Heine leaned in front of the window of the box on the second floor, and from here he looked down, and the noisy hall of the Asterley Theatre was already filled with audiences gathered from all over London.

Those who sat in the back row and bought tickets for the high staircase were ordinary citizens and working families who had a little more money.

They may not be wealthy, but in such a grand social setting, the inherent love of face and the decency of dressing in Londoners drive them to go to the Covent Garden thrift market to buy a well-fitting second-hand formal suit, even if they have to spend a small family budget.

Belts and corsets, slim-fitting breeches and Haysom boots, linen scarves and top hats with Flock coats or tuxedos, these once upper-class options have found their way into the wardrobe of the average family.

Although most of them only have one formal suit to fill the scene, as long as you don't look closely at the details and needlework of these clothes, they don't seem to be much different from the middle class who sit in the front row.

And those middle-class families who are the envy of them, and who desperately let their children spend a lifetime catching up, are now sitting in the comfortable flannel seats in the front row enjoying a bar meal.

Most of the men who are the breadwinners of these families are professional and technical personnel working in steel, coal mining, shipping, construction, banking, or international trading companies, or small and micro industrialists with retail stores, private processing workshops, blacksmith and leather goods shops.

Benefiting from the success of the first industrial revolution in Britain, the middle class is now in a period of rapid expansion.

Although these middle-class families are not as large as the real upper-class families, and they cannot compare with the 154 richest people in Britain, who are worth more than £500,000, it is undeniable that they have become the main consumers of London's major entertainment venues.

As the Anglorite's nemesis, the Monthly Review, a literary criticism magazine that still chases after Disraeli's early history, put it: our country seems to be undergoing a change of taste. This change in taste is not confined to the field of literature, but to the entire field of culture.

And Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, one of the favorite homes of middle-class women, took the initiative to take up the matter in his serial "The Young Duke": take a pair of pistols, a pack of cards, a cookbook, and a new set of square dances, mix them with half of an impure and perfect marriage, and divide them evenly into three parts. In this way, a highly sought-after three-volume fashion was born.

Today, in the Astrid Theater, the fantasies of middle-class gentlemen and ladies about high society are almost completely realized.

As they saw in fashion, the high-end coats, silk stockings, flowers, opera boxes, duels, elopements, gifts wrapped in silver ribbons, eight manservants, four coachmen, horses matching the number of coachmen, subtle smiles, gestures all seemed to hint at an unspeakable conspiracy, accompanied by a noblewoman weeping over her husband's chaotic private life, and a black gauze hat that had to be worn to mourn his recently deceased uncle.

The big names who appeared on the long red carpet staircase leading to the second and third floors of the Astri Amphitheater greatly satisfied their curiosity.

They scrambled to ask their friends about the origins of the big men, such as the old gentleman who had just walked up the stairs and was as straight as a sword, and the lady who was supported by two male servants in her long skirt.

In just half an hour, they had heard more names than they would normally have heard in a year.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Minister of France to the UK and former Prime Minister.

Arthur Wellesley, former Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and Duke of Wellington.

Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Secretary, and a mysterious lady who accompanied him to see her face unclear.

And behind these people, there were countless celebrities, whether Tories or Whigs, and many parliamentarians were present.

In addition to these big names in political circles, there are also many celebrities in the cultural field.

A gentleman with a wider social circle and a wide range of interests may also recognize Mr. William Turner, a well-known landscape painter and professor of perspective at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, who has been in the limelight lately, and Sir Walter Scott, who had refused the highest honor of 'Poet Laureate' and who wanted to invite him to illustrate.

Coincidentally, Robert Sausse, the great poet who was crowned the Poet Laureate after Sir Scott rejected the title, also came to the Astley Amphitheatre.

He was accompanied by two great poets not often seen in London, and his friends, William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge, two other representatives of the poetry of the British Lakeside School.

And on such an occasion, Arthur's friends naturally attended the scene one by one.

However, the way they arrived was slightly different, Dickens and Tennyson arrived in a carriage early, and Whistlestone, who had always been social, also came to the theater early because of coercion and temptation to be responsible for the scientific direction of the stage set.

Tennyson held the wine glass in both hands, looking at the big people passing by on the steps downstairs, and even the wine in the wine glass was shaking excitedly.

"O my God! Saussure, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, a poet laureate, a poet who rejected the laurel, and three representatives of the Lakeside faction were all present, and I could even say that tonight's Astley Theatre has the weight of half a century of British poetry! ”

Although Dickens was not as excited as Tennyson, in the face of a group of literary bigwigs, this 'little writer', who was a court clerk a year ago, couldn't help but be apprehensive: "I thought it was just an ordinary performance, but I didn't expect it to attract so many celebrities...... I was able to get such a grand opening for my stage debut...... It's really stained with Arthur's light. ”

Tennyson saw the smile on Dickens's face that was even uglier than crying, and couldn't help but purse his lips and smile: "Charles, is it stressed?" ”

"Whew......," Dickens exhaled, "It's impossible to say that the pressure is not too much." With so many big people and great poets staring at it, if my stage play is not successful, it will be ...... Alas, Alfred, I'm finished! ”

As soon as Dickens finished speaking, he heard the door behind him slammed open.

Dumas led Disraeli into the room with his head held high, and introduced everyone as he walked: "Come, Charles, Alfred, you two get to know each other, this is Mr. Heine, the new author of our "British". I just had a brief chat with him, and he's not bad. ”

With that, Dumas opened the wine cabinet in the room and poured himself a glass to quench his thirst.

When Tennyson saw him like this, he couldn't help but hold back a smile and asked, "Alexander, aren't you nervous at all?" Charles was now fainting with fright. There are a lot of big names here tonight, and he is afraid that the premiere of "The Pickwick Papers" will not be successful. ”

Dumas leaned back on the sofa and waved his hand disdainfully: "Charles, you just have less experience." Benjamin and I almost gave up our lives just now, so what can we do with a mere stage show? The repertoire is smashed, and the uncomfortable is the audience, what does it have to do with those of us who write the script, anyway, we have already received the ticket money. ”

Disraeli also sat on the sofa and took off his hat and fanned vigorously: "Charles, I don't know what happened just now, if Tom and they were one step late, it is estimated that Alexander and I would have to be hung on the Tyrburn gallows in front of the London docks, just like Captain Kidd who was hanged back then." ”

Dickens was stunned: "What are you two doing?" ”

Alexandre Dumas took a sip of wine, "I didn't do anything, I just brought thirty pounds of black powder and nine guns." ”

"What?!"

When Tennyson and Dickens heard this, they were directly shocked by his bold act.

Dickens was speechless, "What are you bringing that thing for?" ”

When Disraeli heard this, he briefly explained his previous plan to the group.

After listening to the narration, Heine couldn't help but extend his thumbs up to Dumas in admiration: "Monsieur Dumas, you said before that you led people to bombard the Tuileries Palace, but I don't believe it. But now, I don't think that story is so exaggerated. ”

"Is Arthur fighting a sword game today, or a marksmanship duel?"

"Hell! I don't know? Dumas put down his glass and raised his eyebrows, "I knew he was going to bring two forks." ”

"What kind of dinner does the family make?"

"How is that possible? The fork can't even pierce the coat. Arthur had planned to borrow it from a dung digger. ”

As soon as the crowd had spoken at this point, they suddenly heard a shout of joy from downstairs.

Everyone looked up and saw a stout white-haired old man in a navy blue cloak and sailor's red on his face standing at the top of the staircase and greeting the audience: "Enjoy your beer, enjoy this duel, enjoy this merry evening, in short, all rejoice, and have fun, my subjects!" ”

"O my God! It's His Majesty! ”

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Of course I'm not mistaken, I've seen him several times by the Thames, and he often walks there with the Queen."

"Your Majesty, have a great time!"

"Your Majesty, I'm going to make a bet, which side do you say will win this duel today? I listen to you! ”

William IV's congratulatory speech drew cheers from the audience, and this simple reaction showed that the sailor king was indeed more popular with the citizens of London than his brother George IV.

And the cheers of the audience also made Wilhelm IV, who had always liked to be in the limelight and have a few drinks before coming to the theater, and just as he was about to continue to talk to his people a few more words, the attendants who were responsible for the safety of the king were already sweating profusely.

They couldn't stop persuading: "Your Majesty, let's go to the box first." Although Scotland Yard has implemented gun control in the vicinity, there are many people and drunkards here, and if they get emotional, they can hurt you with their fists. ”

When William IV heard this, he frowned dissatisfiedly and said, "You are underestimating me!" I think when I was serving in North America, Britain was at war with those rebels! You should know, I also participated in the Battle of New York, and personally fired three shells at Long Island! I was telling the truth, Gambier was the captain of the Cape St. Vincent at the time, and I was under him on an errand. If you don't believe him, go back and ask him! ”

When the attendants saw that the king was losing his temper, they had to persuade each other with kind words: "Marshal Gambier has explained to us early in the morning about your glorious deeds. He also said that you were so heroic that even the great Admiral Horatio Nelson spoke highly of you, and I remember him writing in your Navy evaluation report that you outperformed most people in your post. But now it's not a war, Your Majesty, let's just watch a show, you don't have to take the risk to do a pre-war mobilization for the audience, right? ”

William IV couldn't help but sigh when he heard the squires mention the name Nelson: "Alas...... Nelson, if he were still alive, would not have been Gambill's turn to be Marshal of the Royal Navy. If I had to give someone a hand on the boat, I would only be willing to steer for Horatio Nelson. ”

As he was saying this, Sir George Elliott, the Royal Attendant Military Attache selected by the Royal Navy, suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the two strings of colored flags hanging below the box on the second floor and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think is that?" ”

William IV turned to look at the buntings, and the mood that had been a little sad just now was suddenly swept away, and the sailor king clapped his hands and applauded: "Good! All right! Dare to play these two strings of flags, it seems that today's young man in Scotland Yard must win! ”

And as the king turned around, the audience also found the two strings of colored flags that were hung up at an unknown time.

The spectators in the crowd, who had served in the Royal Navy, couldn't help but stand up and cheer loudly, and in their applause, the rest of the spectators finally understood the meaning of the two strings of bunting.

The above list is the purpose and operational creed of the Royal Navy - fight against the enemy, England!

The following is Horatio Nelson's last battle order, and the Royal Navy's current decisive flag – England expects everyone to do their part.

Amid the cheers, the atmosphere in the theater became hotter and hotter, and Arthur, who was making the final confirmation of the duel venue on the stage, suddenly saw Sir George Elliott beside the king waving at him.

Seeing this, Arthur just took off his hat and smiled slightly.

Sir Elliott leaned down and whispered to the King, "Your Majesty, that is Superintendent Arthur Hastings, the protagonist of today's duel." I had a relationship with him at General Codrington's banquet. ”

"So he and Codrington know each other?" William IV laughed and said, "If you say that, he must be able to understand these two strings of flags?" ”

Sir Elliot smiled and replied, "I think he should be able to read it." In case you didn't know, he also fought with the Royal Navy on the high seas, and Fitzroy, the captain of the Bagel, said of him that his broadside combat skills were not even inferior to that of Admiral Edward Rotherram. ”

When William IV heard this, his spirits were lifted a lot, and he asked, "Not inferior to Rotherram?" Isn't that big talking? I've seen Rotherlam's knife skills, and he is the only one in the entire Royal Navy who has the ability to take a frigate to engage a battleship. ”

Sir Elliot just laughed and said, "I don't know if it's an exaggeration. But as you can see, the decisive flag has been raised, and you know what it means in the Royal Navy. ”

William IV laughed when he heard this, he took off his sword from his waist and raised it high, shouting at Arthur on the stage: "The order for the decisive battle has been given, and I do not ask you to drag me back with a 'Sainte-Anna' like General Rotherram, but if you can defeat the Parisian swordmaster." Young man, this sword is yours! ”

William IV didn't talk much nonsense, and he hung the glittering gilded sword encrusted with rubies and diamonds under the portrait of the king behind him.

William IV patted the splendid white wall engraved with various reliefs behind him, and announced loudly to all the audience in the theater and to Arthur on the stage: "Young man, as you can see, the sword hangs here. If you have the ability, you can come up and get it! ”

Seeing this, Arthur just smiled softly, and under the attention of the audience, Arthur half-knelt on the stage and replied loudly: "Yes, Your Majesty." ”

There is also a chapter of the Alliance Leader plus a little later

(End of chapter)