Evening, Bayswater District, 36 Lancaster Gate.

It was supposed to be dinner time, but today, the atmosphere in the living room is different from what it used to be.

Alexandre Dumas, Charles Darwin, next-door neighbor Disraeli and even Herr Carter were all at the desk as they put the finishing touches on filling in the main content of the first issue of the new magazine.

However, in an environment so quiet that only the rustle of writing can be heard, a cacophony of noise like an electric drill breaking the harmony.

Elder frowned more and more when he heard this, and he couldn't bear it anymore, so he had to slam the table and roar upstairs, "Arthur! If you're going to open a cotton mill, you can go to Lancashire, and you can't afford to be in London and torture us so much. ”

As soon as Elder finished speaking, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Arthur walked slowly down with the violin that Wheatstone had given him.

He said helplessly: "I thought that music was all the same, but now it seems that there is still a bit of distance between the pianist and the violinist. ”

Elder glared forward, snatched the violin from his hand, and asked, "Can't you write some of your detective papers at Scotland Yard when you're idle?" Now that the magazine is very short of content, as one of the shareholders, you have to go to the top in the most difficult time, right? ”

Arthur shrugged and said, "Detective Papers? What's the name? The main title "Hastings Detective Collection"? Subtitled "A Study of the Monkeys", or "The Hound from Nottingham"? I think these titles and themes may be suspected of plagiarism when they are written. ”

"Plagiarism?" Elder said, "I've never seen anyone on the market with a detective as the protagonist, who are you going to copy?" Besides, isn't writing any more money than working as a cop in Scotland Yard? If our magazine had been done this time, it would not have been a problem to pay a thousand pounds a year in dividends. And when it's over, you can still take it out separately and print it into a book, and then you can make a lot of money. ”

Arthur saw that Elder's eyes were glowing with gold, so he had to press down with his hands to signal him to calm down: "Then again, what are you going to write in the magazine?" ”

Elder heard that Arthur was interested in his masterpiece, and finally couldn't hold back his literary heart that had been dusty for many years, he brushed his collar and said seriously.

"You see, now Benjamin plans to serialize "The Young Duke" in magazines, Alexander serializes "The Count of Monte Cristo", Charles as a journalist serializes "The Pickwick Papers", our naturalist Charles plans to write a popular science book "The Monkey's Tale", and Tennyson in Cambridge prepares "Lyric Poetry".

Now our content is fashionable, naturalistic, and lyrical, but it lacks a bit of thick history, so I plan to adapt our English saga and write it into an easy-to-understand and popular book. By the way, I would like to remind you that the characters I want to write about are from my hometown of Nottingham. ”

When Arthur heard him say this, he immediately guessed what he was going to write: "You mean Robin Hood, the Grand Thief?" ”

Elder exclaimed: "Arthur, you deserve to have graduated from the Department of History of the University of London, and our students at the University of London have always had a level. ”

Arthur was calm about Elder's compliment: "I think the level of our University of London students can be a little higher on this basis. ”

After speaking, Arthur turned to frown and pinched his chin and said, "However, how can I vaguely remember that Robin Hood is Alexander's work?" ”

Dumas leaned back in his chair when he heard this, and said, "You're right, Elder, this bastard has to ask me for nine out of ten words, and it's almost the same as what I wrote." ”

Elder said angrily, "What do you mean that nine out of ten words are asked to you?" Whose advice is it to create a story based on Robin Hood? Who collects the information? And who has the power to decide where the story goes? I'm just asking you two questions, and looking at your stingy appearance, I don't know that I think you're of Dutch descent. If you do this again, I won't take you with me next time I go out! ”

As the saying goes, if you take a short hand and eat a soft mouth, Dumas could only pout when he saw him excitedly, and then obediently shut up and stopped talking.

Elder was finally satisfied when he saw that he was silent.

He turned to Arthur and said, "But you really don't think about writing a detective?" I asked my sister to ask her girlfriends, and the ladies seemed to be very curious about how the Scotland Yard detectives handled the case. If you can make such a book, you will definitely be able to push the magazine's sales to another level. ”

Arthur saw that Elder was so keen to encourage him to write a book, but he did not directly refuse.

He just patted the violin that was snatched by Elder and said, "Of course it's okay to write a book, but in this time, I have to get the concert done first." ”

"Concert?" Elder was stunned for a moment, then patted his head and said, "I almost forgot about this stubble, did you promise the London Philharmonic Society to be their pianist?" Oh! Damn, Arthur, sometimes I really have to envy you, except for the two of us in terms of personal cultivation, I have been thrown out by you in almost every other way, especially in terms of the ability to make money, the two of us are really one heaven and one place. ”

Arthur spoke, "It's not all about making money, have you forgotten that Mrs. Levine and Mrs. Cowper sent someone to me to book tickets for the concert?" The two ladies are of noble status, and if they are dragged all the time, it is not only ungentlemanly, but also violates basic social etiquette. So I'm going to take advantage of this time to cash in on the gramophone and concert tickets for them. ”

"Mrs. Levine?" When Elder heard this, he couldn't help but think of the painful memories of that party: "Fuck, Arthur, what a good thing you did. Mrs. Levine, that's Mrs. Levine! ”

Arthur heard Elder repeatedly emphasizing, and immediately smelled the breath of intelligence, Elder this kid may know something.

He pretended to know nothing and asked, "What is wrong with Mrs. Levine?" But the wife of the Russian ambassador, Count Levin, and one of the female patrons of the Olmark Club, Mrs. Cooper is no worse than her, and you have urinated in Mrs. Cooper's arms, so don't worry about Mrs. Levine. ”

Elder sighed, "Arthur, this is different. Mrs. Levine has a lot more tidbits than Mrs. Cooper, and there are more political and business celebrities who are rumored to have affairs with Mrs. Levine. If you haven't had any news with Mrs. Levine, it just means that you are not a person in Europe. ”

Arthur asked, "So who are the big men in Europe?" ”

Elder crossed his fingers and counted them one by one: "For example, Metternich, the Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire, our new Foreign Secretary, Viscount Palmerston, and of course, our former Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington......"

"Duke of Wellington?" When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and muttered: "Sleeping next to Mrs. Levine's pillow can't find out the news, His Excellency the Duke actually has the face to send me to investigate?" ”

Elder asked, "Arthur, what do you say?" ”

Arthur mumbled, "Nothing, I mean, is there anything about Sir Peel here?" ”

"Sir Peel?" Elder shook his head and said, "Sir Peel is quite decent in this respect, he and Lady Peel are very affectionate, and everyone regards them as a model couple. ”

Arthur nodded slightly: "It's really not easy." After all, people like the Viscount of Melbourne who were able to maintain a marriage with Lady Ponsonby for twenty years now have their eyes on flowers elsewhere. It is indeed a big test not to mess with the relationship between men and women in political circles. ”

Elder heard Arthur mention the Viscount of Melbourne, and couldn't help but squeeze his eyebrows and asked: "Speaking of the relationship between Lady Norton and the Viscount of Melbourne, have you found out?" Between the two of them, isn't there something that is not easy to talk about in public......"

Arthur decides to satisfy Held's intellectual curiosity.

He spoke, "According to what I have learned so far, although Mrs. Norton and Mr. Norton are not divorced, the two of them have de facto separated. Mrs. Norton was a frequent visitor to the Home Secretary's residence, and the two had recently attended a banquet at the Olmark Club, but I have no crucial evidence of their breakthrough so far. So under the existing conditions, I am inclined to believe that the two of them are still innocent for the time being. ”

"Innocent? It can't be, right? Elder grinned, and he poked Arthur with his elbow: "You say, is it possible that the two of them are in the Home Secretary's residence, what ......?"

Arthur firmly denied his friend's unwarranted suspicions: "Held, the Home Office is not the Royal Navy, and we can't just find a cabin and close the door here. The Viscount Melbourne's office was bustling with people every day, and I don't think they could talk about the origins of species in the intervals between the officers coming and going. ”

"Why not? What do you think......" Elder was about to argue with Arthur, but before he could finish his sentence, there was a knock on the door.

Disraeli's eyes lit up, and the newly appointed editor-in-chief of the magazine rushed to the door in a hurry, opened the door with a smile on his face, and said, "Is it Alfred or Charles who is here to deliver the manuscript?" ”

Unexpectedly, when the door was opened, there were two faces standing outside the door that he didn't recognize, one was Officer Tom in a police uniform, and the other was Alan Pinkerton, a squid from Scotland Yard with an unhappy face.

When Arthur saw them, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Tom, didn't I ask you to send him back to his father in Glasgow?" How did you get him back? ”

Tom looked at Arthur and sighed sadly, he patted Pinkerton on the back of the head and said, "Unfortunately, I took him to the Glasgow Police Station, but the officers there told me that this kid's father died of illness last year. His mother also remarried at the beginning of the year, and I followed the guidance of the police officers to find his mother.

But the lady didn't seem to want to see her son, and she just told me tactfully that Aaron was old enough to support himself as an apprentice. And this boy seems to have been apprenticed to a distant relative of his before coming to London.

I was going to send him back to the barrel workshop, but the boy told me that if I sent him there, it wouldn't be long before he would run away again. He doesn't reject the bucket, but he doesn't like to be in the workshop. If he stays there, he won't be able to eat every day if he can't complete his mission......

Well...... Arthur, I'm ...... I don't know how to talk to you about this...... Alas...... It's useless to blame me, and I know that the bureau doesn't hire child labor, but this kid said he could, and begged me to give him a chance, you see......"

Pinkerton saw Tom's embarrassed appearance and felt a little sorry for him.

Along the way, he caused Tom a lot of trouble, but instead of blaming him, the officer took a lot of pictures of his rebellious behavior.

Tom listened patiently to his grievances and complaints.

Tom also tries his best to solve his problems and ideas.

And now, Tom still has to make non-point demands on his boss for the sake of his whimsical willfulness.

Although Pinkerton is still a teenager, he has experienced all the warmth and coldness of the world.

He took Tom's hand and mustered up the courage to raise his head to meet Arthur's dark eyes: "I...... Mr. Hastings, I hope you can give me a chance. I've never been a police officer, but I've seen my dad do it. Don't look at me young, but I'm not going to hold back. If I do well, you will pay me a salary, and if I do not do well, I will not complain if you send me directly to the workhouse. ”

Arthur leaned against the door, looking down at the imp in front of him, who was not yet his chest, and asked in a spotless tone, "Did Tom teach you this?" ”

Hearing this, there was a trace of panic on Pinkerton's face, and he hurriedly waved his hand: "No, sir, don't get me wrong, these words are all thought up by myself, and they have nothing to do with Officer Tom." ”

Arthur just smiled and touched his head: "It seems that my expectations for you are too high, I thought that famous detectives were born, just like musicians." But now it seems that detectives are slowly cultivated. Aaron, you're still a long way from being a good detective. ”

When Alun heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes were covered with a layer of tears: "Black...... Mr. Hastings, do you mean by saying that you want to reject me? ”

Arthur nodded slowly: "I'm sorry, Aaron, Scotland Yard does not consider charging any minors, this is an internal regulation regulation, and I have no right to ask Scotland Yard to change the rules for you." If you're looking forward to your police father, you can wait until you're an adult. ”

Although Tom on the side had been mentally prepared for this result for a long time, when Arthur spoke, he couldn't help but feel a little lost, he took off his hat and apologized to Arthur: "I'm sorry, Arthur, for making it difficult for you." ”

He pulled Aaron and was about to go back, but no matter how he dragged him, Aaron, who had a donkey temper, was silently dripping tears and unwilling to turn around.

In desperation, Tom could only pick up Aaron and carry it on his shoulder, Tom patted him on the back while comforting: "It's no big deal, it's getting late, let's go home for dinner first." As for your work, I'll figure it out for you. I remember that your Uncle Tony has a carpenter's relative in London, but he can't do it, so I'll take you up there tomorrow and ask him. ”

But as he was about to step away, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Then, a warm voice rang out behind him: "Tom, I just said that Scotland Yard doesn't accept children, but I didn't say that LPS doesn't accept boy soldiers." ”

Tom jerked, and Pinkerton, who was sobbing on his shoulder, looked up in a daze, and he met Arthur's smiling face.

After being stunned, Tom's face was full of joy: "Arthur ......"

However, before he could say his words of thanks, Arthur interrupted him: "But I'll say the ugly thing first, this little ghost was recruited by you, so naturally you are also responsible for managing his daily life and work training." If something goes wrong in the future, you're half the blame too. If you don't have any doubts about that, I can provide him with a work agreement right now. ”

As soon as Arthur's words were finished, Tom agreed without thinking, and he saluted Arthur excitedly: "Of course, sir! ”

Seeing him like this, Arthur did not respond directly to Tom, but leaned down and stared into Pinkerton's eyes: "Little ghost, doing things for LPS is not as easy as you think, once I find out that your job is not up to standard, I will not send you to the workhouse, but will send you to the Royal Navy Beagle."

You may not know that the last time you stole the pocket watch, it was the personal belongings of one of the crew members of the Beagle. So, you know, if you go there, you're definitely not going to have a good life. Now I'm going to give you one last piece of advice, if you choose to go back now, it's still too late. I'll give you a minute to think about whether to go or stay, and it's up to you to decide. ”

Pinkerton's eyes were fixed on Arthur, his teeth clenched, his body trembling, his fists clenched, as if he was struggling to think hard.

He turned his head to look at Tom, who was sweating on his forehead and smiling on his face, and finally, in the silence, Pinkerton slowly raised his arm and saluted Arthur, following Tom's example of what his father had done: "Yes!" Sir! ”

Seeing him like this, Arthur just smiled, he stretched out his hand and grabbed Pinkerton's right hand in the salute, and raised his palm up: "That's right, the police salute in the same posture as the Army, with the palm facing outward, aimed at the temple." Palm-down is the etiquette of the Royal Navy, and the reason for this is that they work on ships, so the palms are usually not very clean. ”

Pinkerton said blankly, "Are the policemen's hands usually clean?" ”

Arthur shook his head and chuckled, "Of course not, the hands of the police are also full of blood, so we need to wear white gloves to cover up what we have done or planned to do." Aaron, the LPS you joined did something like this. Are you ready? ”

(End of chapter)