The lights went out, and there was silence in the Asteri Amphitheater.

In the darkness above the stage, no one could see what was happening.

Chopin stood behind Arthur, and he took off his gloves, revealing his hands that could splash countless moving notes.

His palms were covered with beads of sweat, and tension and worry were written on his face at the same time.

"Mr. Hastings, are you really okay?"

Arthur smiled and stood up, he took off his Guy Fawkes mask and placed it on Chopin's face.

"Frederick, don't worry about me, I'm feeling really good right now. As I promised you before, I will give you a stage to fully express yourself, and the next step is up to you to grasp it. ”

Chopin asked, "Can ...... But your hands are bleeding......"

As a pianist, no one understands the impact of an arm injury on a musical career better than Chopin.

Seeing that he was so uneasy, Arthur could only smile helplessly: "Frederick, I'm not injured, and Mr. Bertrand is fine." What you see may not be the truth, and you may not be able to see the truth. I did bleed a little, but not as badly as you think, and besides, it was me and Mr. Bertrand who were bleeding in the world. It's the same with the Polish people you are thinking about.

Frederick, if you really want to be grateful to us, don't think too much, play your notes, and let everyone remember that there is only so much we can do for Poland. ”

"But ......"

This time, before Chopin could finish speaking, Arthur got up with a smile and pressed Chopin on the shoulders and pressed him against the bench.

Just as Chopin was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that Arthur had a silver commemorative cup half full of soil in his hand.

Arthur placed the cup next to the sheet music in front of Chopin and smiled softly at him.

The significance of this silver commemorative cup to Chopin is unknown to very few people, but it is not a coincidence that Arthur happens to be one of them.

Yesterday evening, he made a special trip to Chopin's residence in London, and learned the story of the silver cup from Mr. Mickiewicz, the author of The Englishman, who was also a Polish exile.

This is a souvenir given to Chopin by his teachers and classmates at the Warsaw Conservatory when he left Warsaw to study in Vienna.

To others, it may seem strange to use a silver cup in soil, but for Chopin, the handful of soil has a different meaning.

This is a handful of mud from Warsaw, which represents Chopin's longing and passion for the land that haunts him.

Arthur leaned down and lowered his voice in Chopin's ear and said, "Go, Frederick, let them have a good look at what the first pianist in Poland is." Be confident, you have the strength and talent to do so, even if it is a young talent like Mr. Mendelssohn, who became famous at a young age and is well-known in Europe, I don't think he can beat you on the piano. Coincidentally, Mr. Mendelssohn agrees with me.

Remember Mr. Heine, who auditioned you with me yesterday? Do you know what an arrogant man like Mr. Heine says about you? He told me that when you sit down at the piano, it feels as if a fellow countryman from his birthplace is telling him the strangest thing that ever happened in his hometown when he was away. If he could, he would love to ask you: 'Are those roses in the house still blooming enthusiastically?' Are those trees still singing so beautifully in the moonlight? ’

Frederick, you're right, you're useless, because you can't do anything but music. But at the same time, what you say is all wrong, because no one can do better than you on the piano, because you are Chopin. Since the piano is the only thing you can control, go for it. In this way, my blood has not been shed in vain. ”

Arthur's smile grew brighter as he said this.

With his hands behind his back, he stepped back step by step.

However, as he was about to leave the stage, Chopin suddenly stopped him: "Mr. Hastings." ”

"Huh?"

Arthur stopped, smiling and frowning.

Chopin stared at the face that was blurred in the darkness, his nervous expression finally eased, and he finally bloomed a charming smile that he had not seen in a long time, and his whole body was full of the same cheerful attitude as in the Vienna Concert Hall in the past.

He picked up the silver cup from the piano stand and asked Arthur, "Can you give me some blood?" ”

Arthur stared at him for a long time, and finally smiled and nodded.

He stretched out two fingers and landed on top of the silver cup, and the blood dripped down, staining the silver cup red and moistening the soil.

Arthur shook his head lightly and smiled: "One drop should be enough, it's not that I'm stingy, but this 'blood' is really poisonous." ”

The fog filled the stage again, and Arthur turned and walked away into the smoke screen.

And along with the sound of footsteps, there are also the melodious notes that the audience has been waiting for for a long time.

There was a gust of wind on the stage, and the sheet of paper with the sheet music was flipped over, on which only the first piece Chopin played tonight, "Nocturne in E flat major".

The evening breeze blows in the Astrid amphitheater, and the melodious melody clearly enters from the right hand voice, playing softly, indescribably smooth, everything is like calling for the evening breeze of a summer night.

The soft and elegant sound of this music fell into the ears of the audience, as if a pair of gentle arms brushed their cheeks.

The people who had just been in the blood of the duel were instantly caught up in a reminiscence of the local summer night, and the Hastings supporters who came for tonight's piano premiere showed more shock.

Arthur, who is best known for his rough wave performances in London, has now composed a piece that is the polar opposite of his own style.

Even Moscheles, the president of the Philharmonic Society, who was sitting in the front row of the audience and worried about Arthur's life, listened a little distractedly.

He closed his eyes and savored the taste of the notes, and his frowning brows gradually relaxed: "Pure, quiet, clear but also delicate, forget the troubles, forget the sorrows, forget that he is still lying on the small bed in the apartment, is he talking?" If Mozart is a calm pond, it is a lake in the evening moonlight. Is this really the work of Arthur Hastings? He is such a delicate person? Perhaps, it's because I don't know much about him. ”

Mendelssohn, who had already known the truth, leaned against the door of the passage, looked at the arm that was bent on the keys in the darkness, and he could not help but smile with some jealousy: "What a misfortune, and what a blessing! There is another such figure in London. If this continues, I'll have to seriously consider whether or not to go to Paris again. Maybe I should settle here in the future? Liszt or Chopin, who better interprets the way of romanticism? ”

Dumas and the others, who hurried down the steps, couldn't help but slow down when they heard this music, and when they came back to their senses, they found that a pipe was burning in the corner not far ahead.

Alexandre Dumas looked at Arthur, who seemed to be fine in front of him, in surprise, and couldn't help but be surprised: "Arthur, you ......"

Arthur let out a smoke screen and shook his finger gently at the two friends, he lowered his voice and said with a smile, "This is indeed a genius, isn't it?" ”

"You're not hurt?"

Arthur just smiled when he heard this, he brushed his hair and said, "The name of the genius pianist is about to be changed, and if you ask this, I am indeed a little injured." ”

Disraeli looked around: "What about Mr. Bertrand?" ”

Arthur took a drag on his cigarette: "Mr. Bertrand should have taken the money back to the apartment, and this is really hard for him today." But overall, the money was well spent. ”

"So, you bought him?" Disraeli patted his head and said, "Damn! I should have thought of it a long time ago. But...... Prices in Bertrand shouldn't be cheap, right? You do so much just for this Pole cushion? So what are you trying to do? ”

Arthur didn't say anything about this, he just turned around and reminded Disraeli slightly: "Benjamin, you're about to run a councilor." What are you going to do to get your voters to cheer? ”

When Disraeli heard this, his proud brain immediately turned a corner.

He knew that Arthur was talking about the question of aid to Poland.

In this regard, he was able to both make the Whigs ugly and stand on the moral high ground. And the emergence of an outstanding Polish pianist is undoubtedly the best way for the public to learn about Poland.

Disraeli was overjoyed, but then he began to worry about Arthur's situation again.

He also vaguely mentioned: "I saw Viscount Palmerston also here today, do you think he will know how to appreciate the piano?" ”

Arthur just smiled softly when he heard this, and he patted Disraeli on the shoulder: "It doesn't matter if Viscount Palmerston doesn't understand music, just enjoy it for Viscount Melbourne and Lady Norton, I gave Mrs. Norton two box tickets two days ago, I believe she will choose a man who can make her happy." ”

Alexandre Dumas also understood what they were saying, and the French fat man frowned and asked, "Arthur, but you're taking a bit of a risk by doing this, aren't you?" Will the Viscount of Melbourne support you unconditionally just because he hears a few delightful tunes? While I admit that Monsieur Chopin's music is no ordinary piece, I do not think that it has the power to charm a profit-driven politician. ”

Arthur shook his head lightly and said, "Alexander, you're right, of course I'm not sure. ”

"And you're still doing this kind of thing?"

Arthur wrapped a few bandages around his hands to himself: "Isn't there still His Majesty the King there?" ”

Disraeli frowned and said, "His Majesty will be involved in the personnel appointments and dismissals of Scotland Yard?" Besides, can you have foreseen that he will come today? ”

Arthur smiled and shook his head, "Of course I can't, it was just a joke." I can't believe in the generosity of Viscount Palmerston, nor in the passion of Viscount Melbourne for music and Mrs. Norton, but only in the petty belly and temper of our Westminster magistrate, Mr. Norton. ”

When Dumas heard the name Norton, he also remembered some of the previous rumors: "He's here today, too?" ”

Arthur nodded slightly: "I sent a letter to the honorable former Councillor Bernie Harrison a few days ago, with two tickets for tonight, and a sincere invitation to him to bring his good friend Mr. Norton to attend, and to see with his own eyes whether his wife has a problem with the Viscount of Melbourne." As you know, Mr. Harrison has always had a good relationship with Scotland Yard, and I am sure he will be generous enough to accept my offer. It would have been better if he had confidently persuaded Mr. Norton not to endure this unhappy marriage for the sake of that illusory position, and even had Mr. Norton sue for divorce. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he finally understood Arthur's full plan.

He couldn't help but gasp, but in an instant, there was a smile of appreciation and reverence on his face: "If the Viscount of Melbourne suffers a lawsuit because of this, I'm afraid it will have an impact on his election!" This kind of scandal is fatal for any politician who has the ambition to go further. And you, my dear Arthur, I am afraid that you alone will be able to save him at such times. As long as this order is done, I am afraid that no matter what Viscount Palmerston says in the ears of the Viscount of Melbourne, you will not be able to shake your position in Scotland Yard and even the entire Home Office. ”

Arthur smiled and said, "By the way, you can also attack the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Polish issue in a big way." Benjamin, we're a win-win. ”

Dumas also patted his stomach and couldn't help but complain: "It's really, I was still worried about you before, and now that I think about it, it's all superfluous." But Norton, a bad breed who eats soft rice, really deserves to die, who was the previous murder case hung on? Is it his or Bernie Harrison? ”

Arthur smiled when he heard this: "Then it depends on how Mr. Harrison's affairs go." For now, I'm inclined to suspect both of them. ”

At this moment, the piano music finally came to an end.

As the afterglow of the last note faded into the theater, the theater erupted in applause like a mountain and a tsunami.

"A masterpiece!"

"A complete masterpiece, I can't think of anything better than this."

"Hastings! Hastings! ”

As the stage lights came up again, the audience's eyes brightened again.

Just as they were about to offer Arthur their highest courtesy and throw the rose in their hands on the stage, they were shocked to find that the Arthur they recognized was not by the piano, but standing on the steps not far away.

Sitting in the center of the stage was a young man wearing a mask and a lock of brown curls on his forehead.

"This ...... What's going on? ”

"Didn't you just play Mr. Hastings?"

"Why is he wearing the same mask as Mr. Hastings?"

In the midst of the cacophony of discussions, Arthur walked up to Chopin's side, leaned down with a smile on his face, and took off the Guy Fawkes mask that was placed on Chopin's face.

Chopin was still immersed in his own musical world, perhaps because of the emotion of his performance, and there was still a trace of tears in his eyes.

When he came back to his senses, he only saw Arthur standing in front of him, and turned his head to look again, it was a group of stunned spectators.

Chopin lowered his head a little shyly, and he opened his mouth to thank him: "Arthur, I really thank you for having such an opportunity!" ”

Arthur smiled and said, "No, Frederick, I thank you so much! ”

In the midst of his gaze, Arthur, who had changed into a tuxedo, turned around, raised Chopin's left hand high, put the bandaged hand on his chest, and announced to the world in a slightly bowed voice.

"Gentlemen and ladies! Take off your hat and salute! Standing before you is a true genius. Allow me to introduce to you one of Poland's most outstanding pianists, Mr. Frederik Chopin! ”

All of a sudden, the audience stood up and applauded thunderously.

Chopin, who had always been introverted, saw this, and his first reaction was to retreat, but in the end, he still stood there strongly.

He took a deep breath, bowed and said, "A song "To Hastings" is dedicated to everyone, thank you for your love and enthusiasm. ”

(End of chapter)