When the first rays of sunlight in the morning poured through the glass window into the living room at 36 Lancaster Gate, Arthur was already sitting at the small coffee table by the bookcase, holding a cup of Twining's Earl Grey tea and starting his routine reading on the day off.

However, his reading today is neither his favorite picture books and caricatures, nor the new papers of the Royal Society, but a box full of letters from readers.

As a story-based magazine, British's readership has always been quite active.

Whether it's Arthur, Alexandre Dumas, Disraeli or Dickens, or even Mr. Elder Carter, who has brought Robin Hood to an indefinite halt because of his voyage around the world, has received many letters of concern from readers.

And Mr. Darwin, the author of "The Monkey's Tale", who disappeared at the same time as Elder Der, naturally attracted the attention of readers.

There are even many people who jokingly claim that Robin Hood may have eloped with a monkey.

Facts aside, at least in terms of direction, the reader's judgment is quite correct.

Arthur casually took a letter from the box, glanced at it, and quickly put it aside.

Judging by the three neat piles of letters in front of Arthur, it was clear that he had deliberately divided them into different types.

Agareth was playing with a racket ball and wondered, "What are you doing here?" Turning over the occupational disease? Haven't you gotten tired of the various file classifications of the Police Intelligence Bureau? Please, Arthur, why don't you get something new on your day off. ”

"Isn't that new?"

Arthur continued to sort out disapprovingly, "If there are only three types of documents in the Police Intelligence Bureau, then I'll be thankful. Profiles, group information, long-winded but unfocused routine reports by undercover agents, plus focused analysis of special assignments and scattered retained information that may come in handy in the future.

However, if you don't like it, you can watch something else. It just so happened that Benjamin was going to the White Club this weekend to get in touch with the Tories dignitaries, so the next issue of "The British" was handed over to me for review. In addition, I also had to arrange the manuscript for the supplement "The Economist". I would like to take this opportunity to see if the quality of the magazine's submissions has improved after the increase in circulation. ”

With that, Arthur casually dragged another cardboard box leaning against the sofa chair in front of him.

He casually opened a manuscript, and the more he looked at it, the more he frowned, and it didn't take long for him to shake his head and put the manuscript down: "Another admirer of Alexander, should they think that they can write "The Count of Monte Cristo" with a detailed description of lobster shells, right?" A full body of cheese, vegetable soup, sizzling roasts and wobbly puddings may have suited him more to a London restaurant kitchen than a "British" format. ”

The Red Devil pestled his chin and picked and chose in the manuscript box with disgust for a while, and suddenly his red nose shrugged slightly, as if he had smelled something delicious, and Agareth's eyes lit up and pulled out a manuscript from it: "Oh! My dear Arthur, what do you think of this? I can assure you that this is definitely a good piece of work. ”

Arthur took the manuscript from the Red Devil's hand, and while opening the envelope, he did not forget to joke: "Isn't the devil's way of reading different from that of humans?" We all use our eyes, why do you use your nose? ”

"No, no, Arthur." Agareth closed his eyes and shook his fingers: "I haven't seen what is written in it, but I can smell that this manuscript is from a delicious soul." You know, in the devil's olfactory evaluation system, delicious usually means greatness. A literary chapter created by a great soul will never be far behind. ”

Arthur opened the letterhead and said, "Really? I remember you said that Alexander's soul smells like freshly baked white bread with foie gras, and it would be nice if you could open another bottle of champagne at this time. But if you don't open Alexander's letterhead and take a closer look, will you know if he's full of swear words, a newly learned recipe, or a masterpiece like The Count of Monte Cristo? ”

"I don't care about that, that's what you, the interim editor, do."

The Red Devil opened the wine cabinet in the study, took out a bottle of champagne from it and shook it vigorously: "What I care about is, now that I have champagne, when will you serve me white bread with foie gras?" ”

Arthur shrugged, "You go and talk to him yourself, but I don't think even if he agrees, I won't be able to find you an oven or oven in London that can fit him for the time being." ”

After Arthur said this, he returned his gaze to the thick stack of letterhead at hand: "He did not disappear, but he experienced a transformation of the sea, and turned into a treasure of richness and curiosity. Well, use Shakespeare's The Tempest as an introduction? Judging by this wedge, perhaps the story is a tragedy? ”

Arthur's gaze shifted downward, and then he slammed for the title of the poem, which was not very long, but he had read it for more than ten seconds.

Arthur said slowly, "Prometheus Undelivered? ”

The Red Devil, who was holding a goblet and tasting champagne on the side, couldn't help but whistle when he heard this: "Oh! It was a good work, Percy Shelley's posthumous work, which unfortunately had not been published in London for political reasons. Arthur, you "British" are caught this time, as long as Shelley's name is punched, at least during its serialization, the nightboys of "Blackwood" and "Monthly Review" will definitely not dare to attack "British" literarily. ”

Arthur quickly flipped through the manuscript at hand: "I have seen the Greek version of 'Prometheus Liberated' in a second-hand bookstore before, but almost all of the versions only have Act I, "Prometheus Bound", and all the shopkeepers' replies to this are also the same, they all say that the content from acts 2 to 4 has mostly escaped and cannot be fully organized into a book. But why is it that I have more than just the first act, but even the second act is complete? ”

Speaking of this, Arthur couldn't help but look up at the Red Devil: "Agareth, when you went out with Alexander last night, did you have nothing to do and called Shelley to drink with you to relieve your boredom?" ”

Hearing this, Agareth said, "Oh! My dear Arthur, what do you think of me? Have you forgotten what I told you? The dead cannot be resurrected, and those who can be resurrected are all miracle workers, and although Shelley is a good poet, he is not qualified in this respect. Instead of questioning me here, why don't you take a look at the letter attached to the end of the manuscript that was accidentally sent with "Prometheus Unchained"? ”

When Arthur heard this, he hurriedly found the letter at the end and read it carefully.

Dear Mary,

I am yours again, and this happiness will overwhelm my fleeting loneliness.

Oh, the one I love the most! Why is our happiness so short-lived, so lingering? How long will this life last? My best Mary, you know, I'm going to be down to vulgarity without you by my side.

I could feel their empty, stiff eyes glued to me until I seemed to have sensed their malice......

The disgusting air I breathed made me tired and weak. I'm dying, and at this point, I'm afraid only the eyes you stare at me before you go to bed can save me.

And at the bottom of this love letter, there is a line of dry tear spots, and a line of delicate words lies across the spots.

Percy, I've had a hard time without you. If I hadn't agreed to let you go away from me, if I hadn't let you embark on that deadly voyage, maybe we would still be happily living in Athens now?

Percy, I have good news for you, Greece is liberated, it is no longer the bound Prometheus.

Percy, I also have the bad news for you, that I was bound to the Caucasus instead of Greece, and that your death was the diamond nail that was set in my heart.

Percy, if you're still around, you're probably going to be the Hercules who smashed the chains that bound me, right? But alas, you're no longer there.

The rest of my life is destined to be spent in a long period of longing, but rest assured, the golden apples you left behind, your great works, I will organize them all and publish them. You've lived a great life in its entirety, not too long, but it's wonderful enough.

Your Mary, if you still have a soul left in the world, please don't forget me.

Agareth leaned down to read the love letter, and the Red Devil squeezed out two tears and said, "Oh! It's a sad love story, where a lover who dies early leaves behind a wife in her prime, and this kind of story always brings tears to people's eyes, and even the devil can't help but want to help her. ”

When Arthur heard this, he put away the envelope and glanced at the Red Devil: "Don't bother Mrs. Shelley, our contract is not yet fulfilled." ”

Agareth exclaimed: "Contract? Oh, my King Solomon! Arthur, you little bastard still remember that there was a contract between us? Do you know? If it weren't for Professor Agareth's kindness, you passive little bastard would have lost your job a long time ago! But if you don't let me disturb her, can't it be a ......"

The Red Devil suddenly stuck to Arthur's side, smiled evilly and lowered his voice, "Oh! Arthur, I can't see it, you're the same as that guy from Disraeli, you both like mature women! Maybe this mature woman has to add a little intellectuality? ”

After that, the Red Devil copied out a small notebook from behind his butt and wrote and drew on it, flipped through and flipped through it: "Come, I'll help you see if there is a suitable one nearby, or you take out ten souls, and I'll send you this address book directly, right?" Up to eighty, down to thirty, as long as you want, you can find everything in the address book. ”

Arthur calmly picked up the teacup: "Then what if I want to be three hundred years old?" ”

Agareth pinched his chin and said, "Your fetish is extreme enough!" It's a little tricky, but ...... If you really make up your mind, I'll go back to the cemetery in Westminster Abbey and look for you, what do you think of your former Queen Elizabeth I? She's just a little younger. ”

Arthur took a sip of tea: "How old is the queen this year?" ”

The Red Devil took his glasses and replied, "298." ”

Arthur nodded, "It's good." ”

Agares muttered, "You kid doesn't pick it!" ”

Arthur put down the teacup and said, "It's all royal princes and nobles, what else to pick?" ”

The Red Devil glared and said, "You kid! Kicking your nose in the face, isn't it? Are you really using me like a London mouse? Nonsense, I sent you to the Andes to be Elder company, and you still want a woman? There were only endless snowy peaks, chinchillas, nightingales, and other birds of various names that could not be named. ”

When Arthur heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Really? It turned out that they were already there. Luckily Elder didn't die at the hands of cannibals? ”

I don't know if it's because Elder is life and death is classified as worthless information by the Red Devil, and he doesn't mind talking a little more about it.

Agareth snorted: "Cannibals? That kid is a jerk it's not something you can imagine! He had just killed a cougar with a musket yesterday and shared it with Darwin's little bald man, who according to them tasted the same veal. ”

"Does Elder still have the skills?" Arthur couldn't help pouting: "Then Alexander is probably hanging, since he bought that flintlock pistol, he has been holding back waiting for Elder to come back and give him a little bit of cruelty." Now it seems that Elder can kill him with a single shot. ”

The Red Devil asked impatiently, "You haven't answered me yet, why don't you let me get close to Mary Shelley?" What, is your cougar going to start predating too? ”

Arthur shook his head and said, "It depends on how you interpret it." I've heard that people in distress are usually more susceptible to temptation, and Mrs. Shelley is clearly in that situation right now. I seem to have heard from the ladies of the Blue Sox Society that it was not easy for Mrs. Shelley to raise a child as a single woman, and that Mr. Shelley's father had always been harsh on her, and cared little for his daughter-in-law and grandson.

If it weren't for the difficulties of life, Mrs. Shelley would not have written "Frankenstein", and the identity of a female writer was still too controversial in this era. In addition, she has to sort out and publish Shelley's posthumous works, and the energy and financial resources to be paid in this regard are also quite huge. If it weren't for that, she probably wouldn't have chosen to work with "The British".

However, instead of choosing the old literary magazines of Blackwood and the Monthly Review, I found the newly founded British, and I wondered what Mrs. Shelley's reasons for making this choice were......

As Arthur spoke, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps coming from upstairs.

Arthur didn't look back, and said directly: "Alexander, didn't you pat your chest with me last night and promise that you would get up on time today to help me review the manuscript?" ”

"What's the hurry? Even if "Robinson" is interrupted, "Lyric Poetry" and "The Young Duke" are over, isn't "British" still supported by my "The Count of Monte Cristo" and your "Detective Hastings"? The magazine won't be cool for a while. ”

Alexandre Dumas stretched and walked down the stairs, his big ass sinking into the sofa chair, rubbing the corners of his eyes and scanning the boxes full of manuscripts: "Fuck, why are there so many?" ”

Then, he glanced at the letters from the reader beside Arthur, and then at the box that belonged to him, and finally showed a proud smile: "It seems that the throne of the most popular author of 'The British' will not be snatched from me for a while." ”

Arthur saw that this fat man was such a stinky fart, and directly threw the manuscript in his hand: "I'm sorry, Alexander, I'm afraid that this throne of yours will belong to someone else from the next issue." If you dare to compete with him, it is best to bring an umbrella when you go out in the future, or you will be drowned by his fanatical supporters in one mouthful of foam. By the way, Elder is also one of his big fans. ”

Alexandre Dumas picked up the manuscript: "What level can Elder fancy the person be?" Our "British" is not reduced to the point of publishing erotica, let me see ...... "Prometheus Liberated"? Well...... ! Isn't this Shelley's work? Arthur, did you resurrect him? ”

Arthur was about to explain to Alexandre Dumas, but the doorbell outside the house rang.

Jingle Bell~

Arthur stood up and said, "I'll talk to you when I come back." ”

Alexandre Dumas read with relish as he took the pen in his mouth, "If you want me to say, it's time for you to think about hiring a maid or something." There is nothing wrong with the two of us adults cooking, and this is also a kind of joie de vivre. But washing clothes and dishes, or ladies do it more delicately. ”

"So, that's why you wrecked your pants?"

"You're not much better than me!"

Arthur ignored Alexandre Dumas' response and pulled the door open in front of him.

As if stunned when he saw Shelley's work, the person who appeared outside the door caused him to be surprised: "Mr. Thomas Campbell? ”

The middle-aged and elderly gentleman with gray hair wearing a white shirt with a British stand-up collar and a short tuxedo raised his hat slightly and said with a smile: "Arthur, since you graduated, we haven't seen each other for a long time." ”

Arthur also smiled lightly, "Mr. Campbell, it's so unfortunate, if you had come a few months earlier, maybe you might have met Elder here." I remember hearing him say that his favorite thing about his time in the classics department was to take your classes, and he said that he learned all his poetry skills from you. Your "Sailor of England" was always the number one piece in his mind, and he often recited it to the sailors of the Royal Navy when he was fine on board. ”

"Thank God!" Campbell took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his sideburns: "Although it is indeed an honor to be so praised by that kid, I think it is the Satanist poets such as Byron and Shelley who have had a greater influence on him." Not to mention, the words that the boy wrote were indeed Satan-like, and they sounded terrible! ”

Arthur couldn't help but smile when he heard this: "So, did you just pass by and sit down today, or is there something I can help with?" ”

When Campbell heard this, he smiled more on his face: "Arthur, you are indeed the most outstanding graduate of our University of London, Broughham is really right, you really cherish the alumni relationship of the University of London." That's right, I did have a small request for today. I've heard from Mr. Disraeli that you started that Brit with him, right? ”

Arthur invited him into the room and asked, "You want to contribute to us?" ”

"No, it's not just me, it's ...... There are also many friends who have been exiled to Britain...... I had asked Bruham if he could get their article published in the Edinburgh Review. But Broughham politely rejected me, saying that he was no longer in the opposition, and that the Edinburgh Review, as the organ of the Whig Party, was too sensitive to publish the work of those men. So, he recommended your British's to me. ”

The more Arthur listened, the more he felt that something was wrong, and he stopped in his footsteps and suddenly asked, "Friends in exile?" ”

His eyes drifted to Alexandre Dumas, and he pointed at him and asked wittily, "Monsieur Campbell, could it be that your friend is a French republican like my tenant, Monsieur Dumas?" If that's the case, there's no problem with their article being published in The British, and we already have one here anyway. ”

"No, Arthur, you're mistaken." Campbell said with some embarrassment: "Those friends of mine are all Polish exiles, and I took them with them to form the Polish Friends Literary Association in Britain. By the way, you should know what has happened in Poland in the past six months, right? ”

(End of chapter)