Chapter 293: Your Majesty (4K6)

Heine leaned against the window of the second-floor box and looked down. The noisy hall of the Astley Theatre was already crowded with audiences from all over London.

Those who sat in the back row and bought standing tickets on the high steps were ordinary citizens and working-class families with a little more money.

Although they were not rich, in such grand social occasions, Londoners' inherent love of face and attention to dress decently drove them to go to the Covent Garden flea market to buy a set of suitable second-hand formal clothes even if they had to use their limited family budget.

Soft hats and corsets, slim breeches and Hessen boots, linen scarves and top hats with Flock coats or tailcoats, such options that were once upper-class have also entered the wardrobes of ordinary families.

Although most of them only have one set of formal clothes to fill the occasion, as long as you don't look closely at the details and stitches of these clothes, they don't seem to be much different from the middle class sitting in the front row.

The middle-class families that they envied and tried their best to let their children spend their whole lives to catch up with were now sitting in the comfortable flannel seats in the front row enjoying the bar meals.

In these families, the men who are the backbones are mostly professional and technical personnel working in steel, coal mining, shipping, construction, banking or international trading companies, or small and micro industrialists who own retail stores, private processing workshops, blacksmith leather shops.

Benefiting from the successful development of the first industrial revolution in Britain, such middle-class people are now in a period of rapid expansion.

Although these middle-class families are not as generous as the real upper-class families, nor can they be compared with the 154 richest people in Britain with a net worth of more than 500,000 pounds, it is undeniable that they have become the main consumer group in major entertainment venues in London.

Just like the mortal enemy of "The Brit", the literary criticism magazine "Monthly Review", which is still chasing Disraeli's early black history, said: Our country seems to be undergoing a change in taste. Such a change in taste is not limited to the field of literature, but the entire cultural field.

And one of the favorite novelists of middle-class women, Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, also took the initiative to make fun of this matter in his serial novel "The Young Duke": take a pair of pistols, a pack of cards, a cooking manual and a set of new moves for the square dance, mix them with half of the impure motives and a perfect marriage, and divide them into three equal parts. In this way, a highly sought-after three-volume fashion novel was born.

And in today's Astley Theater, the fantasy of middle-class gentlemen and ladies about the upper class is almost completely realized.

As they saw in fashion novels, high-end coats, silk stockings, flowers, opera boxes, duels, elopement, gifts wrapped in silver ribbons, eight male servants, four coachmen, horses to match the number of coachmen, imperceptible smiles, gestures that seem to imply an unspeakable conspiracy, coupled with the ladies who shed tears for their husbands' chaotic private lives, and the black gauze bonnets that have to be worn to mourn their uncles who have just passed away.

The big names that appeared on the long red-carpeted stairs leading to the second and third floor boxes of the Astrid Amphitheater greatly satisfied their curiosity.

They rushed to ask their friends around them about the origins of those big names, such as who was the old gentleman who just walked down the stairs, who was as straight as a sword and as sharp as a knife, and what was the origin of the lady who was held up by two servants.

In just half an hour, they had heard more famous names than in a normal year.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, French ambassador to Britain and former Prime Minister.

Arthur Wellesley, former Prime Minister, British Army Commander-in-Chief, Duke of Wellington.

Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Minister, and a mysterious lady who accompanied him but could not see his face clearly.

And after these people, there were countless social celebrities, and many MPs from both the Tory Party and the Whig Party were present.

In addition to these big names in the political circle, there were also many celebrities in the cultural field.

Gentlemen with a wide social circle and a wide range of interests may also recognize Mr. William Turner, the professor of perspective at the Royal Academy of Arts and a well-known landscape painter who has been in the limelight recently, and Sir Walter Scott, who once refused the highest honor of "Poet Laureate" and wanted to invite him to draw illustrations for novels.

Coincidentally, the great poet Robert Southey, who was fortunately crowned with the title of "Poet Laureate" after Sir Scott refused the title of "Poet Laureate", also came to the Astley Amphitheatre.

And with him appeared two outstanding poets who were not often seen in London, and they were also his friends, and the other two representatives of the British Lake School of poetry - William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge.

And on such an occasion, Arthur's friends naturally all came.

But the way they arrived was slightly different. Dickens arrived at the scene early with Tennyson in a carriage, and Wheatstone, who had always disliked socializing, also came to the theater in advance because of coercion and inducement to be responsible for scientific guidance of the stage setting.

Tennyson held the wine glass in both hands and looked at the important people passing by on the steps downstairs. He was so excited that even the wine in the glass was shaking.

"Oh my God! Southey, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, a poet laureate, a poet who refused the laureate, and three representatives of the Lakeside School are all here. What on earth is going on today? , I can even say that tonight’s Astley Theater contains the weight of half a century of British poetry!”

Although Dickens was not as excited as Tennyson, facing all the big names in the literary world, this 'little writer' who was a court clerk a year ago could not help but feel anxious: "I thought this was just an ordinary performance. , I didn’t expect to attract so many celebrities... My novel stage play can get such a grand opening, and... I really owe it to Arthur."

Tennyson saw the smile on Dickens's face that was uglier than crying. He couldn't help but pursed his lips and said with a smile: "Charles, are you under a lot of pressure?"

"Huh..." Dickens exhaled repeatedly: "It is impossible to say that the pressure is not great. There are so many big people and poets watching. If my stage play is not successful, then... Oh, Alf Red, I'm done!"

As soon as Dickens finished speaking, he heard the door behind him being kicked open with a bang.

Alexandre Dumas led Disraeli into the room with his head held high, introducing everyone as he walked: "Come on, Charles, Alfred, you two, let's get to know each other. This is Mr. Heine. Let's " The new author of "British Man". I just had a brief chat with him, and he's not a bad guy."

After saying that, Alexandre Dumas opened the wine cabinet in the room and poured himself a glass to quench his thirst.

Seeing his appearance, Tennyson couldn't help but asked with suppressed laughter: "Alexander, aren't you nervous at all? Charles almost fainted with fright. There were many big shots here tonight, and he was afraid of "The Pickwick Papers" The debut was unsuccessful."

Hearing this, Alexandre Dumas leaned on the sofa and waved his hands disdainfully: "Charles, you just don't have enough experience. Benjamin and I almost risked our lives just now, so what if we failed in a stage play? We failed in the play. Yeah, it’s the audience who’s uncomfortable. What does it have to do with us who wrote the script? Anyway, we’ve already received the ticket money.”

Disraeli also sat on the sofa, took off his hat and fanned himself: "Charles, you didn't know what happened just now. If Tom and the others had come a little later, Alexander and I would have been hung in front of the London dock. On the Tyburn gallows, just like Captain Kidd."

Dickens was stunned when he heard this: "What did you two do?"

Dumas took a sip of wine and said, "I didn't do much, I just brought thirty pounds of black powder and nine guns."

"What?!"

When Tennyson and Dickens heard this, they were immediately shocked by his bold behavior.

Dickens gasped: "What are you doing with that thing?"

When Disraeli heard this, he briefly explained his previous plan to everyone.

After hearing the narrative, Heine couldn't help but give Dumas a thumbs up in admiration: "Mr. Dumas, before you said that you led people to bombard the Tuileries Palace, I didn't believe it. But now, I don’t think that story is that exaggerated anymore.”

"Is Arthur's fight today a swordsmanship match or a marksmanship duel?"

"Damn it! How do I know?" Alexandre Dumas put down his wine glass and raised his eyebrows: "I knew he originally planned to bring two forks."

"What kind of meals do you make at home?"

"How is that possible? The fork can't even penetrate the coat. Arthur originally planned to borrow it from the manure digger."

As soon as everyone said this, they suddenly heard a burst of cheering and shouting coming from downstairs.

Everyone looked up and saw a strong, white-haired old man wearing a navy blue cloak and a sailor red face standing at the top of the stairs and greeting the audience: "Enjoy your beer and enjoy this duel." , enjoy this joyous evening, and in short, have fun, my subjects!"

"Oh my God! It's His Majesty the King!"

"Are you sure you didn't admit your mistake?"

"Of course there is no mistake. I have seen him several times by the Thames. He often walks there with the queen."

"Your Majesty the King, I wish you a good time too!"

"Your Majesty, I'm going to place a bet. Who do you think will win today's duel? I listen to you!"

William IV's congratulatory speech elicited bursts of cheers from the audience. From this simple reaction, it can be seen that the Sailor King is indeed more popular with the citizens of London than his brother George IV.

The cheers from the audience also made William IV, who always liked to be in the limelight and had a few drinks before coming to the theater, burst into laughter. Just when he was about to continue talking to the people, something happened. The attendants responsible for protecting the king's safety were already sweating profusely.

They couldn't help but persuaded: "Your Majesty, let's go to the box first. Although Scotland Yard has implemented gun control nearby, there are many people here and there are many drunkards. If they get emotional, take them Fists can hurt you too.”

When William IV heard this, he frowned dissatisfied and said: "You guys are looking down on me! I think when I was serving in North America, Britain was at war with those rebels! You should know that, right? , I also participated in the Battle of New York and personally fired three artillery shells at Long Island! This is all true. Gambier was the captain of the Cape St. Vincent at the time, and I was working under him. If you don't believe it, You go back and ask him!"

When the attendants saw that the king was losing his temper, they had no choice but to persuade him with good words: "Marshal Gambier told us about your glorious deeds early in the morning. He also said that your battle performance was very heroic, even the great Horatio ·General Nelson also spoke highly of you. I remember what he wrote in your naval evaluation report: Your performance exceeds that of most people in your position. But this is not a war, Your Majesty, we are here. It’s just a show, you don’t need to take risks to mobilize the audience before the war, right?”

When William IV heard the name Nelson being mentioned by his attendants, he couldn't help but sigh: "Alas...Nelson, if he is still alive, it will not be Gambier's turn to be the marshal of the Royal Navy. If I have to give a "

Just as he was speaking here, Sir George Elliot, the Royal Attaché appointed by the Royal Navy, suddenly raised his finger and pointed to the two strings of colorful flags hanging under the box on the second floor and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think those are?"

William IV turned around and looked at the string of colorful flags. His somewhat sad mood just now was instantly wiped away. The sailor king clapped his hands and cheered: "Okay! Good! If you dare to use these two strings of flags, it seems that Scotland Yard today The young man must win!”

As the king turned around, the audience also discovered the two strings of colorful flags that had been hung up at an unknown time.

Audiences in the crowd who had served in the Royal Navy couldn't help but stand up and cheer loudly. In their cheers, the rest of the audience finally understood the meaning of these two strings of colorful flags.

The string above is the purpose and combat creed of the Royal Navy - fight every enemy you encounter, England!

The following string is the last battle order issued by Horatio Nelson during his lifetime, and it is also the Royal Navy's current decisive battle flag - England expects everyone to fulfill their duties.

Amidst the cheers, the atmosphere in the theater became more and more heated. Arthur, who was making final confirmation of the duel venue on the stage, suddenly saw Sir George Elliot next to the king waving to him.

Seeing this, Arthur just took off his hat and smiled slightly.

Sir Elliot leaned down and reported to the king softly: "Your Majesty, the protagonist of today's duel is Superintendent Arthur Hastings. I met him at General Codrington's banquet. We had a chance encounter.”

"So he and Codrington know each other?" William IV laughed and said, "In that case, he must be able to understand these two strings of semaphores?"

Sir Elliot smiled and replied: "I think he should be able to understand. You may not know that he also participated in high sea pursuit battles with the Royal Navy. Captain Fitzroy of the Beagle His evaluation is: his ability to engage in boarding battles is not inferior to that of General Edward Rotheram."

When William IV heard this, he was very energetic. He asked: "Not inferior to Rotheram? Isn't this a big lie? I have seen Rotheram's sword skills. The entire Royal Navy Only he has the ability to lead a frigate to engage in a battleship."

Sir Elliot just smiled and said: "I don't know if it's an exaggeration. But as you can see, the decisive battle semaphore has been played, and you also know what this means in the Royal Navy."

William IV laughed loudly when he heard this. He took off the sword from his waist and raised it high, shouting to Arthur on the stage: "The decisive battle order has been issued, and I don't ask you to give it like General Rotherham." I'll drag a 'Santa Ana' back, but if you can defeat the Parisian swordsman, this sword will be yours!"

After saying this, William IV didn't say much nonsense. He directly hung the shiny gold-plated sword inlaid with rubies and diamonds under the portrait of the king behind him.

William IV patted the gorgeous white wall behind him that was engraved with various reliefs, and announced loudly to all the audience in the theater and Arthur on the stage: "Young man, as you can see, the sword is hung here. If you have the ability, just come up and get it!"

Seeing this, Arthur just smiled softly. Under the attention of the audience, Arthur half-knelt on the stage and responded loudly: "As you command, Your Majesty."

There is also a chapter about the leader, which will be added later.