The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 922 - 27: Commercial Director in China_3

The two first met at a private banquet hosted by General Cordington, and when Arthur was awarded the ’Junior Knight’, it was Elliot who stood beside the King, holding Arthur’s Knight’s Spurs and cloak.

Thinking of this, Arthur turned around and gave Victor a signal, indicating he wanted to go out for a walk.

Arthur had just pushed open the door when he saw a somewhat familiar face in front of him, or more precisely, it was one of his mentors—Earl John Lampton of Dalmo.

In Britain, whenever this gentleman is mentioned, people first think of him not for what he has done, but because he is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Count Grey. His connection to Count Grey is so prominent that most people forget that this gentleman is by no means an ordinary person.

In short, he is an old member of the Whig Party, and most of the time, he stands in the same trench with Arthur’s mentor, Lord Brougham: supporting the Catholic emancipation movement, supporting parliamentary reform, supporting free trade, supporting the spread of education, helping to establish the University of London, and advocating the removal of all legal barriers for non-National Church members.

Because of this, Arthur actually met Lord Dalmo quite early on. He had already known this Liberal Representative nicknamed ’Radical Jack’ when he was studying at the University of London.

However, what impressed Arthur the most about this part-time teacher who occasionally came to campus to give speeches was a conversation he overheard in private with Earl Dalmo.

At that time, Earl Dalmo casually told Arthur: "I think an income of 40,000 British Pounds a year can be considered a middle income, enough to live comfortably."

This statement naturally shocked Arthur, who was then spending barely 20 pounds a year, and even to this day, Arthur has not reached the middle-income level described by Lord Dalmo.

However, the income of 40,000 pounds wasn’t Earl Dalmo bragging, because this fellow had an identity that most people in the world could only envy—a founder and chairman of the New Zealand Company of Britain.

Since its establishment in 1825, the New Zealand Company quickly controlled the majority of New Zealand’s commercial institutions and monopolized the local luxury trades of flax, timber, and pearls.

Such wealth allowed Earl Dalmo to announce his retirement at the early age of 41.

As the son-in-law of the Prime Minister and a key drafter of the parliamentary reform bill, he could have continued to hold an important position in the Cabinet, but he chose to leave politics early.

As for the reason, it was quite simple; he felt someone had stolen his credit during the parliamentary reform process. For someone who didn’t lack money, leaving a name in history had become the sole pursuit, yet his achievements were overlooked, which made Lord Dalmo feel insulted, so he submitted his resignation to his father-in-law, Count Grey, shortly after the reform was completed.

And Count Grey had always been worried about this Radical son-in-law’s way of doing things, especially after last year’s parliamentary reform riots. The Whig Party also began reflecting on whether its methods had been too radical. So, when a Radical Representative like Lord Dalmo submitted his resignation, Count Grey immediately approved it.

Of course, Lord Dalmo’s departure was quite dignified. Just like when Arthur left London and was knighted, Lord Dalmo also became a Duke, originally just a Baron, but now an Earl.

Just as Arthur discovered Earl Dalmo, Earl Dalmo also noticed Arthur, an outstanding graduate of the University of London.

He widened his eyes, then a slight smile appeared on his face, and he affectionately patted Arthur’s shoulder: "Oh, Arthur, what are you doing here?"

Arthur took off his hat and greeted him: "Your Excellency, I heard you’re not in good health. Have you come to Paris to recuperate?"

Earl Dalmo laughed heartily: "Indeed, my migraines are an old problem. As long as I stay away from London, away from Westminster Palace, my health improves immediately. Isn’t that strange?"

Arthur chuckled: "Actually, I’m about the same. My heart had a hole in it while in London, but as soon as I reached Paris, a heart grew back. Isn’t that peculiar?"

Earl Dalmo understood what Arthur meant; this young man was likely mocking those in the Cabinet and Parliament who had heartlessly sent him to Hanover.

Being sidelined as well, Earl Dalmo felt a certain camaraderie with Arthur.

Moreover, from another perspective, Earl Dalmo was quite grateful to this student from the University of London for stabilizing the situation in London successfully on June 5th.

If the riots on that day had turned into an uprising, Earl Dalmo—the one who had been advocating for and personally drafting the parliamentary reform bill—would not escape internal scrutiny within the party.

He comforted Arthur: "Some people have short memories, but that doesn’t mean everyone has. Arthur, you’re a good man. I’ve read the reports from Fleet Street; those journalists either don’t know the details or are pretending to be ignorant. Considering the situation in London that day, you practically gave it your all in your position."

Hearing this, Arthur felt slightly reassured.

He didn’t expect Earl Dalmo to make any promises, but he had to present himself to every British political figure he encountered. After all, Hanover wasn’t located beneath the feet of Westminster Palace and Whitehall, and he didn’t have a brother like Sir George Elliot or the deep-rooted background of the Napier Family.

So, if you don’t make some waves in person, these guys might really forget about you one day.

He certainly didn’t want to spend a lifetime doing jobs like hiding in a hotel with Victor to monitor others’ affairs.

Lord Dalmo continued, introducing his companion to Arthur: "Come, Arthur, let me introduce you. This is Mr. John Bonning, an external affairs secretary of a debating society in Britain. He was also the editor-in-chief of the ’Westminster Review,’ and he’s an old friend of Mr. Bentham."

Hearing this, Arthur smiled and shook hands with Sir Bonning: "I’ve heard Mr. Bentham mention you before, but what interests me most is that Mr. Bentham said even if you’re not the world’s greatest linguist, you’re definitely among the top three. You seem to speak two hundred languages, is that true?"

Impressed by this crystal of the University of London, Bonning humbly smiled: "Mr. Bentham greatly overestimates me; I haven’t mastered two hundred languages yet, only a little over a hundred, and I can communicate fluently in about sixty. However, being able to read and write in two hundred languages is indeed my goal."

Arthur meant to just joke with Bonning but hadn’t expected that the latter truly mastered so many languages.

Even counting on his fingers, Arthur might not be able to list sixty languages, yet Bonning could communicate in sixty languages.

Seeing Arthur’s surprised expression, Bonning couldn’t help but ask, "I remember the University of London offered courses in Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and German. Which did you study while you were there?"

Arthur blinked: "Greek and Latin were compulsory at school. I minored in a bit of Spanish and French, and in preparation for my new position in the Kingdom of Hanover, I’ve been cramming some German, though I’m not fluent yet."

Then Arthur casually added: "By the way, I also know a little Chinese."

Hearing this, Earl Dalmo chuckled and remarked: "Really, Arthur, you know Chinese? Surely, you’re not saying that because you overheard Bonning and my earlier conversation?"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel