Chapter 221 Mendelssohn’s Help

The Coburg Theater was bustling with people, and countless gentlemen and ladies in various dresses took their seats according to the tickets they had booked in advance.

Just as Arthur had expected, tonight's concert attracted many special guests due to the gathering of famous artists.

Even Arthur, who had a narrow social circle, could find a few familiar guests among these people.

Although the Coburg Theater would not disclose the names of ticket-booking customers for the sake of customer privacy, Arthur, who had the help of the Red Devil, would not care about this.

His red eyes scanned the boxes on the second floor, and he couldn't help muttering.

"It's not surprising that Mrs. Cowper and Viscount Palmerston are here.

Mrs. Leven and the old man who visited the Russian Embassy that day also came, and there were two guards standing in front of their box door. It seems that the old guy must be Austrian Prime Minister Metternich.

But... who is this person next to Mrs. Norton? Isn't she in love with Viscount Melbourne? Why did she change her taste so quickly?"

The Red Devil lay on his side on the stage, chewing an apple while cursing: "Arthur, is there something wrong with your brain? The person next to Mrs. Norton is naturally her husband, Mr. Norton. Do you need me to teach you such a simple question?"

When Arthur heard this, he came to his senses. He patted his head and smiled helplessly: "I've been really confused by the chaotic relationships among these people recently. I'm already grown up, I thought that the people around today were either someone else's wife or someone else's husband.

However... Mr. and Mrs. Norton actually came to watch the show together, have they reconciled? "

After hearing this, the Red Devil stretched and said with a sly smile: "If your wife can bring you an annual income of more than a thousand pounds at any time, and also a position with a lot of power, you have to coax her if you are in this situation."

When Arthur heard this, the red light in his eyes gradually dissipated, and he said: "Now, the question is. I still don't know what the relationship between Viscount Melbourne and Mrs. Norton is. In addition to the emotional connection, do they have any physical connection?"

When the Red Devil heard this, the malice on his face deepened: "Oh! My dear Arthur, Why do you care so much? Is it important to have a physical relationship? Don't get the point wrong. The point is whether others believe that there is no physical relationship between them.

If others don't believe it, it doesn't matter if it is there or not. If others believe it, it doesn't matter if it is there or not. Do you need me to explain your human affairs more clearly? "

Arthur glanced at the Red Devil: "Agares, I have to say that your idea is quite dangerous."

The Red Devil was not in a hurry to express his opinion. He just put his hands together and smiled: "Arthur, don't rush to make a conclusion. I'm not saying that you must do this, but you have to think of a way for yourself first, right?

If Viscount Melbourne really puts George Norton in a position that makes you uncomfortable in the future, this obstacle still needs to be removed.

Think about who he belongs to. Supporter, he is a supporter of the former Lord Chancellor, Earl Eldon. Think about what Earl Eldon did, who issued the six special orders of suppression, who has been blocking the Royal Charter of the University of London, and why was it so difficult to abolish the Bloody Act?

Arthur, are you sure you want to leave yourself such a big problem? Look at where you are standing. The Coburg Theatre is famous for performing Shakespeare's operas. Have you forgotten the famous quote in Hamlet?

People often use sincere appearance and pious actions to cover up a devilish heart.

And correspondingly, in order to achieve your sincere purpose, sometimes you have to pay some devilish action. "

The Red Devil tried his best, but unfortunately, Arthur was almost immune to his rhetoric.

"The Nortons and Viscount Melbourne are already messy enough, so I'm not interested in intervening in their triangle relationship for the time being."

Agares was not angry when he heard Arthur reject his trade application. He just played with the soul beads he had just obtained, and said with a sly smile: "Arthur, I think I still need to remind you. There are not many souls left from the pirate ship last time. It's not a good thing to drag it on like this. You have to consider doing another big deal as soon as possible."

The Red Devil kept putting pressure on him, but Arthur didn't have the mind to distract himself from the soul at the moment.

Because he just scanned the first and second floors and didn't see any trace of Vidocq at all.

This French detective who has always been elusive seemed to have not come to the Coburg Theater today, but if someone told Arthur that Vidocq didn't visit today, Arthur would definitely not believe it.

Even if Vidocq and Dumas were brothers, the lineup of guests attending the concert tonight was enough for Vidocq to smell the smell and come to investigate.

After all, French Ambassador Talleyrand couldn't have brought Vidocq here just to let him protect his own safety, right?

Arthur, the head of the intelligence department of the Metropolitan Police, was given a spying mission, so there was no reason for the French to behave themselves.

Arthur was thinking about this, when suddenly, he heard scattered and chaotic footsteps.

He turned his head and saw that the musicians of the London Philharmonic Society's Third Symphony Orchestra were ready to go on stage.

Mr. Cipriani Porter, who was in charge of leading the show today, also stood under the stage and repeatedly rubbed his fingers through his white gloves, trying to make his knuckles more flexible when going on stage.

Just when Arthur was about to continue staring at the front desk for a while, a kind, familiar and young voice sounded from behind him.

"Ah! Mr. Hastings, you are here."

Arthur looked back and saw that it was Mendelssohn who was one year older than him.

Mendelssohn greeted him with a smile, then walked up to him and kindly taught him his experience: "You will be a little nervous when you perform on stage for the first time, but as long as your fingertips touch the keys, everything around you will Everything will become quiet. At that time, you can play your music with peace of mind, and there is no need to think about anything else. When the performance is over, you will be surrounded by applause and flowers, and you only need to bow slightly to thank the audience for their love. That’s it.”

When Arthur heard this, he just joked: "The love of the audience? It seems that being a pianist is indeed a good career. Since joining Scotland Yard, I haven't felt this kind of thing from the eyes of people around me for a long time." "

"Is that so?" Mendelssohn responded with the same joke to Arthur's joke: "If you consider starting piano training at Scotland Yard, I guarantee that it will not be long before the bad reputation of Scotland Yard police officers will be improved."

Having said this, Mendelssohn asked again: "By the way, why don't you go backstage to meet Mr. Clementi? If you can get a few words of advice from him, it will definitely be of great help to your future development in music." It’s beneficial. Everyone believes that the improvement of piano skills cannot be achieved in isolation. Only through continuous exchanges with those great pianists can we truly grow. It is precisely because of this that I would have traveled all over Europe. Come back, I’m probably still in Lombardy now.”

"Really?" Arthur said, "Lombardy is a good place. I heard General Codrington of the Royal Navy say that the grapes there are quite sweet."

Mendelssohn laughed when he heard this and said: "Arthur, you are really interesting. I didn't go there just to eat two more bites of grapes. I went there to exchange skills with the piano masters in the Apennines."

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly had an idea, and he suddenly thought of something.

He deliberately changed the topic and guided Mendelssohn: "You have been to so many places to visit the masters, but have you been to Paris? In Europe, apart from Vienna, Paris has the strongest musical atmosphere."

"Paris? I just have this idea." Mendelsohn nodded with a smile: "If everything goes well, I may go there next year."

Arthur nodded slightly and said, "Felix, you may not know that Paris is not only a musical mecca, but it is also an amazing place for us police officers."

"Ah!" When Mendelssohn heard this, he immediately clapped his hands and said, "Are you talking about Mr. Francois Vidoc?"

Arthur was surprised: "Do you know him?"

"Of course!" Mendelssohn nodded: "The memoir he published has been a bestseller in London in the past two years. I also bought a copy and went back to read it. I have to say that his life experience is more exciting than the music score. too much."

Arthur smiled and thought for a while, and then started to weave a polished story: "Since you know Mr. Vidocq, Felix, I won't hide it from you. In fact, the reason why I'm here today is not just for you. Playing music for the audience was not just a farewell to Mr. Clementi.

The famous Francois Vidocq recently came to London with the French diplomatic mission. And he and I had just reached an agreement. He said that he had the ability to take away something from under my nose, but I didn't believe that he could be so magical. I almost staked the honor of Scotland Yard to prevent him from succeeding.

However, what I am most worried about now is that Mr. Vidocq will suddenly attack me while I am on stage. So, can I make a presumptuous request to you? "

When Mendelssohn heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Even this future world-famous classical music master cannot escape the curious nature of human beings, let alone a young man in his twenties at this time.

Mendelson asked: "Of course I am willing to help, but I don't know anything except playing the piano. How can I help you?"

When Arthur heard this, he just smiled, waved to Mendelssohn, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Mendelssohn frowned when he heard this: "This..."

Arthur smiled and said: "Felix, if you can't do this, I really won't be able to find anyone else. Oh, no, maybe there is such a person in Paris, but now I have to invite him. That's too late."

Mendelsohn looked at Arthur's sincere smile, gritted his teeth and thought for a long time, and finally nodded slowly.

"Then it's settled! Arthur, you risked the glory of Scotland Yard in order to duel with Mr. Vidocq. In that case, I will also risk my pride as a pianist with you. But, Arthur, you Promise me, you will win."

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "I'll try my best."

With Mendelssohn's assurance, he suddenly felt confident, and he asked: "By the way, I forgot to ask you, what are you going to play today?"

Mendelssohn smiled mysteriously and replied: "You know I am a loyal follower of Mr. Bach. On such an important occasion as Mr. Clementi's retirement, I must of course present him with the most solemn "Matthew Passion"."

When Arthur heard this, he just muttered: "Matthew Passion? This is not auspicious..."