Although the story of "Million Pounds" is just that, if there is such a thing as a poor boy turning into a millionaire, then if he asks an authentic old London for help on how to dress up like a gentleman who really goes out of high society.

An authentic old London gentleman would probably advise him to go to Regent Street or to Benjamin Street, which is not far from Regent Street.

Built in 1811, Regent Street was ordered by the late King George IV during his tenure as regent, and although George IV had all his faults, it has to be admitted that during his tenure as regent and king, he played a great role in the development of commercial streets in London's West End.

Designed to sweep away the chaos and narrowness of London's centuries of fire, flood and sprawl, Regent Street has become one of London's most sparkling shopping districts since its completion in 1821.

Here, you can see everywhere the dignitaries and dignitaries who travel with their servants to go shopping, and you can also see countless middle-class gentlemen and ladies who want to imitate the lifestyle of the upper class and plan to spend money to buy themselves a reasonable outfit.

Of course, there are some of the more old-fashioned old Londoners who still don't want to recognize Regent Street as the center of the new fashion, and they still stubbornly insist that Regent Street is just a place for women to pick up new dresses and jewelry, and that the real London gentleman should go to Benjamin Street, just across the street from Regent Street, to order clothes and buy pipe tobacco.

Originally built in 1664, Benjamin Street has a unique place in the minds of old London gentlemen, and as London's most famous men's street, you can find everything a 19th-century man could need in this street that is only three or four hundred meters long, except for women, of course.

Of course, in recent years, it is true that Benjamin Street's status as a men's mecca has been strongly challenged by Savile Row, but the two have gradually developed their own characteristics over the past decade.

While Savile Row is known for its morning coats, dinner wear, short coats and smoking jackets, Benjamin Street has stood firm for its position as the highest standard for men's shirts, top hats and leather shoes.

Standing at the intersection of Jaymyn Street and Regent Street with his pipe in his mouth, Arthur listened to Mr. Disraeli, the unsuccessful congressman and editor-in-chief of "The British", introduce the history of the two men's streets, and just pulled his pipe down and flicked the soot inside with his fingertips.

Seeing this, Disraeli only frowned slightly: "Arthur, you have to pay attention to the posture of cleaning up the ashes, and, look at your outfit, which genius told you that you should run to this place in a uniform?" I don't want you to dress like Beau Blumel, the royal dress consultant, but you need to at least get a fitting outfit. You have so much manuscript fee, you can't deposit it all in the bank, right? ”

Arthur looked down at his tuxedo jacket and white gloves, and then raised his arm, then nodded affirmatively: "I think this body still fits quite well, it will neither restrict my movements, nor will it affect my handling of special situations." On the contrary, my costume for the banquet was so uncomfortable to wear that my shoulder had to crack before the enemy could fall down with a jab. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he just shook his head in disgust and said, "That's because you didn't choose a suitable outfit, it's just that it's okay today, I'll take you to pick a suitable casual jacket first." Otherwise, I wouldn't have the guts to show you around the streets of the neighborhood if you were wearing this. ”

"But I didn't have much money with me today."

"If you don't bring any money, I'll help you cushion it first, and the next time you settle the manuscript fee and profit dividends, I will directly deduct it from your share."

After that, Disraeli didn't care whether Arthur was happy or not, pushed him by the back and pushed him all the way to the clothing store on the street.

After a while, the door of the clothing store was pushed open again, and the police officer Arthur had disappeared as if out of thin air, and reappeared in front of everyone with a top hat, a half-tuxedo black jacket, a simple black waistcoat and a white shirt without buttons, beige tight breeches, and a small cane.

Disraeli followed behind Arthur, admiring with satisfaction the masterpiece he had carefully selected in front of him, and he banged on the window pane of the store at Arthur and said, "Look, Arthur, it's so much easier for you to walk down Regent Street in this outfit." ”

Arthur looked at the reflection on the window pane, bent down and brushed his hair, and then looked around twice.

Seeing him like this, Disraeli couldn't help but look around, and while he was looking for it, he asked, "What are you looking at?" Is there a beauty anywhere? ”

Arthur just replied, "What about the street lights?" I also need a rope. ”

Disraeli just laughed when he heard this, and he patted Arthur's chest with the back of his hand: "What? Do you also feel like you're going to hang yourself now? But don't worry, Arthur, before you hang yourself, the ladies have already occupied the street lights, so you should go jump into the Thames. ”

When Arthur heard this, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Thames? The place was also full, and maybe Alexander was in there at this time. ”

"Alexander drowned?" Disraeli was taken aback: "He hasn't handed in his manuscript for next month!" ”

Arthur said calmly, "No, don't be nervous, Benjamin. If Alexander drowned, it would have been a tragedy indeed. But if he hadn't drowned, it would have been a disaster. And I believe that with Alexander's size, even if he fell into the Thames, he would probably float. So, instead of caring about him, you might as well introduce me to the perfume shop on Regent Street. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he finally realized that Arthur was joking, and he said happily: "Don't let Alexander hear this, I heard that he recently bought a good gun, and he came to me two days ago to show it off." You've hurt him so much that you've annoyed him, and maybe he'll come to you for a duel. ”

"Isn't that nice?" Arthur took out the empty cigarette box in his pocket and glanced at it: "He came to me to duel, and the good gun is mine." ”

Disraeli also saw Arthur's empty cigarette box: "Gone with tobacco?" Why don't we go find a shop that sells shredded tobacco? I know there's a good home on Jemmin Street, and after Elder is gone, you won't be able to get the authentic smuggling goods from the Royal Navy, right? ”

Arthur nodded slightly: "I can occasionally get a little from the West India docks, but the taste is really not as strong as Elder's." Since you recommend it, let's go to Jieming Street first. I think there must have been perfume sellers on Benjamin Street, right? ”

"No, no, no." Disraeli corrected as he led the way: "Jermin Street only sells colognes for men, and as for the perfumes used by ladies, such as Flores and Cred, which are time-honored brands in London, or Bray and Guerlain in France, you have to look for them on Regent Street." ”

Walking through the busy streets, Arthur asked, pushing the monocle in his eye socket where there was no residual value.

"Why are you so familiar with these things? I know you're a writer and a lawyer, but I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable about the fashion industry. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he just twisted his collar proudly: "Arthur, you don't know anything about this." Whether you're a writer or a lawyer, you still have to deal with people in the end. I'm a fashionista, and if I want to write about fashion, I have to know what the latest fashion is.

As for lawyers, although I have long since quit, the value of a truly capable lawyer is not only reflected in the ability to win the case, but also in whether you can continue to receive cases. If you don't expand your social circle and let yourself be the focus of the banquet, you can't go far in this lawyer's business. ”

Arthur nodded slightly: "It seems to make some sense, so how is your plan to expand your social circle progressing recently?" ”

As if he had been waiting for this, Disraeli triumphantly took out a crumpled newspaper from his pocket and unfolded it in front of Arthur: "Look, come, Arthur, look, tell me what is written on it?" ”

Arthur leaned down to look at it and read word by word: "Today's outfit recommendation is from the fashion rising star Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, who will share his experience in the Frac dress for the first time in this newspaper: a bright orange waistcoat, a red trousers, and a short Frac gown, this is the most fashionable casual gentleman's outfit this year." It's no secret that the Frac gown is becoming the new darling of London gentlemen, and the key to making my Frac gown look even more distinctive is that I have adopted a new way of pleating the gown at the waist to create a perfectly smooth curve at the waist. Here's what I learned about pleating......"

The corners of Disraeli's mouth rose more and more when he heard this, and his pride and pride were almost as obvious as the horses tethered to the lampposts by the roadside eating oats.

"Arthur, how's it going? I didn't expect that I was now about to become a leading figure in London's fashion industry as important as Mr. Brummel. ”

When Arthur heard this, he just glanced at Disraeli, and then slowly shook his head: "I don't think it's that important whether you become a leader or not, but I think maybe you should be honest with your readers." ”

"Honesty?" Disraeli said with a displeased face: "Where am I being dishonest, I have unreservedly handed over to the reader how to make pleats." ”

"Of course, but that's not what I'm talking about." Arthur pointed to Disraeli's thin waist and said, "I'm talking about this, this waist of yours has nothing to do with how to pleat." The reason why a man's waist can be so thin is that I seriously suspect that you are wearing a ladies' corset. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he instantly looked like a rat who had been stepped on by his tail, and he blushed and scolded in a low voice: "Damn it! Arthur, how did you find out? ”

Arthur, of course, would not say that he found inspiration in Mr. Vidocq in France, but simply replied: "Benjamin, don't forget, I'm a policeman, and I'm a detective. What exactly you've done, I can see at a glance. But ......"

Arthur reached out and grabbed Disraeli's neckline, only to hear a snap, and the elastic band bounced against Disraeli's shoulder blades, and he almost screamed in pain.

Arthur was surprised: "Are you really wearing it?" ”

"Or else?" Disraeli was angry: "Okay, you know about it, and no one else can know about it." ”

"Doesn't God do it either?"

"Of course not, if he knew, he would have been punished!"

"If you really have such a godly spirit, you should not have done such a thing."

"Shut up! Arthur! ”

Arthur and Disraeli were noisy all the way, so that the gentlemen and ladies passing by couldn't help but glance at them.

However, this attention did not last long, because everyone thought that it was probably a banker and a partner arguing over an economic dispute, which is not too rare in London to be worth making a fuss about.

The two of them noisily walked into a small shop on Jieming Street with the words "Men's Only, Women Stop", and as soon as they opened the door, they heard a pleasant sound of bells.

The guy who was standing in front of the store and was in charge of guarding against thieves first looked at the clothes of the two of them, and then found Disraeli's familiar face, so he smiled politely: "Mr. Disraeli, you are a regular customer, I won't introduce you to any extra things, you and your friends pick their own." If you have any requirements, you can just ask me or another partner directly. ”

As soon as Disraeli entered the store, he restrained his noisy countenance, and his serious and cold expression looked like that of an authentic London gentleman.

"I'm tired, I'm going to bring my friends to pick up some tobacco and cologne or something today. This friend of mine has a more tricky mouth, and he used to smoke authentic West Indian goods, do you have any genuine products from Santo Domingo here? Don't think about fooling us, whether it's the real thing or not, we'll know when we taste it. ”

When the man heard this, he just smiled and said, "Mr. Disraeli, look at what you said. Although the things in our store are a little more expensive than the outside, the quality is all first-class. It seems that the regular goods on the first floor are out of your eyes today, so you can take your friends directly to the second floor. You can pick whatever you want there, you can taste a little leave, and you can return it to us at any time. ”

Disraeli asked again, "Is cologne the same?" ”

The guy smiled and said, "Your luck is good today, we have a new perfume condient in the store, you can go directly to the perfume room in the back to ask for a special perfume after you and your friends have finished picking out the tobacco." All the raw materials, what kind of fragrance, whatever you say, will be delivered on the spot. You say that we can't cheat under your nose with such a production method, right? ”

(End of chapter)