Arthur rummaged through the report in his hand, and replied with a match.

"Actress? I don't seem surprised at all by Alexander's choice. Moreover, it seems that this is not the first time I have heard the story of an actress. When Mr. Vidocq was a stunned boy, his lover was also an actress a few years older than him. Our former Prime Minister, Sir Canning, is the son of an actress. ”

Louis dragged out of his chair and sat down across from Arthur, he took off his hat and threw it on the table and asked:

"But although there are many stories about actresses, most of them don't end well. Most of the actresses have rich emotional experiences, and their minds are much deeper than those of ordinary girls.

Didn't you say that before? Mr. Vidocq's lover just teased him like a funny little pet and kicked him away when he got tired of playing with him.

As for Sir Canning's mother, it was even more excessive. Sir Canning never saw her since he was a child, which may have been one of the important reasons for his extreme personality.

If Alexander had just done it on a whim, it wouldn't have been fine, but if he had played himself, then I wouldn't really know what to say. ”

Arthur threw the papers on the table and replied casually.

"You don't have to worry about that, Alexander is not as dedicated as you think, and if there is any woman who can let him fall in, then I really want to see what kind of beautiful woman she is. You may not know it, but it's been a long time since I've seen him bring the same woman home in the last six months. His efficiency in this area is almost as fast as his writing. ”

When Louis heard this, he couldn't help but say with envy: "It's not that I doubt Alexander's charm, but he not only has to serialize and adapt the script every day, but also has to review the popular literature manuscripts of "The British", is it not enough to fill his time with so much work?" Does he know magic? It's amazing how he can find time to deal with so many women at the same time! ”

Arthur spoke, "I don't think you understand him well enough. If you have such a large group of lovers, and you are in the habit of spending as much money as Alexander, you will definitely need to work so hard. Not only did he spend his own money, but he also spent a lot of money to support his current mistress, past mistress, mistress's family, and their children.

Now there are at least dozens of households in London that rely on Alexander's manuscript fee income to eat, which is also the fundamental reason why this fat man obviously made a lot of money from "The Count of Monte Cristo", but his bank account is still poor. ”

Louis held back a smile and asked, "Then didn't you persuade him to be a little more restrained?" ”

"Persuade? Why should I persuade? ”

Arthur picked up the teacup and said, "I wish he had taken all the widows in London, Alexander has made a great contribution to Scotland Yard in poverty alleviation." And he's obviously enjoying it, which is a great thing, and I don't have any intention of changing it. The only fly in the ointment is that Alexander is now rich, so his tastes seem to have changed. He was not as interested in washerwomen and maids as he used to be, and as Ling said, he liked actresses now. ”

Louis laughed and shrugged, "Arthur, if you let the newspaper reporters hear these words, your caricature portrait will have to be hung on the front page of The Times tomorrow." ”

"Not really." Arthur quipped: "I have a good relationship with Mr. Thomas Barnes, the editor-in-chief of The Times, and at least I have provided him with Mr. Harrison's press material." ”

"Are you really sure you have a good relationship with that Times Jupiter?"

Arthur took a sip of tea and muttered, "At least our relationship is not as bad as it is between him and Viscount Palmerston. ”

"That's right."

Louis replied: "It seems that Viscount Palmerston has forbade the Times reporters to enter the door of the Foreign Office. For the most part, he will now only speak out in his mouthpiece, the Morning Post. It has to be said that this is a strange phenomenon.

In the past, a single word of ministers could decide the life and death of a newspaper, but now the situation seems to have been reversed. The attitude of the news media can determine the success or failure of a cabinet. It's no wonder that the Earl of Lindhurst thinks Thomas Barnes is probably the most powerful man in Britain at the moment.

Perhaps this was an important reason why he recruited Mr. Disraeli into the Tory. Although the British are not known for their editorials, when it comes to the circulation of each issue, the nascent British is already on par with established literary magazines like Blackwood. At such a time, it is not wrong to invest in the majority shareholder of "British". ”

"Yes, times are changing, so those who can keep up with the development of the times can seize the opportunity. Viscount Palmerston is one, and Earl Lindhurst is another, however, they have clearly not noticed the most valuable thing. ”

"The most valuable thing?"

Louis glanced at Arthur, and just as he was about to ask what Arthur was talking about, the door to his office was suddenly pushed open.

Entering, a nervous officer Tom, a young shoemaker from Northumberland, was clearly not used to his new rank and responsibilities.

Tom not only didn't have much joy at the rocket-like speed of his promotion, but was quite apprehensive.

Arthur turned around, looked at his worried old friend, and quipped, "The Bass Star badge is a good match for you, but if you want to do a good job in the Archives Management Center of the Intelligence Agency, you can't rely on the vocabulary you learned from Sunday school, you have to study hard." ”

Tom put down the papers in his hand, sat in his chair, sighed, and said, "Arthur...... I...... I'm sure I'll study hard. But at the end of the day, I'm still a farmer at heart, and how can I compare to those middle school students who came from grammar school when I do this kind of paperwork. Not really, you ...... Why don't you talk to Director Rowan, or transfer me back to the front line to do coolies. ”

Hearing this, Arthur took out a document from the drawer and threw it at Tom: "Don't say these frustrating words, you can't do it, you don't count, I wrote your year-end evaluation report." But, Tom, you're right, you really don't compare to the middle school students in grammar school right now.

So, in order to solve this problem, I have signed you up for a police training course organized by the Department in cooperation with the University of London. During your training, the work of the archives management center will be temporarily handed over to Louis. Of course, training isn't about letting you fish.

Because it is not only our PIS people who participate in the training, but also mid-level police officers from other departments of Scotland Yard. Therefore, while recommending you to participate in the training course, I also hope to make a timely request to you, that is, your final evaluation of the training course should not be at least lower than that of your son.

I've seen the transcripts of Adam and Aaron, two hairy boys, who did well in the final exams of school, with A's in both Greek and Latin. The last time the two of them came to Scotland Yard to play, they recited a piece of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" to me, which really surprised me. Tom, don't you want to admit that your intelligence level is lower than that of an eight- or nine-year-old hairy child? ”

When Tom heard this, his face instantly turned red: "How is that possible?" I was weak because I didn't have the opportunity to get an education. Now that I have the opportunity to study at the University of London, I will definitely have no problem working after my studies. ”

Arthur finally hardened his anger when he looked at this old fellow, and finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Although Tom's ability is not top-notch in Scotland Yard, for Arthur, the most lacking thing in the Police Intelligence Bureau is not capable operators, but a guy with strong moral character like Tom.

In many of the key departments of the Intelligence Agency, Arthur does not need a progressive young man who can make achievements, but an honest man who can withstand temptation and will not bury mines for him.

Listening to information is important, but secrecy is the foundation of everything.

Of course, Arthur's need for honest people does not mean that progressive youth are useless in the Intelligence Bureau.

Thinking of this, Arthur asked, "Has Ridley arrived?" ”

"I'm here to inform you about this." Tom turned his head and shouted out the door, "Ledley, come in." ”

As soon as Tom finished speaking, he heard a crisp and hard sound of footsteps outside the door.

Ridley King, the progressive youth of the year at Scotland Yard, clenched his fists to waist height with his belt high, his fists facing inwards and his elbows slightly inward, and ran into the house.

Looking at his swinging arms, it was as if he were not a policeman from Scotland Yard, but a highly trained cavalryman.

Ridley stood still, raised his legs and turned around, and saluted Arthur: "Ridley King, Secretary of Police for the East London Region of the Greater London Metropolitan Police Department, Toll Hamlets, salutes you!" ”

Louie and Tom glanced at each other, and they both had a strange smile in each other's eyes.

But Arthur didn't have the slightest intention of laughing, and he had already heard of Ridley's kid.

If you want to be elegant, it is that this kid is enterprising, but because he is not young and lacks experience, he still lacks consideration in some working methods.

If it is popular, it is that in order to get promoted and make a fortune, he is unscrupulous and disloyal to Scotland Yard, he is inconsistent with what he looks like he is, he is deceitful and deceitful, he is duplicitous, and he is a two-faced person, which has caused many adverse effects on the social reputation of Scotland Yard at the political and practical levels.

For Ledley's actions, he should be given an internal warning or a serious warning. It is not excluded that the punishment of dismissal from the police force or probation in the force, or even the promotion to the high-level severe punishment of dismissal from the police.

Arthur lit his pipe and threw the matchbox on the table, staring at Ledley for a long time, spewing out a puff of smoke.

"Ledley."

"Here!"

Arthur raised his hand slightly and raised his head at him: "Don't be nervous, there is nothing else to call you over today, you sit down first." ”

"Yes, sir!"

Ridley took a step sideways and sat upright.

Judging from his decent, resolute and resolute expression, he couldn't find the slightest flaw, and no one would have thought about how many bastards this kid had done behind his back.

As for how much of a bastard Ledley is, Louie, who is next to Arthur, has a lot to say.

After all, Ridley's first step to the throne began by breaking into the Regency Crescent to capture him, a royal member of the Bonaparte family.

Arthur held his pipe and looked down at the papers in front of him, and the only sound of the pages could be heard in the huge office.

In the silence, Arthur's hoarse voice broke the silence.

"Ledley, take off your epaulettes."

Ridley heard Arthur call him, and was about to stand up like a spring, but when he heard the second half of the sentence, his legs, which had just stood upright, suddenly went limp.

It was such a stuffy room, but Ridley felt as if he had fallen into an ice hole.

He thought that Arthur had called him over today to have some good news, but he didn't expect to be greeted by such a bolt from the blue.

"I ...... Sir...... Did I hear it wrong? ”

Arthur put down the paper, looked up and asked, "What did you hear?" ”

"I ......," Ridley grinned, his head sweating, "I heard it...... You ordered me to take off the epaulettes? ”

"Well, you heard it right." Arthur got up and poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him: "You don't look very well, take a glass of wine slowly?" ”

"Nothing, sir!" Ridley stood up and saluted, "Your order, I will resolutely carry it out!" ”

With that, Ridley gritted his teeth ruthlessly, and his fingers buckled on the brief, and only two swishing sounds were heard, and the sheriff's epaulettes of the three Vs had been enshrined in the palm of his hand.

Arthur looked at him and nodded slightly, then unceremoniously pinched the two epaulets in his hands: "Very good, Ledley, you carried out the order well." ”

Arthur turned around and opened the drawer of the filing cabinet, casually sealing the epaulette that Ledley regarded as his lifeblood for good.

However, before he could turn around, he heard Ridley's voice behind him: "Sir, I will carry out the order resolutely, but I need a reason!" ”

"Why?"

Arthur picked and chose in the filing cabinet, pulled out two documents that had been prepared a long time ago, and raised them at Ledley: "The reason is here, the one on the left represents your past, and the one on the right represents your future, it depends on which one you choose." ”

"In the past? Future? Ridley frowned, he didn't understand what Arthur meant, "Can't I choose both?" ”

"Pick both? No, no. ”

Arthur leaned against the corner of the table with his wine glass: "The Intelligence Bureau has no such precedent, and I don't plan to set such a precedent, but as a person who has come over, I happen to have some experience in doing multiple-choice questions, do you want to hear it?" ”

Ledley pursed his lips, and now he had nothing to worry about.

"It's an honor to have your advice."

Arthur smiled when he heard this, and said, "As a person who has come over, I don't recommend that you choose the past, because you know what happened in the past. You're a smart person, so you don't need to revisit it to learn from the past. But the future is different, the future represents unknown possibilities, but also represents new challenges and opportunities. ”

"Challenges and opportunities?"

As soon as Ledley heard these two key words, his dim eyes instantly lit up again, his heart pounded, he seemed to have guessed Arthur's subtext, but before he could be happy, he still needed to get 100% certainty from Arthur's mouth.

"Long ...... Sir, I choose the future. ”

Hearing this, Arthur smiled and handed the document symbolizing the future to Ridley's hand: "It seems that everyone is right, Ridley, you are really motivated." Since you have chosen the future, the past is written off. ”

He raised his hand and threw the document symbolizing the past directly into the burning fireplace, accompanied by the orange-yellow flames and Arthur's glittering red eyes.

Under Arthur's gaze, Ryder slowly opened the file bag with his trembling hands, and just pulled out the corner of the document, the title printed in his eyes made Ridley tremble.

Feasibility Proposal for the Establishment of a Special Arrest Unit of the London Police Intelligence Service under the Greater London Metropolitan Police

Ridley jerked his head up.

Arthur raised his glass and smiled at him to congratulate: "Ledley, from today onwards, you have been transferred to the London Police Intelligence Bureau, and the rank and title number has been changed from MPS to PIS, and it has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Bureau. Once the transfer is approved, remember to go to the logistics office to pick up your new uniform and new epaulettes.

Of course, I'm going to talk about the ugly things first. Transferring you over does not mean a promotion, as you will face a very difficult task when you enter the Police Intelligence Service. If you don't feel like you can afford it, I won't embarrass you. The Intelligence Agency has always been very democratic in this regard, and I don't want you to think I'm forcing you to do a job you don't like. ”

When Ridley heard this, his whole body trembled with excitement, and he hurriedly stood up and saluted, for fear that the slightest hesitation would let this opportunity slip through his fingers: "Of course, Director, I am 100% obedient to democracy!" Constable Ridley King, on call 24 hours a day, ready to serve you! ”

"Good. In that case......"

Arthur removed the appointment document he had drafted from his desk and gently dried the ink marks on it.

"Ledley, I, Arthur Hastings, Assistant Superintendent of the London Metropolitan Police Force and Director of the London Police Intelligence Service, hereby give you the formal authority to form the Fifth Special Operations Division of the Police Intelligence Service."

(End of chapter)