In the study, it is like a corner in the depths of the years, quiet and depressing.

Outside the window, the torrential rain is pouring wildly, as if a tragic symphony has been played between heaven and earth, and the raindrops rolled up by the wind violently hit the window, making a wail, as if the years are beating the last chapter of life.

There was a dim kerosene lamp on the desk, and the old man, who had once been slender, now looked very thin and tired, covered with a camel hair blanket, and his whole body seemed to sink into the faded leather armchair.

The face carved by the years is covered with furrow-like wrinkles, and the deep eyes are shining with the glory of the past, but they also reveal a weakness that is difficult to hide. Those hands, the pen that had drafted countless legal lectures and political programs, could only rest weakly on their knees, their skin sagging and their green tendons prominent, like the bark of an old tree after being eroded by wind and rain.

The torrential rain was like a note, reflecting the quieter in the study. The wicks of the kerosene lamps were swayed by the wind that seeped through the cracks in the windows, and the rain slid down the window glass like an hourglass of life.

And the sound of riding boots hitting the ground from the stairs outside the door was steady and powerful, piercing the roar of the rainstorm, as if counting down to an hourglass.

Arthur appeared in the doorway, dressed in a wet black trench coat and raindropping from his large-brimmed hat. He gently pushed open the half-hidden door, and his eyes instantly fixed on the old man, and the picture seemed to be frozen by time.

He didn't know the old man in front of him, who had not been in such a bad state just a year ago, and who could splash ink on the Westminster Review with enthusiasm, and who could find time to give a humorous lecture in the lecture hall of the University of London on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Bentham struggled to raise his drooping eyelids, raised his head slightly and showed a reluctant smile at Arthur: "Arthur, long time no see, you look more mature." ”

Arthur gently dragged the chair away, leaned forward to hold the old man's cold hand, and rubbed it gently for a while, but he still couldn't let the old man's body temperature rise much.

He turned his head and instructed the butler, "Please bring two more blankets, this ghost weather is too cold." ”

Bentham only smiled softly when he heard this, and he shook his head slowly: "Don't bother Andrew, he has worked for me all his life, and it's time for him to rest." ”

When the butler standing outside the door heard this, his emotions suddenly became a little excited, and his gray hair trembled: "Mr. Bentham, don't say that, I feel very honored to be able to serve you." I don't have much knowledge, I can't do many big things, and being able to arrange your life for you is all I can do. It's like...... It's as if I could take some credit out of your greatness. ”

Bentham couldn't stop shaking his head when he heard this: "Andrew, you underestimate yourself too much." You could have had a career of your own, just like Mill and Ricardo. Even the youngest Chadwick is now the secretary of the Chancellor's Hall, and you are no worse than them, but you lack the courage to take a crucial step. ”

Andrew took off his hat and put it on his chest, pretending to smile cheerfully: "Mr. Bentham, old dogs can't learn new tricks, I'm old, and now I just want to do my job well and help you take care of your body." ”

When Bentham heard this, he smiled gently: "That's it, at least in the profession of housekeeper, I can't find anything better than you." Andrew, can you go and pour me and Arthur a cup of tea? ”

"As you wish, Mr. Bentham."

Andrew took a deep breath, lowered his head slightly and exited the room.

Bentham heard his footsteps fading away, so he turned to look at Arthur and asked, "This is a very stupid man, isn't he?" ”

Arthur smiled slightly: "Although I should not have spoken back to you during your illness, I do not agree with you, just as I used to argue with you about Kant. ”

"Oh?" Bentham seemed to be very interested in the subject, and even the light in his eyes flickered: "What do you think?" ”

Arthur replied with a smile: "Utilitarian principle: human behavior is entirely motivated by pleasure and pain. A behavior is correct if it contributes to the promotion of happiness. If it causes suffering, it is wrong. Mr. Andrew thinks it's a pleasure to serve you, and that's enough for him. ”

Bentham lay in his armchair, staring at the torrential rain outside the window, and whispered, "But with Andrew's talent, he could have made a greater contribution to the collective happiness of society." And what can he do if he stays with me, an old man in his old age? This deal, after all, is still too loss-making. ”

Arthur said, "You are too pessimistic, you are just having a minor illness, and your body will get better soon." When that time comes, you'll have to do Andrew's share of the happiness he owes to society. ”

When Bentham heard this, he turned his head to stare into Arthur's eyes, and he smiled heartily, if it weren't for his body, he might have laughed out loud by this time.

"Arthur, are you comforting me?"

"It's not." Arthur's face did not change and said, "I have always told the truth. ”

"You're lying."

Bentham ruthlessly exposed Arthur's lies, but he didn't seem to blame the young man.

"But I don't blame you. Because you're lying to make me feel better, to increase happiness, I don't think you're wrong. But ......"

Bentham paused for a moment, then continued: "But my body I know myself, and I feel like I'm dying now." I'm too old to walk, I can't eat, I'm just physically alive, but my soul is on the verge of breaking free from the shell. ”

Arthur was silent for a long time, and he didn't know how to proceed.

In the end, he could only turn around and say, "You're kidding." If your health is really that bad, how can you announce that you are closed? Don't let those young people see you for the last time, you're not such a ruthless person. ”

A smile tugged at the corner of Bentham's mouth: "No, Arthur, you don't understand me, I'm a real utilitarian." Utilitarian caring for others means minimizing the suffering of the other person. Therefore, when I am dying, please promise me not to let the servants in, and please stop the young people outside. Because when they find that they can't do anything about my death, they will be very uncomfortable. Death is a very painful thing, and I can bear this pain alone. ”

When Arthur heard this, he was inevitably a little moved, and he shook Bentham's hand without saying a word, neither agreeing nor refusing.

After a long time, he asked softly, "Why me?" If things do get to that point, I'm going to be very upset. ”

Bentham patted the back of Arthur's hand apologetically, "I'm sorry for you, Arthur." If I could, I would do it alone. But the dead can't do that. You're the toughest guy I've ever met.

I know that in your heart, there may still be some pimples for me, but if it were not for the bipartisan struggle and the matter of parliamentary reform becoming the main axis at present, the "Anatomy Bill" may have been promoted a long time ago. So, in order to prove my consistent utilitarian principles, and to compensate for your suffering, I will dedicate my last bit of value to this society as well.

I hope that when my body specimen appears at the University of London, the MPs will be touched and your heart will be well-touched. ”

Speaking of this, Bentham smiled and recited the words that pastors often used to preach in their last sermons: "We came into this world naked, and we walked ...... naked."

Arthur followed suit: "Life should be as gorgeous as summer flowers, and death should be as beautiful as autumn leaves......"

Bentham was stunned when he heard this, he stared at Arthur for a long time, and then squeezed Arthur's hand with relief and said, "Arthur, you have become a real utilitarian, and you are also a utilitarian poet. ”

Speaking of this, the old man winked playfully: "Last request, I hope they can make my body specimen more handsome, not as quiet and beautiful as autumn leaves, but to look majestic and solemn." ”

Arthur also replied with a smile: "The last request, until the last moment, please stand up first, because maybe there will be a turnaround later." At the very least, you should live to the day when parliamentary reform succeeds, and it would be a shame that you have been working for 30 years to see the results? ”

Bentham's face seemed to be a little angry, and he replied with a smile: "Your request is too much for an old man who is about to die. I owe you that, though, so I'll work hard. ”

As soon as Bentham finished speaking, Agareth's voice rang in Arthur's ears: "Oh, a brilliant thinker and jurist, whose soul is worth a lot of money. And he's a utilitarian, and since he doesn't even care if his body is cut into pieces, he shouldn't hesitate to give his soul, right? Arthur, what do you think? ”

Arthur didn't pay attention to the Red Devil's whispers, he just pulled the blanket on Benthham's body up, and immediately stepped back and saluted the old man: "Mr. Bentham, you are waiting for me here, don't move around." Soon after, I will come back to bear your share of pain, and don't let me find you then. ”

When Bentham heard this, he also joked in a low voice: "If I can move around, then I will go to you myself." Where will you be then? Scotland Yard, or the convention halls of Westminster? ”

Arthur held the doorknob, struck a match and lit a cigarette, "I don't know, who can say what the future holds?" When you go to heaven, stand on the edge of a cliff and look at me, I'm down there. ”

When Bentham heard this, he pursed his lips and shook his head: "Arthur, you are still young. ”

"yes!" Arthur nodded, "As you know, I'm still young. ”

With that, Arthur closed the door and went out into the hallway.

Before he could go downstairs, he saw Andrew, the butler, standing silently at the top of the stairs with a teacup in his hand.

Arthur saw the man's soaked hat and the rain dripping like tears on the brim, and just leaned on the armrest and asked, "Did you hear me?" ”

Andrew's hands trembled slightly and nodded.

Seeing this, Arthur didn't persuade him much, but reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "Mr. Andrew, don't think things too badly, people always have to move on." ”

Andrew held back tears, and in the pride of a British gentleman, he refused to let the tears fall to the ground: "Mr. Hastings, thank you for comforting me. However, it does not seem appropriate for you to say this to me at this age. Because I'm almost old enough to be your father. ”

Arthur replied with a smile: "It has nothing to do with age, the Duke of Wellington can be my grandfather, but I said something similar to him the other day." ”

"What did you tell him?"

Arthur took a puff of his cigarette and let out a puff of smoke: "Your Excellency, I don't want to persuade you to retreat, but I want to persuade you to move forward in a different direction. ”

……

On the departing carriage, Louis looked at the retreating crowd outside the window, and then at Arthur, who was smoking a cigarette beside him.

He only felt that his chief had undergone some kind of change in temperament compared to an hour ago.

But for the Red Devil leaning against the car window, it is not so much that Arthur's temperament is changing, but that his temperament is returning.

That damn, stunned temperament is rapidly returning.

Agareth thought that the Liverpool shooting would be a wake-up call to Arthur, but to the Reds' surprise, the rhythm of the alarm bell was not as thick and gloomy as he had set in advance.

Agareth's eyes widened, and he grabbed Arthur by the collar and roared, "Little bastard, don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" Who do you think you are? You want to sing a one-man show! ”

The Red Devil and Arthur are caught in a game of war between heaven and man.

But from Louis's point of view, he didn't know what was really going on.

All he knew was that the young officer was smoking a stuffy cigarette.

Perhaps wanting to liven up the atmosphere, Louis proposed: "The mission has been successfully completed, and it is still early, why don't you go to the editorial office of "British"?" I heard that Alexander's son just arrived some time ago, let's call Charles and they have lunch together? ”

"Nice proposal."

Arthur extinguished his pipe and said, "But I think you're probably more interested in the recent news from Paris than Alexander's son." ”

"Paris?"

As Arthur said, Louis was immediately attracted as soon as he heard about the city: "What's going on there?" ”

Arthur spoke: "Alexander's friends in the literary world in Paris specially escorted the mother and son to London. I met him at home last evening, and according to him, the political atmosphere in Paris is exactly the same as it was before the French Revolution began.

Both the republicans and the Bonapartist were unsettled, and to make matters worse, in order to calm the situation, the mathematician Mr. Evarister Galois, a fervent supporter of the republicans, was ordered to be arrested. At a time when the Republicans were actively plotting to rescue Galois, Mr. Vidocq had been having a headache lately. ”

(End of chapter)