Chapter 2351 - 296: Not the Home Office Executive Deputy Secretary, but the World’s Executive Deputy Secretary_2

"Are you saying that place is full of black slaves?"

"Arthur, you’re really a piece of work." Eld almost burst out laughing: "I meant that place is full of Republicans!"

Arthur lazily raised his eyes and said, "What’s there to worry about? Having a place full of Republicans doesn’t stop it from being filled with black slaves."

Eld was taken aback by his words: "Is there... any connection between the two?"

Arthur gave him a weary glance, clearly thinking his friend had evolved but not quite enough.

"If Allen is truly a radical liberal, then would a radical liberal, dissatisfied with even Britain’s current social reform, calmly accept American slavery?"

Eld frowned: "But doesn’t that mean his situation will become more dangerous?"

"No." Arthur slowly shook his head: "On the contrary, he’s not dangerous at all."

As he spoke, he stood upright from the table: "Eld, do you know who I’ve scheduled my time with after four this afternoon?"

"That snake from the Foreign Office, Auguste Schneider, you mentioned when you arrived today."

"That’s right." Arthur asked, "Do you remember how Thomas Paine was treated when he first arrived in the United States?"

Eld blinked, suddenly realizing something: "You’re saying..."

Arthur nodded slightly: "Thomas Paine, a radical liberal repeatedly persecuted by Britain’s old regime, a liberal fighter undaunted by oppression, was warmly welcomed by one of America’s Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, after being forced to leave Britain. As soon as Paine arrived in Philadelphia, he immediately became the editor of America’s largest newspaper of the time, the Pennsylvania Gazette, published Common Sense which countered British tyranny, and even participated in drafting the Declaration of Independence."

Though Eld had spent a few years mixing in White Hall, he immediately understood the reason for Arthur’s meeting with Schneider: "This... a warrant isn’t enough, and you’re planning to have the Foreign Office increase the stakes too? Wouldn’t this be too harsh for Allen?"

"Harsh? It’s only problematic if we aren’t harsh enough. The American Government always welcomes Britain’s enemies, provided that enemy has enough fame and influence." Arthur said calmly: "If there’s only a warrant, Allen is just a young madman wanted by Britain. But if the Foreign Office also issues a statement, then Allen becomes a political gift for the American Government?"

Eld was sweating: "Won’t this blow up too much? The security leak at the coronation ceremony is embarrassing enough, there’s no need to make this a global spectacle, right?"

"What does embarrassment matter? I’ve already lost face completely. If they didn’t want embarrassment, they shouldn’t have announced this in the first place." Arthur said coldly: "Since they deliberately exposed the matter to humiliate me, I don’t mind being humiliated again. After all, they’ve already taken everything they could, and they got a great deal out of it. I have to salvage some losses for myself, don’t I?"

Eld stayed silent for a few seconds, as if reconfirming what he heard really came out of Arthur’s mouth.

He scratched his eyebrow and leaned forward: "Do you think the Foreign Office will really do this? It would look awfully unbecoming."

"Indeed unbecoming, and I doubt Palmerston would issue a statement for such a minor matter." Arthur paused: "That’s why I need Schneider to give it a push. Even if the Foreign Office eventually decides not to issue a statement, I still need them to stir up some noise."

Eld knew Arthur wouldn’t sit idly, but he never imagined Arthur would be this ruthless.

"You’re saying..." Eld swallowed: "You’re going to escalate it yourself? Even if the Foreign Office stays quiet, you’ll have Schneider create some news effect?"

Arthur’s calm tone was unsettling: "Since I’ve already been humiliated, I have to get something in return."

Eld felt uneasy and asked: "Arthur... of course, I’m not saying Allen isn’t worth attention. But ultimately, Allen is just a young radical, and there are others from London University beyond him. You’re stirring up the Foreign Office and having Schneider step in... is this really necessary?"

"Initially, it wasn’t necessary." Arthur looked at Eld: "But now that things have escalated, I have nowhere else to recover losses but through Allen."

Everything Arthur told Eld was true.

But the issue is, Eld might never realize Arthur’s regard for Allen Pinkerton far exceeded his highest expectations for Pinkerton.

Perhaps in Eld’s view, even though Pinkerton is a decent fellow, coming from a good family and educational background, he would be considered among Arthur’s inner circles. If things progressed normally, Pinkerton might even become the Police Chief at Scotland Yard before retiring, sitting where Colonel Charles Rowan once did.

To outsiders, it might seem like a quite satisfactory outcome.

But from Arthur’s perspective, his visions for Pinkerton’s future extended far beyond Scotland Yard.

Just ask a few professors teaching at Hastings College, University of London, and it would be easy to uncover a fact: Sir Arthur Hastings showed unprecedented attention to Allen Pinkerton’s batch, requesting reports for nearly every course.