I beg you, turn down the Royal Society's invitation for me, and as for publicity or something, I think I can think of other ways. ”

"Think of something else? Why do you need to think about it? Arthur leaned forward, his arms propped up on the table, and his chin was crossed with his hands: "Mr. Wheatstone, do you think that I invited you over today just to have a simple meal?" I'm trying to help you! I knew you might not like to advertise a new product through a lecture, so I had another plan in place. ”

Arthur patted Disraeli, who was concentrating on reviewing the manuscript next to him, and said, "Benjamin, come, you guys get to know each other." This is Charles Wheatstone, owner of our new magazine, owner of the phonograph, inventor of the phonograph, and a great figure in the field of British acoustics. ”

When Disraeli heard that the financier was actually sitting in front of him, he hurriedly put down the manuscript in his hand, shook Wheatstone's hand and shook it vigorously: "Alas! It turns out that you are the big businessman who wants to advertise for a year? I thought you were also here to submit, but it was rude. ”

"A year of advertising?" Wheatstone was dumbfounded when he heard this, and he raised his eyes and glared at Arthur beside him: "Mr. Hastings, when will I say ......?"

But before Wheatstone could finish speaking, Arthur interrupted him: "Actually, we currently have two candidates for advertisers, one is your Wheatstone Musical Instrument Company, and the other is the Royal Society. If you don't, we'll have to promote the Royal Society's regular monthly Wheatstone Lectures. ”

When Wheatstone heard this, he almost gritted his teeth, and he hissed and inhaled, and his chest rose and fell, but in the end, the foul language in his stomach turned into a long talk like resignation: "It's really not good, I'll spend some money." Mr. Hastings, why do you say you are doing this...... Actually, even if you don't mention it, I'm going to pay you for the record royalties of that "Bell". ”

Wheatstone was so cooperative, Arthur naturally couldn't let him chill, he reminded with a smile.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Wheatstone, you don't think you have filed a patent application with the Home Office yet, do you? IMHO, the principle of the phonograph is actually not that complicated, and if someone else sees it, I am afraid that similar imitations will soon appear. You may be able to establish your competitive advantage through technological upgrades, but it is also essential to seek protection from a legal point of view. ”

Wheatstone couldn't help but sigh when he heard Arthur take the initiative to mention the patent: "Of course I know that I have to apply for a patent, but if the patent approval process is complete, it is estimated that it will take a year and a half at the earliest. ”

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but be curious: "Is the patent application so complicated?" ”

Wheatstone nodded slightly: "Well, according to the process, I first have to prepare an application and attach a patent declaration that meets the strict specifications to submit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

After the Ministry of the Interior reviews and approves the application, it will issue a certificate that the Minister of State has obtained the application and send it to the Attorney-General. A patent report is then issued to His Majesty the King by the Home Office or the Chancellor's Hall.

The King then signed a letter of permission and asked the Attorney General to prepare a patent proposal, prepare a proposal and make two backups.

Upon receipt of the permit, the main case will be converted into a 'King's Proposal' and kept in the Seal Office.

One filing is stamped with the Secretary of State's seal and transformed into a 'Seal Proposal', the other is converted into a 'Royal Seal Proposal', and finally the corresponding 'Imperial Seal Proposal' with a patent model is submitted to the House of Lords for approval by the Royal Justice.

This process is time-consuming, laborious, expensive and human-friendly, after all, you should know that applying for a patent has to go through twenty or thirty statutory links, and if you want to pass it smoothly, it is absolutely impossible not to do it carefully. ”

Wheatstone had just said this, when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Dumas leaned back in his chair, leaned back, reached out and opened the doorknob, he looked out, and shouted at Arthur, "Arthur, looking for you." ”

"Looking for me?"

Arthur got up and walked to the door, and before he could see the face of the comer, he heard an anxious voice.

Charles Field, who had just been promoted to sergeant by Arthur, stood outside the door with a brand-new document in his hand: "Superintendent Hastings, something is wrong!" ”

Arthur frowned and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Field sighed and shoved the papers into Arthur's hand, "Take a look." ”

Arthur took the paper, glanced at it, and froze in place.

Decision of the Greater London Metropolitan Police to adjust the terms of reference of the East London Regional Superintendent Arthur Hastings

He hurriedly flipped to the next page of the document.

Just like the title of the document, the content of the document is not too complicated.

Arthur only glanced at it at a cursory glance, and quickly summed up the gist of the document - the removal of East London Regional Superintendent Arthur Hastings from all regional positions and the appointment of head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Greater London Metropolitan Police.

Although on the surface, it looks like he has been promoted, but from the perspective of a senior police officer at Scotland Yard, it is completely a kick to the fringe.

Because until this Saturday, Arthur had not heard of any dedicated criminal investigation unit at Scotland Yard.

In other words, it may have been less than a day since the establishment of this department.

Arthur continued to look down until he reached the last page of the document, and he figured out what was going on.

-- In response to the increasingly serious crime incidents, the Ministry of the Interior formally approved the establishment of a special criminal investigation department composed of elite members of the police force at the rank of sergeant and above, at the request of Charles Rowan, the director of the Greater London Metropolitan Police.

-- After the reorganization, the Criminal Investigation Department will be led by Superintendent Arthur Hastings, under the command of three sergeants, Charles Field, Tony Eckhart, and Tom Flanders, who will be responsible for the investigation of major cases.

The Red Devil stood beside Arthur and couldn't stop laughing just by glancing at the papers, grinning wide, dragging his saliva-stained red tongue at Arthur's calm face.

"Oh! Who's the? My dear Arthur! Have you become the commander of the light pole like me, the once majestic Duke of Hell? Luo Wan is really ruthless, and he cleans you up from top to bottom. ”

Arthur didn't answer Agareth, he just glanced at the Red Devil, and then put his arm on Sheriff Field's shoulder and smiled lightly: "It's not a big deal, Charles, at least the four of us are still together." Well, it's normal to have ups and downs, it's cold outside, do you want to come in and have a cup of tea? ”

When Field heard this, he still felt uneasy, and he asked, "Superintendent Hastings, do we need to prepare in advance?" To be honest, I just got this document, and many people probably don't know it. For example, Sheriff Jones in Whitechapel, do we need to talk to him? ”

"Jones?"

When Arthur heard the name, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the stars in the sky outside the door.

He blinked his reddish glimmer of eyes, but smiled, "I think he better understand something." ”

Today I will make this update, and today I have some new information, and I have to supplement the information.

(End of chapter)