In a quiet box on the third floor of the Astrid Amphitheater.

Only a clanging sound was heard, and Viscount Palmerston raised his glass and gently clinked glasses with his female companion, Lady Levine, who had accompanied him today.

Mrs. Levine thanked with a smile: "Henry, in the first year of your tenure, you have really become more and more handy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I've long seen that there's some irresistible social charm in you, and you've put it to good use in your diplomatic work. Whatever others may say, at least I think that Britain has done the best job in this position in recent decades, even better than Sir George Canning and Viscount Castlereagh, and you have tried to avoid a conflict between Britain and Russia and bring about a rare peace in Europe. ”

When Viscount Palmerston heard this, he only flattered the wife of the Russian ambassador and one of the hostesses of the Olmark Club in front of him with his trademark smile.

"Dorothea, I am where I am today because of the good advice you have given me. When I was mired in debt, it was you who stretched out your slender but powerful arms to pull me out of the swamp. And when I was about to be abandoned by the Tories, it was you who brokered the Whigs on my side, and made me, a bewildered little sailor, switch sides just in time for the wrecked ship to sink.

Dorothea, you are an angel to many, but to me you are a noble muse. Not only do you know how to sing and dance, but you also have the best dance moves even in the Olmark Club. But compared to your wisdom, your graceful dance steps, which are the envy of countless ladies and ladies, can only be regarded as red cherries to garnish a cream cake.

Having said that, I must thank you once again if it had not been for your efforts at the Olmark Club and for allowing the venerable Earl of Levan to use his personal connections to lobby the Prime Minister, Earl Grey. In any case, it is impossible for me, a young man who has not long since changed party membership, to win the position of foreign secretary. Although everyone says that I am affectionate, no one has ever said that I am affectionate, and I will always remember this friendship. ”

Mrs. Levine looked at the stage play that was being played in the audience, and suddenly raised her hand to support her chin and propped it up by the window: "The performance in the Astrid Theatre today is more interesting than I imagined, whether it is the stage premiere of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Pickwick Papers", or the duel between Mr. Hastings and Mr. Bertran, it is very exciting. As for Mr. Chopin's playing, not to mention, his technique was indeed as good as I had heard in the rumors of the Russian court, if not better. ”

Palmerston also chewed on the meaning of Madame Levine's words, and asked politely: "Is Chopin very famous in Russia?" ”

Madame Levine replied cryptically: "Yes, Chopin's name may not be well-known in Britain, but in Petersburg, his name is like ...... Well...... Perhaps closer to Mr. Hastings' position in London. Because Chopin became famous in Poland very early, when His Majesty Alexander I visited Poland, he invited Chopin, who was only 15 years old, to participate in his concert.

His Majesty the Tsar was very pleased to hear this, and took off a diamond ring on his hand and gave it to Chopin as a sign of recognition and reward for his playing ability. Since then, Chopin's fame has spread in Russia. I thought that such an outstanding figure should stay in the Petersburg court, lying in the arms of the Russian mother to show his musical talent, but today I met him in London. ”

In light of the recent trend of public opinion in the London press and the recent upsurge of public interest in Poland in Britain, Palmerston naturally understood what Mrs. Levine meant.

Like Mrs. Levine's compliments, a brilliant diplomat is one who can decipher a myriad of meanings from prosaic words.

Palmerston replied with a smile: "I know that Russia and Poland have been not very happy about some skirmishes lately, and that British society has been more interested and enthusiastic about this matter than it should have been. I have made many efforts in Parliament to calm these feelings. But you also know that hasn't there been news lately that Mr. Bernie Harrison has extended a helping hand to the Polish lady?

Thomas Barnes, the clown-like editor-in-chief of The Times, took advantage of this incident to play on the topic again and once again stirred up the heat in Poland. The Westminster Federation has also been protesting for Poland, although I think such protests are unjustified and unreasonable.

But after all, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can't always screw them out, and I think it's also quite necessary to hold a concert when necessary to relieve their stress and dissatisfaction. I had also informed Count Levan of this in an informal conversation earlier. A concert does not represent a change of position on the part of Britain, the Foreign Office has absolutely no intention of attacking our reliable ally, and your husband understands this very reasonably. ”

When Mrs. Levine heard this, she turned her head and stared at Palmerston with her watery black eyes, and burst out laughing.

"Henry, look at you, you must have been busy these days, and you are always in a state of fighting in the parliament and the foreign office. How is it that even chatting with a weak woman like me, who doesn't understand politics and diplomacy, has become such a serious tirade? ”

Palmerston took off his hat and smiled and replied, "Dorothea, am I not worried about making you angry?" Will I have the pleasure of dancing with you at next week's Allmark Ball? ”

Mrs. Levine raised her hand to admire her emerald ring: "Originally, my dance partner was already set. However, if it were you, the charismatic Henry, I wouldn't mind someone else dancing a waltz with me. But...... Aren't you afraid that Emily will be angry? She's always trying to take the place of your long-term dance partner. ”

Palmerston smiled and replied, "How so? Emily has all these things to worry about, and besides, she's going to have a salon at home this weekend, and even if I wanted to dance with her, she wouldn't have the time. ”

Mrs. Levine shook her head lightly and said, "Emily is also dedicated to Earl Cowper, if it weren't for her control of the social circle of the Cowper family, it is estimated that with Earl Cowper's stuffy bottle-like personality, she would have been excluded from the mainstream political circle in Britain a long time ago." But then again, if Emily hadn't done something dishonorable like eloping on the spur of the moment when she was younger, she could have married a more humorous and powerful husband.

She was too impulsive, too easily deceived by men, and at that time she did not understand the nature of marriage. It is often difficult to tie love and marriage together. If she had been as free and easy as she is today decades earlier, with her ability to control her husband's social circle, maybe she would have become the prime minister's wife by now. Instead of spending his days with Earl Cowper, who was a man of few words, who was not good at words, and blushed after a casual conversation with the ladies.

It was his luck to meet Emily, and if it weren't for her stupidity, the anxious old Viscount of Melbourne wanted to find a husband to marry her off quickly, and Earl Cowper would not have picked up such a leak. But, then again, Emily's family doesn't seem to be fuel-efficient lamps.

The old Viscount of Melbourne was also a prodigal son when he was young, and Emily's mother, the old Lady of Melbourne, was a famous courtesan in London back then, and was deeply trusted and loved by the former King George IV.

And Emily's sister-in-law, the wife of the little Viscount of Melbourne, Lady Ponsenby, not to mention the story between the two of them. When Lord Byron was still alive, the various tabloids on the streets of London almost every day pointed to the little lace news of Lady Ponsenby and Lord Byron. Looking back, the quiet and elegant little Viscount Melbourne is an outlier in their family. ”

The ladies never stopped gossiping, and Palmerston was happy to divert the conversation from Poland, and it was his usual political style to remain mysterious and closed-minded, as well as his way of protecting himself and his opponents.

He would rather say a few more words about the mountains than reveal a few more words about his views on foreign policy.

Viscount Palmerston spoke: "William is indeed an old unlucky man, with his style and consistent demeanor, if he had been born into a normal aristocratic family, he would definitely have grown up to be the moral model that the clergy were most happy to see." Gentle and elegant, in the face of the lady, he is like this. But...... Dorothea, if you really think of him as an ascetic, you are very wrong.

William actually played quite well when he was young, and he was involved in a divorce lawsuit in his early years. But perhaps it was because of the public opinion turmoil between his wife and Byron, coupled with his unhappy marriage, that William's edges and corners were gradually smoothed out, although he was not obsessed with material contact, but he needed emotional care more mentally than other men.

Thankfully, I recently discovered that he seems to have found his true love. Ever since William met the lovely lady, his mental state had improved significantly compared to before. As a friend, I am happy for him from the bottom of my heart. ”

"Oh?"

Sure enough, the topic thrown by Viscount Palmerston instantly aroused Madame Levine's curiosity.

She reproached Palmerston with disgust: "Henry, why do you want to sell it when you know that I want to know this?" ”

Palmerston smiled playfully: "It's not that I'm going to sell Guanzi, but I think that instead of me saying something unsubstantiated here, it is better for you to go to the box next door and take a look twice." Dorothea, you know, I've always had a tight mouth, and I don't like to spread my friends' secrets. ”

"You mean...... Are they next door? Mrs. Levine opened her mouth half-open, covered her lips with one hand, and opened her eyes in surprise: "The Viscount of Melbourne and his close lover?" ”

"Ahem, ahem...... Viscount Palmerston coughed, "Dorothea, you can't say that. William had always insisted that he and the lady were innocent, and I believed in his credibility, and their dealings were more spiritual. As for whether there is a physical one, it is estimated that only God knows. ”

When Mrs. Levine heard this, she raised her fan to cover half of her face, and her eyes narrowed into a slit with a smile: "Henry, you are really a bad eye. So you sent me here with the intention that I could witness their reality with my own eyes and then come back to report back to you? Come on, I'm not guilty of your misdeeds, you might as well keep these words and deal with the council. ”

Palmerston smiled and complimented: "My dear Dorothea, I will say, if you are an English man, I don't think you can get along in British politics for half a day." In the presence of Prime Minister Dorothea, I have nowhere to hide from these little tricks. ”

Hearing this, Mrs. Levine leaned forward lightly and leaned on Palmerston's chest: "That's not necessarily, you guy, you always hide your hand when you encounter things. I don't believe you've exhausted all your tricks, and to punish you for your dishonesty, you must show me something new today. ”

Mrs. Levine's hand rubbed the side of Palmerston's face, and her eyes were full of affection: "Henry, my request should not be too much, right?" ”

Palmerston wrapped his arms around the beauty's waist, and his breathing became heavy: "Dorothea, you know, I will never refuse a lady's request. I won't admit that I lied, but if you have to see something new, I'll have to make it up for you, even if I rack my brains. ”

The two of you and I are in love, it is the moment of love.

Suddenly, I heard a bang, and the door of the box was kicked open.

Then, there was a roar that could be heard almost throughout the floor: "Caroline, you stinky bitch, shitty whore!" I guessed you and Melbourne were doing all this! ”

Viscount Palmerston was so frightened that Mrs. Levine was so frightened by the sudden roar that she hid in her boyfriend's arms, and she didn't even dare to show her face.

After a brief brain short-circuit, Palmerston finally came to his senses.

He looked at Mr. Norton, the magistrate who was standing in the doorway, and looked at him for a long time before he was sure that he did not know this man.

Viscount Palmerston roared angrily: "Who the hell are you scoundrel! Why did you break into my room? ”

Norton looked at the dim light in the room for a long time, only to realize that he seemed to have made a mistake, and the other party's face seemed to be a little familiar, it was none other than a high-ranking foreign secretary.

Norton felt cold from head to foot for a moment, and the anger that had been brewing with great difficulty was instantly suppressed again, and he laughed awkwardly: "Sorry, I seem to have made a mistake." ”

After that, I heard a snap, and the door of the box was closed again.

Viscount Palmerston angrily lifted the hem of his shirt and was about to draw his gun, but he shouted at the door as he drew his gun: "Bastard! Don't run, you ruffian! ”

But when he rushed out the door, the guy who had broken his good deeds had disappeared into the hallway without a trace.

In the corridor, there were echoes of a few angry arguments between him and his companions.

"Bernie, didn't you say that one?"

"How the do I know! Which room did I get the news about, maybe it was a temporary refund from the Viscount of Melbourne, or a change of room? ”

"Damn! I knew you were caught prostituting for no reason! ”

"Fuck you, where do you think your brain is good?!"

(End of chapter)