Chapter 598 Business Assessment of Nightingale Mansion

Women should be praised, not loved.

——Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

For a military police officer who lives in a high-pressure environment all year round, there is nothing more satisfying than receiving a feast and feast in a foreign country.

In Leipzig, he does not have to worry about suddenly receiving urgent tasks from superior officials, nor does he have to be frightened by unwarranted disasters that may pop up from nowhere, nor does he have to be wary of hidden arrows that may be shot from the mouths of his colleagues at any time.

In Leipzig, a place where the Tsar could not see him, he could enjoy himself without fear of political censorship by the authorities for indulging in the sugar-coated bullets of gentle townspeople and British people.

"Turandot", the crystallization of the wisdom of human civilization, is being performed in the front stage, while the most primitive and clichéd drama of human civilization - drinking, sex and wealth - is also being staged in the backyard.

Darwin may not have thought that Arthur has always agreed with the conclusion he came to vaguely after traveling thousands of miles-that the human species is just an animal in the final analysis, and no one is more advanced than monkeys.

Arthur gently patted Colonel Shubinski on the shoulder and motioned him to sit tight in the Leipzig theater box that had just been prepared for him.

The maids came forward carrying exquisite wine glasses, wearing long silk skirts, smiling and looking at the Russian colonel with somewhat seductive eyes.

Colonel Shubinski seemed to be a little drunk, shaking the red wine glass in his hand slightly, with a satisfied and relaxed look on his face. His eyes lingered among the beauties accompanying the drink, and he seemed to be quite impressed by the warm reception.

Arthur smiled and nodded, confirming that everything was properly arranged, and then gently ordered the maids to take good care of this distinguished guest and try to let him enjoy the happy time tonight.

Associating with European cultural celebrities such as Mendelssohn, Heine, and Alexandre Dumas, and receiving the same treatment as those real nobles, Shubinski felt for the first time that he went abroad to monitor a few restless students. It’s not a chore either.

Being soft-handed and short-tongued, Shubinski couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he remembered that he had previously participated in the Liverpool bombing.

There was a slight blush on Shubinsky's face, and there was some sincere gratitude in his eyes: "Brother, I feel honored by your hospitality today. Such arrangements and thoughtfulness really make me, a Russian soldier, I am in awe of you but you will come one day. Russia, if you need my help anywhere, just say it, I will do my best and never refuse. When you come to Moscow, I will definitely host a banquet for you. Then we will have a good drink and I will serve it to you personally. Wine, I want you to try our Russian wine!”

Speaking of this, Shubinski also talked about his family to Arthur affectionately.

He seemed to want to prove to Arthur that he was not an ordinary rough and tumble officer, but an all-round player who could understand culture and art.

"If you go to Petersburg, you can write me a letter. Although I don't have a house in Petersburg, my father-in-law lives there. Do you know what a father-in-law is? It's your sister-in-law, my wife's father, you My sister-in-law Ekaterina Ivanovna is different from a rough guy like me. She comes from the scholarly Varlamov family! This person is like a pickle in a pickle vat. If you soak it for a long time, it will taste delicious.

Of course, if you soak it for too long, it will be ruined, just like some students at Moscow State University. But my beautiful Katya (Ekaterina’s nickname) is different. She is the right kind of soaking time. Her father, a professor of literature at St. Petersburg University, taught her Latin and Greek from an early age. As for my mother-in-law, that old lady is even more powerful.

The old lady's family belonged to the old aristocracy of Petersburg. They had lived in the court before the reforms of Peter the Great and were quite prestigious in society. Although their family is not as prominent as before, the old lady still follows the same rules as in the palace to ask for her daughter. French, German, music, painting, dance, as well as a whole set of court etiquette that makes people dizzy at a glance, these knowledges are simply endless to study in a lifetime. "

Shubinsky laughed loudly when he said this, and slapped Arthur on the back with a gentle slap, almost causing Arthur to fall face to the ground and break his nose.

Arthur got up from the carpet and almost couldn't help but glare at the Russian colonel.

But when he thought about going to Russia in the future, and maybe asking him for help, the lawless police chief in London could only smile helplessly: "Is this how the old lady usually educates your wife?"

"Of course," Shubinski joked.

He rolled up his sleeves and showed off his muscles to Arthur: "The Russians have always been very strong, otherwise how would we defeat the French? Of course, this is an advantage for men, but it is a disadvantage for women. However, Don't worry, they usually won't show you their power before they get married, but after they get married, and her family is still very powerful, then just take a look!"

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly became enlightened.

This rich and powerful Russian military police colonel...

It turned out to be a son-in-law!

No wonder this guy climbed so fast!

Arthur remembered that Shubinsky had mentioned to him before: Although his father fought in the Patriotic War in Tsarist Russia, at the end of the war, he was only a dragoon captain. According to the Russian military rank list, this is just a ninth-grade officer, an out-and-out low-level officer.

And what about Shubinsky?

When this guy served as an assistant military attaché at the Russian embassy three years ago, he held the rank of a captain of the ninth-rank cavalry.

Three years later, he was promoted to a colonel of the seventh-rank guards cavalry.

This is a Russian Thiers!

It is a Russian Mr. Disraeli!

When Arthur thought of this, he felt that this matter was really ironic.

Whether it is freedom or despotism, there is always a smooth road to promotion and wealth. Although everyone's external performance is different, there is actually not much difference in the inside.

And the progressive young man of the University of Göttingen, dear Mr. Bismarck, is still eager to follow the footsteps of several predecessors and seek a good future for himself through the influence of his wife's family.

Arthur and Shubinsky exchanged a few simple greetings, and then took the opportunity of the Russian officer turning around to wink at the two French girls who were responsible for serving tea and water next to the bookshelf. Although their looks may not be comparable to the "professionals" in the Leipzig Theater, for guys like Shubinsky who are on the edge of the upper class, girls who can speak French have an advantage over ordinary girls.

In Russia, in high-end clubs in St. Petersburg and Moscow, one of the important criteria for becoming a socialite is to master German and French.

Being able to speak German means that your family background should not be lower than the middle class.

And being able to speak French means that you must be from the upper class.

The two girls nodded slightly at Arthur.

Even if Arthur didn't wink at them, the girls had already made up their minds to get Shubinsky's secrets out.

These ladies who were involved with the royalists were all provincial girls without exception.

The experience of struggling in Paris for many years made them understand how difficult it is to make a living these days.

The colorful world of Paris is indeed fascinating, but not everyone is lucky enough to become one of those coquettish and slutty girls who frequent the Parisian scene all year round.

Clara, who was the closest to success among them, invested in Thiers for many years, but the French Minister of the Interior's ability to not recognize people after pulling up his pants was simply eye-opening. Clara, who wanted to turn over a new leaf, became a laughing stock for everyone.

Men are unreliable, and only the money in hand is the truth.

Sir Arthur Hastings, is he more loyal than Thiers?

Not necessarily!

However, this British knight has always been generous and never talked about feelings with the girls.

Some girls have already seen what this knight is doing privately.

These girls are not the group of honest royalist peasants. Although they have not done too high-end business in Paris, they have seen pigs run even if they have not eaten pork. They have seen more of the world in Paris in a year than in their hometown in the provinces for half a lifetime.

In addition, they rarely consider the so-called ideals, countries or other messy abstract concepts, so they are clear-headed bystanders.

While the peasants were still grateful to Arthur, the girls were sure that the knight would never be so kind.

But what if he had bad intentions?

At least he did not harm their fellow villagers, and he also distributed enough living expenses for each royalist peasant to resettle.

Not long ago, the arrival of Miss Fiona made the French girls realize the other side of this British knight - he was an absolute big shot.

He was once the third person in Scotland Yard, a behemoth who could cover the sky with one hand in the London underground world.

If the Parisian underworld boss Gwawi, whom they once relied on, went to London, this level of bug would not even need to alarm the knight.

Whether it was Inspector Tony Eckhart in charge of Greenwich or Inspector Tom Flanders of the Crime Investigation Center, they could crush Gwawi to death with just a few words.

Moreover, although these girls were not very old, they were very cunning.

Everyone can see that Miss Fiona, who is dressed in gold and silver and behaves like a noble lady, must have come this far because she got on the big ship of the knight.

Maybe she can pretend to be pure and innocent in front of others, but her affairs cannot be hidden in the eyes of these French girls.

This is not because they have good eyesight, but because they just happen to have a reference-Clara.

Fiona's attentiveness to the knight, and her seemingly natural but cautious attitude around him, are almost exactly the same as Clara's attitude around Thiers. If the two people are really in an ordinary relationship, most girls are arrogant like a swan under normal circumstances.

And if this swan behaves like a duck, then there is no doubt that the relationship between the two people must be unequal, and it is not just ordinary inequality. She must rely on him to survive.

How can a woman who owns her own business survive by relying on the underground emperor of London?

The answer is about to come out!

France is unbearable, Germany is unfamiliar, and the girls all agree that it is time for everyone to move to another place to develop!

In order to win the opportunity to make a name for themselves in London, they must deal with Shubinsky today and show the knight the proper business level.

Arthur saw the girls' full of energy and tilted his head to gesture to them, meaning: Just watch it, there is no need to force yourself too much.

After all, he has asked all the questions that need to be asked. Even if Shubinski is twisted into a hemp rope, he probably won't be able to squeeze out any profit.

But none of the girls talked to him. They only remembered going to London to live a good life.

When Arthur saw this, he didn't say much, just curled his lips and exited the door.

As soon as he went out, he took out his pipe and lit it. Unexpectedly, he just looked up and saw Fiona standing not far away with an ivory fan and staring at him.

Arthur took a puff of his cigarette and asked in a deep voice: "Is it necessary to take them to London to do this? Isn't it enough to work in the Nightingale Mansion if they have some strength and can swing a whip?"

Fiona covered the lower half of her face with a fan, squinted her eyes and walked up to Arthur, leaned into his ear and asked: "Are you feeling distressed? Then you went in to protect me, why did you come out?"

Arthur held his pipe in his mouth and glanced at her, but said nothing.

Seeing that he was silent, Fiona stepped forward and held his arm and said: "My dear, you don't understand that no girl in this industry is good. They are not like you and me, we have never lived and died together." However, they have only enjoyed the benefits you gave them, but they have never done anything for you. Such a relationship is not strong, and it cannot be trusted. There is never a shortage of girls in the hotel. What we are short of are reliable girls. After tonight, they will submit their certificates. This is like being shot under the Tower of London. I can safely give them to you from tomorrow on. It’s for your own good, my own, and ours.”

When Arthur heard this, he reached out and patted her head: "No wonder everyone calls you Miss Ivan. Your style really proves that you have Russian ancestry. Fiona, you are exactly like Ivan the Terrible. "

Fiona said angrily: "How do I resemble that tyrant? You are the master, and I am just a weak woman who serves you."

"Weak woman?"

Arthur smiled and shook his head: "Queen Maria Theresa of Austria also said the same thing. But as soon as she said this, she united France and Russia to launch the Seven Years War, and said, 'I would rather sell the last A skirt, and never give up Silesia' Frederick II of Prussia angrily cursed. This is the 'Three Skirts Conspiracy'. It can be seen that women are not weak, but you like to use the excuse of weakness to gain benefits. But this cannot be blamed on you, because there are really many idiots in this world who believe this. "

Fiona took Arthur's arm and walked down the steps with him: "You can't blame me entirely. You have obviously changed a lot. In the past, your ambitions were not that big, so I can just do what I want. A small business. But since you ordered someone to take a shot under the Tower of London, it seems that the world in front of you has changed. You say that going abroad is a vacation, a pastime, and a rare relaxation in a tiring life.

But since you left Britain, you have been inquiring about news from London every moment. Your letters have been sent out from Europe one after another. However, there are very few greetings for me, and for His Majesty the King and Earl Grey. There were unusually many inquiries from Viscount Palmerston. Were you drugged by them, or were you poisoned by some witch in the dark forest? A bullet has not taught you enough lessons, and now you want to get in front of the barrel? "

Fiona's words seemed to touch something sad in Arthur's mind. He put his arm on the armrest and stopped. After a long silence, he said: "Before leaving England, I went to see the tower once." Mr. Leland."

"He's looking for you to do business again?" Fiona leaned her head on Arthur's chest: "Stay away from him. That's an old fox. He's more cunning than a snake and more cunning than a wolf. You can't play with him."

Arthur shook his head slightly and said: "He just asked me to do a small favor, but that's not important. There isn't much financial dealings between us. My reward is just a few simple words."

Fiona asked curiously: "A few words? Are his words valuable?"

"It's more valuable than you think. I gave up a hundred thousand francs for those few words."

"One hundred thousand francs?" Fiona subconsciously avoided it: "You'd better not tell me, otherwise I won't be able to help but sell these words at a high price."

"Then you must find a smart buyer." Arthur said calmly: "Before leaving, Mr. Talleyrand asked me two questions. I think these two questions are not only suitable for me, but also very suitable for me." Suitable for you, Fiona.”

"What's the problem?"

Arthur smiled, turned his face and stared at Fiona's face. His eyes were like the stars shining in the hazy night sky tonight: "If you are capable, why are you absent-minded? If you are not Ability, why should you be ambitious? Fiona, I have to admit that you are better than me at answering these two questions."