Hastings House, 36 Lancaster Gate, Bayswater District, London.

Disraeli sat at the table, excitedly tapping his fingers on the table, the gentleman who claimed to be good in his own nature finally tasted victory for the first time after so many years of disadvantage.

His joy was written entirely on his face, and the gentleman, who had always tried to perfect his image as a gentleman with a decent appearance, fashionable clothes, and a cold and reticent attitude, was today transformed into a man of speech.

Ever since he walked into Arthur's house, he had been babbling incessantly.

"Damn! The first issue of 1,500 copies of The Brit was sold out, and an additional 1,000 copies had to be printed on an ad hoc basis, and although it included 800 free copies of the promotional materials given away at the Coburg Theater, it was still a great victory for a newly launched magazine! I knew that the reason why the "Representative" I ran before failed was entirely because of the bitch who raised Maury. Where is it so difficult to run newspapers and magazines! ”

Dickens, who temporarily served as the bookkeeper of "The British", bit his pen on the side, he looked at the accounts in front of him and said: "Not only have we sold 2,500 copies, but we have also received more than 100 applications for long-term subscriptions for one year. Maybe we can already start thinking about hiring a few newspaper postmen. ”

When Arthur heard this, he looked at the newspaper and said: "Maybe it's not so urgent, I have a certain weight of free mail benefits in the General Post Office every year, and I don't use this year's share at all, it's November now, and my share should have no problem dealing with this year's magazine mailing."

Wait until next year, if the circulation increases, maybe we can also consider using the Rothschild courier delivery business, everyone says that the Rothschild family is the best in the mail delivery business, except for the banking industry. And we have an equity tie with them, so I'm sure they'll be happy to take the deal as well. ”

When Elder heard this, he couldn't help but whistle: "Arthur, can you not be so petty, the first issue will sell two thousand and a half, the next issue will be five thousand copies, and the next issue will be ten thousand copies, we will soon be a big magazine, hire two postmen, what's the big deal?" ”

When Darwin heard this, he couldn't help but question: "Why are you so confident?" ”

Elder patted his chest and said proudly: "Of course, it is with my strong sales strength!" Don't you know? Of the 2,500 copies in the first issue, I sold 200 copies! ”

"Huh?"

When everyone heard this, they put down their work one by one and looked at Elder.

Dickens also hurriedly flipped through the accounts in hand, he glanced at it, and suddenly exclaimed: "It's really like this, Mr. Carter has sold a total of two hundred and sixty-two copies in the past few days, and this sales figure is almost twice that of the best-selling bookstore." ”

Arthur looked at Elder with an angry look that was about to fly to the sky, pinched his chin and pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Elder I thought I used to think highly of you, but now that I think about it, I may have underestimated you. Judging from your level of marketing literary magazines, the education of our Department of Classics at the University of London is indeed excellent. Can you tell me how the hell did you do that? ”

Darwin couldn't help but look up at him, "I have to admit, Elder, now you have a higher status in my mind than a monkey." ”

Elder grinned and put one hand on his chest and saluted slightly: "You don't need to thank me, the contemptible person has only made a small contribution." ”

Alexandre Dumas took a steel hammer out of his pocket and threw it at his head: "Don't stink, tell me how you did it!" ”

Elder grabbed the steel hammer and glared at Dumas: "Fatty, I'm in a good mood today, so I won't bother with you, and next time you are so rude, I'll ......."

Alexandre Dumas leaned back in his chair and shook his legs with his hands behind his head: "You can talk to everyone about it, you ...... with Miss Coconut Tree in the Coburg Theater that night"

When Elder heard this, he hurriedly interrupted him, and he turned to Arthur and said, "Do you remember the old man I mentioned to you about selling penny newspapers on Christmas Road in Greenwich?" ”

When Arthur heard this, he simply repeated what Elder had said to him before: "From Central Avenue into Christmas Road, walk about two hundred feet and turn left, there is a small alley with two chimneys, and every Wednesday afternoon from three to five o'clock, as long as it is not in time for a rainy day, there will be a 50-something ...... wearing a gray hat and a black coat."

Elder smiled evilly, "You really went." ”

Arthur just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Elder, I used to be the police inspector of Greenwich, and a hawker like this who sells newspapers without stamp duty must be a crime in the eyes of the police. ”

Elder was stunned: "You arrested him?" No, he was still there when I went there two days ago! ”

Arthur said: "I think he has a good attitude in confessing his sins, so I didn't fight with him." However, in order to prevent him from relapsing, I asked him to make a routine report to me every Wednesday in order to confirm his recent crimes. ”

When Elder heard this, he couldn't help but sigh, "Fuck, you're being treated better than me!" ”

Arthur knocked on the table and emphasized, "It's different, Held, I'm doing a routine review. ”

Alexandre Dumas also nodded, "I'm in charge of the routine review." ”

", you two." Elder glared and said, "Don't think about me for this kind of thing, I won't lend you anything good next time!" ”

Seeing that the topic was deviating, Arthur hurriedly urged: "Don't talk so much, how did you sell so many magazines?" ”

Elder tugged at his collar dissatisfied: "The so-called sales are like the art of debate in the parliament. As a top student in the Department of Classics, I have a unique advantage in rhetoric.

In addition, I have a small network in the industry, and I know many veterans who have been engaged in the newspaper sales business for many years, and I know some hidden sales locations that only professional enthusiasts know.

And the articles that have been tasted and commented on by me have always been widely favored by like-minded people, so naturally it is not a shot, and it is a big sell as soon as it is made.

As I told you, the title of the article is "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Pickwick Papers", "The Young Duke", or "The Tale of the Monkey" is completely unworkable in this line. So, in order to boost sales, I made some reasonable decorations and modifications in the title of the article. ”

When Dumas heard this, he seemed to gradually come back to his senses: "So, what did you change the title of our article to?" ”

Elder snorted and said, "I think that if you want to sell well, you have to start with the curiosity and curiosity of the readers. Topics such as earls and dukes, because similar themes have been written a lot in recent years, and there are many cases that can be referenced. It's nothing more than adding a little love history and secret words after the status and status, which is enough to make everyone pay for it.

And "The Pickwick Papers", this kind of civilian travelogue story, needs me to work a little more. The first thing that came to my mind was Lord Byron's unfinished Don Juan, as we all know, Don Juan was a famous figure in Spanish history, who was surrounded by countless ladies throughout his life, and even Spaniards liked to refer to Don Juan as a womanizer.

Lord Byron's adaptation based on Don Juan was a natural success. So, in order to emulate Lord Byron's path to success, I referred to The Pickwick Papers as the travels of Don Juan in Britain. Sure enough, many customers were already eager to pay for it without even listening to what I described.

Of course, what I'm most proud of is the sales description of "The Monkey's Tale", I didn't add any fuel to it in this regard, I made it clear to them that this is a popular science story describing the relationship between humans and monkeys, and with a 'understand everything, it's useless to say what you don't understand'.

Although the customers said that they were not interested in this aspect, after buying other newspapers, they would always come up with the last sentence: "Get me another copy of "British", I think the cover packaging is quite exquisite. ”

When Darwin heard this, he looked at Elder with a complicated expression: "Elder Elder is writing this article to popularize science for everyone, so that everyone can stay away from ignorance and embrace civilization, but what do you see?" ”

Elder shrugged innocently and said, "That's right! I told them it was a popular science article, but what was the use of them not believing it? ”

Arthur said lightly: "Elder." ”

"What's wrong?"

"Say you're an Oxford graduate."

Elder sternly refused: "No, no, it's Cambridge's turn this month." ”

"What about King's College?"

"King's College?" Elder said disdainfully: "Those little deflated three, first and then a little later." ”

In the face of such a gold-medal salesman, Elder Carter, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Disraeli, hurriedly came up to play a round out of the original intention of caring for his capable employees.

He carried the suitcase that lay under his feet to the table, only to hear a click, the lid of the case was opened, and the stack of bills finally closed everyone's mouths.

Disraeli said with a smile on his face and sweat on his forehead: "Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of the Bank of England, the Bank of Baring, and the Rothschild Bank, let's settle the manuscript fee for the first issue." ”

When a fluttering cheque was placed in front of Alexandre Dumas, after struggling for a while, the weight as light as a feather finally bent the heavy backbone of the French writer.

He put away the check and put it in his jacket pocket, sighed softly and confessed to God: "Originally, I planned to refuse, but the money given is too much. ”

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but ask, "Alexander, are you free tomorrow night?" ”

"Tomorrow night? Are there any projects for tomorrow night? Dumas smiled and shook the check in his hand: "As long as the cost does not exceed this amount." ”

"No, it's free tomorrow night." Arthur put his two arms on the table: "I don't think it's a way for you to hide XZ like this, as long as the French government does not revoke your want, there will always be a few people who want to make a windfall." So, would you be interested in coming with me to meet Talleyrand? ”

"Talleyrand?" When Alexandre Dumas heard the name, his smile suddenly froze on his face: "What am I going to see him for?" A man who does not possess even the most basic moral qualities, I have nothing to talk about with him. ”

Hearing this, Arthur just smiled and shook his head: "I don't know if he has moral character, and I don't know." But I know he can help revoke your want, Alexander, and I know you're a romantic writer, but life has to be realistic, and it doesn't hurt to come with me to meet him. ”

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, there was a knock on the door of the house.

Dumas seemed unwilling to answer Arthur's question, so he took advantage of the opportunity to get up and leave the table, and when he opened the door, he was greeted by Sergeant Charles Field, dressed in a neat tuxedo uniform.

Perhaps too excited, Sheriff Field spoke in a trill, "Is Superintendent Hastings at home?" ”

Arthur's head popped out from behind Alexandre Dumas, but before he could ask, Sheriff Field was already laughing and saying, "Don't ask, take it apart and see." ”

Arthur opened the file bag, although from Sheriff Field's expression, he could read the general contents of the document.

But when the document was placed in front of him, the stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground safely.

There are two copies of the document, and the title is very concise and clear, one is approved by the Privy Council of the Kingdom and the other is stamped by the Ministry of the Interior.

Paper relating to the reorganisation of the Provisional Bureau of Surveys and Statistics of the London Region into the London Police Intelligence Service

Proposal Paper on the Nomination of Superintendent Arthur Hastings of the Greater London Metropolitan Police as Proposed Candidate for Director of the London Police Intelligence Service

When Dumas saw these two documents, he just patted Arthur on the shoulder: "I thought you wanted to become Talleyrand in what you said just now, but now it seems that maybe you are more likely to become Fouché." Personally, though, I think Fouché is probably worse than Talleyrand. ”

Sheriff Field was stunned when he heard this: "Fuxie? Mr. Dumas, are you talking about your French police minister? ”

"That's right." Alexandre Dumas said: "Napoleon holds the secrets of France, Fouché holds the secrets of Napoleon, he and Talleyrand are Napoleon's right-hand men, even when they conspire against Napoleon." ”

Arthur just shook his head: "Alexander, I'm not going to lock all the opponents in the house and bombard them. ”

"Oh?" Alexander joked: "Is it because you don't have a cannon?" ”

"It's okay if you insist on understanding it that way." Arthur just smiled and shook his head, "So, I won't be the Fouch of France, I'm just the Hastings of Britain." ”

When Dumas heard this, he only smiled, and then put his arm around his shoulders and said, "Hopefully, in that case, I will accompany you to the meeting with Talleyrand tomorrow." ”

There will be more tonight

(End of chapter)