In the drawing room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the long-bearded Earl of Levine held his glass and chatted with Palmerston.

Although both men appeared here in official capacities, they preferred to see the meeting as a simple casual conversation between friends rather than a formal public meeting.

"So, what do you think about what's happening in Syria? Muhammad Ali's 30,000-strong Egyptian army, which had been overwhelming since its departure from the Sinai Peninsula, and now that Palestine had all fallen into his hands, he was clearly not satisfied, and now began to march on Syria.

Information from the Ottoman court revealed that Sultan Mahmud II intended to intervene in the conflict between Ali and Abdullah, the governor of Acre, in order to bring peace to the Egyptians. Henry, do you have any thoughts on this matter? ”

When Palmerston heard this, he only chuckled.

"My friend, will you believe Ali's nonsense? The Ottoman Egyptian Pasha was merely using the conflict as a pretext for his army. He is a desert careerist with ambitious goals, and such a careerist is unlikely to go out of his way over a quarrel.

According to feedback from our Egyptian diplomatic attaché, his real plan was to establish an Arab empire beyond the Ottoman provinces south of Asia Minor, stretching from Syria in the east, Libya in the west, the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains in the north, to the Arabian Sea and southern Sudan in the south, across Asia and Africa, and encompassing all Arabic-speaking regions. ”

Hearing this, Count Levine took a sip of his wine.

"His appetite is great, but the civilized world won't let him do it easily, will it? For the sake of friends, I can tell you that His Majesty, who lives in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, is very concerned about Ali's rapid progress in Palestine.

Moreover, he had deep doubts about whether the Ottomans would be able to defeat Ali head-on, given that our powerful Russian army had fought the Egyptians in Greece, and they were indeed the strongest of the Ottoman forces. ”

When Palmerston heard this, he also understood the other party's intention today.

After all, the Earl of Levin wanted to come over today to probe Britain and see if Britain was interested in intervening.

But for Palmerston, it's clearly too early to talk about that.

At a time when the Foreign Office was concentrating on the civil war in its allies, Portugal, and after General Codrington had annihilated the Ottoman Empire's maritime power at the Battle of Navarino, it had become increasingly cautious about the East.

From the point of view of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Britain neither wants to see the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, nor does it want to see the Ottoman Empire kill Ali and unite as one, and an Ottoman Empire that is weak but not falling, big but not strong is in the best interests of Britain.

As for Ali, the careerist from Egypt has both ambition and strength, and it really doesn't be a good thing to watch him go big. But for now, at least, Ali had great respect for the right of British merchants to do business in his area of governorship, so the British did not intend to offend the Arab warlord who ruled North Africa and Crete.

Moreover, according to the long-standing principles of European diplomacy, if Britain intervened in the Ottoman question, then European powers such as France and Russia would have a legitimate reason to intervene.

But Britain was clearly farther away from the Ottomans than France and Russia, so it is impossible to say who would have the advantage when the great powers intervened.

The previous independence of Greece was a lesson in point, and when Britain, France, and Russia helped Greece gain independence from the Ottoman Empire, the end result was that the Russophiles in Greece gained the upper hand.

If it were not for the tragic assassination of the Greek president, pro-Russian leader, and former Russian foreign minister, Mr. Kapodistias, it would be difficult to say whether the Royal Navy would still have absolute superiority in the Mediterranean.

Therefore, unless necessary, the Foreign Office does not have sufficient reasons and incentives to change the status quo, and Palmerston cannot persuade the Cabinet and Parliament to intervene in the Palestinian war.

Palmerston said: "I tend to observe the Ottoman Empire for a while before making a judgment. Ali was indeed a careerist, but I don't think he was capable of defeating his Ottoman suzerain. However, I understand the Tsar's concerns, and I ask you to tell him to be calm and that the situation is not as bad as it gets.

Moreover, I think it is imperative for your country to purge the Polish rebels who have disobeyed the king, just as it is now our priority to settle the trial after the Swayn uprising. The unstable factors at home are much more dangerous than those abroad. ”

Seeing that Palmerston would not let go, the Earl of Levine did not continue to ask.

He just joked: "Henry, I really didn't expect that you have only been in diplomacy for a year, and you are already so proficient in the use of diplomatic rhetoric." It seems that Dorothea is really right about you, you are a natural diplomat. She is right, the guy who can be proud in the love field can generally play well at the diplomatic negotiation table. This is true of Talleyrand, and so is Metternich. And you, even more so. ”

Palmerston did not deny the words of the Earl of Levine.

But what made him laugh a little was that two of the three men mentioned by the Earl of Levin were having affairs with his wife. As for whether the remaining old lame man has it, only God knows.

However, according to Madame Levin's habit of hunting European figures, if Talleyrand is good at this, he is probably more than lucky.

If it is measured by ethics and morality in the popular sense, it is most likely difficult to understand the miraculous relationship between the Livin couple.

However, for the aristocracy, the fidelity between the couple was limited to until the birth of a legal heir.

Many couples who have formed partners through arranged marriages and do not have much emotional foundation are basically playing their own games after this, and the husband and wife basically turn a blind eye to each other's cheating, as long as they don't make it too out of line so that it damages the dignity of the aristocracy, then this matter should not be dealt with.

The two were exchanging enthusiastically, when suddenly the door of the living room was pushed open, Mrs. Levine withdrew from her entourage, and Shi Shiran walked in front of her husband and lover.

She gently pulled the curls of her sideburns behind her ears, raised her hand slightly to Palmerston, and winked at him playfully.

Palmerston gave a kiss in understanding: "Madam, it seems that the cold wind in Petersburg not only preserves food, but you look young again after returning from your vacation there. ”

A smile tugged at the corner of Mrs. Levine's eye: "Henry, if you apply this skill of pleasing ladies to diplomacy, I don't know who can stop your unstoppable charm." ”

The Earl of Levine leaned on the sofa with a cigar in his mouth and said, "I know one." ”

Mrs. Levine lifted the hem of her skirt and leaned against her husband's side and asked softly, "Who?" ”

Count Levine laughed and replied directly, "Muhammad Ali." Your all-powerful Henry just said he couldn't solve this problem. ”

Viscount Palmerston coughed lightly: "Your Excellency, let me take the liberty of reminding you that what I am talking about is that Ali is not a problem for the time being. ”

Mrs. Levine also blamed her husband: "Beloved, how can a pagan understand the charm of a Christian gentleman? That guy only knows how to play with sand in Syria. This is not Henry's problem. ”

Hearing this, Count Levine just raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders: "Well, my considerate wife, you are right, who made you so beautiful?" ”

Speaking of this, Count Levin took out the pocket watch in his pocket and glanced at it, then suddenly got up and said, "It's not too early, and it's time for me to leave for the banquet." After several weeks of closure due to cholera, the clubs and salons have finally reopened, and I have to make up for all the money I owe in the previous weeks. ”

When Viscount Palmerston heard this, he got up to see him off, but as soon as he stood up, the Earl of Levine pressed him back by the shoulder.

The Count leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Don't send it, take care of Dorothea for me." When she was in a good mood, she told her on my behalf, I won't go back to the embassy tonight. ”

Hearing this, Viscount Palmerston smiled politely, "Then I wish you a good night." ”

The Earl of Levine took off his hat and said goodbye to Madame and Palmerston, "I wish you a good evening, too. ”

With that, he kissed Madame lightly on the forehead, and walked away with a smile on his face.

Viscount Palmerston looked at the other party and walked out of the living room, leaned on the arm of the sofa, and said with one hand on his head: "How do I feel that His Excellency the Earl came here today not to talk to me about Egypt, but to throw you to me." ”

When Mrs. Levine heard this, her face immediately dropped.

She shook her lace feather fan, her face full of displeasure: "What? Aren't you happy? ”

"Of course not." Palmerston noticed that something was wrong, and quickly changed his compliment: "Dorothea, you don't know that your absence from London is almost driving me crazy." Every day, when I close my eyes, all I see is your smiling face, and all I hear in my ears is your voice. I miss your hugs and your cherry-sweet lips all the time. ”

When Mrs. Levine heard this, she did not hide her suspicions, she turned sideways and asked, "Is it?" I'm not in London, so doesn't it just give you and Emily plenty of time to be alone? ”

"Oh!" Palmerston hugged his head and said, "Dorothea, it seems that you don't know that Emily is not in London during this time. She was having an awkward fight with her brother, so she went back to the countryside in a fit of rage. ”

"Huh?" Lady Levine looked surprised, "What's going on?" ”

Palmerston recounted to his old lover the causes and consequences of the Viscount Melbourne's affair, and Mrs. Levine only felt a little laughable after listening to the account.

Mrs. Levine asked, "Why does the Viscount of Melbourne always get involved in these things, before it was his wife's troubles with Lord Byron, and now it is an extramarital affair lawsuit." I remember him as a decent man! Why does God always like to play tricks on him? ”

Palmerston tucked his collar and said mysteriously, "Really? I don't think William is very decent, it's just that he is more demanding of his partner. ”

"Higher?" When Mrs. Levine heard this, she immediately became interested: "What kind of woman does he like?" ”

Palmerston said, "Well...... He is a man who likes to read, and since what happened to his wife, he has devoted almost all of his spare time to reading, as if trying to escape from reality. And don't look at him as usually lazy, but in fact he is a rather fussy person, and he is only interested in ladies who can keep up with his knowledge. But unfortunately, his knowledge is too extensive, so in the end, the ladies who can talk to him will always be a minority. ”

With that, Palmerston stood up and sat down beside Mrs. Levine: "But...... Dorothea, what are you asking about this? Could it be that you are interested in our university scholar William? ”

Lady Levine wrinkled her nose dissatisfied: "I don't mean to offend, but I'm not interested in His Excellency the Viscount. I've never had a shortage of suitors, and most of my suitors are knowledgeable, but I'm not interested in snagging a squad as strong as the Royal Society. ”

When Viscount Palmerston heard this, he only pretended to be pitiful and said, "Oh, Dorothea, hearing you say this, I am suddenly a little worried that I may lose you at any time. ”

Madame Levine was amused by his words, and she raised her lace gloves and rubbed her lover's face fiercely: "I still prefer to cultivate those who are mediocre but talented at the beginning than those who are erudite when they debut." Although he is indeed shallow at times, I believe that with his talent and hard work, he will one day become the Foreign Secretary. ”

"My dear, it's all thanks to your support. At least half of my position as Foreign Secretary belongs to you. ”

Palmerston said this, and took Mrs. Levine into his arms: "But since you have helped me to this extent, why don't you help me again?" ”

Mrs. Levine snuggled lazily into Palmerston's arms, and her fingers ran around her long hair, "Henry, you are so greedy. I'm just a girl, what can I do? ”

"No, my dear, don't say that." Palmerston smiled and said, "You see, the end of the year is approaching, and I want to add another stroke of color to the work report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." I hope to proudly proclaim, in the presence of my fellow Cabinets, that, thanks to my tireless efforts, Britain has now penetrated deep into the heart of the Russians! ”

Mrs. Levine's face turned red when she heard this, and she gave Palmerston a white look and said, "Henry! You shameless fellow, is this something that can be said at a cabinet meeting? ”

Palmerston smirked and put his hand on Mrs. Levine's shoulder, "Dorothea, are you so shy?" It doesn't look like you! ”

When Mrs. Levine saw him like this, she couldn't help but think of the blow that had hit his excess self-confidence: "It's not that I'm shy, it's that I don't think there's anything to brag about what my predecessors have done." The Duke of Wellington had already arrived there before you. ”

But Palmerston didn't care about this, he didn't care at all: "My dear, this is different, although the result is the same, but the Duke of Wellington and I have different methods. ”

"How so?"

Palmerston raised an eyebrow and smiled, "As we all know, I am good at stormy attacks, and Your Excellency Duke is good at impregnable defense. But his defenses were broken by you, and I broke through yours, so in the end, I won. ”

Mrs. Levine pursed her lips, but finally came to Palmerston: "Well, for Poland's sake, I'll ......"

When Viscount Palmerston heard the word Poland, he immediately reflexively said, "Poland? What Poland? ”

Mrs. Levine reacted when she heard this: "Oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I made a mistake. I almost forgot, you don't know anything about Poland. But then again, I still have to thank you for knowing nothing, so I guess you've got a good night out for me tonight, right? ”

Viscount Palmerston smiled and nodded, "Of course, ma'am." ”

He stood up and walked over to the gramophone in the hall, lifted the stylus and placed it on the record.

After a while, a soothing and beautiful music sounded in the living room.

All the gentlemen and ladies who frequented the concert could hear that the piece was played by the most popular pianist in London, Chopin, "To Hastings".

Viscount Palmerston bowed slightly, smiled at Mrs. Levine and extended an invitation: "Ma'am, may I ask if I have the honour to invite you to dance a waltz?" ”

"Of course."

Mrs. Levine stretched out her slender arm and gently rested her palm on Palmerston: "This song, to the friendship between Britain and Russia." ”

(End of chapter)