## Chapter 159: A One-Goal Lead
The streets near the sundial square in Greenwich were bustling with activity. Arthur, clad in his crisp police uniform, sat in a swaying carriage.
He held a copy of “The London Social Guide,” a treasure he’d unearthed from an old bookstore, and was meticulously absorbing every word. Despite being in London for five years, he’d never attended a proper social gathering or ball.
The reason was simple. Firstly, his introverted nature favored solitude and reading over mingling in the crowded, smoky atmosphere of social venues. Secondly, his social standing was once far lower.
Just six months ago, he was a mere constable at Scotland Yard, a position that hardly attracted the attention of high society. Only someone like Eld, a wealthy young man who enjoyed his company, would be found hanging around the University of London.
After graduating, while Eld was diligently training in the Royal Navy, Arthur’s social life was limited to occasional gatherings with his few friends, Tom and Tony. Even a simple drink at a pub was a luxury they rarely indulged in.
Tom had already started a family, and Tony was striving to meet Scotland Yard’s marriage requirement of proving he had at least £20 in savings.
Even though Arthur had been promoted to Inspector and his personal wealth was growing rapidly, he never considered venturing into the social realm before accepting General Codrington’s invitation.
The social etiquette of 19th-century British society was incredibly complex. For Arthur, who wasn’t a native-born Englishman and whose background wasn’t exactly upper-class, understanding all these nuances was a daunting task.
The “London Social Guide” in his hands, despite his diligent efforts to memorize it since morning, still held many mysteries.
The most comforting aspect was the lack of female members in his household and his own status as a bachelor.
In the social world, upper-class noble ladies and women from merchant families were far more meticulous than gentlemen. Their interactions with men were governed by a long list of taboos.
Even their attire had a plethora of written and unwritten rules. Skirts were categorized according to occasion: balls, dinners, walks, carriage rides, and even specific country attire for rural visits or gatherings. Formal events demanded the most glamorous evening gowns.
While these garments seemed diverse, black gowns were perhaps the most common. During this era, ladies spent a significant portion of the year in mourning black for their deceased husbands, parents, siblings, or in-laws.
As Arthur’s eyes fell upon the next section on male-female interactions, he felt the weight of the elaborate rules crushing his already overfilled mind.
Gentlemen never sat next to non-family women in carriages. They had to sit facing the opposite direction of the horse’s movement, offering the seat beside them to the lady. They had to be careful not to step on her skirt, and when disembarking, the gentleman had to exit first and offer his arm to help the lady, who was hampered by her voluminous crinolines.
Arthur wasn’t particularly concerned about this rule. He rarely found himself in such situations.
His carriage companions were always ordinary gentlemen, not ladies.
For example, there was Eld Carter, a classical literature prodigy from the University of London, whose vocabulary often began with “Fuck” and ended with “Shit,” a master of Royal Navy sailor slang, and the greatest undiscovered gem of 19th-century British literature, the “walking Thames River.”
Or Alexander Dumas, a man who spent his life writing books that were less successful than those of his six-year-old son, who claimed to love peace but would readily unleash his arsenal of 3,500 tons of ammunition to bomb the Tuileries Palace in Paris, a “French terrorist” whose wealth skyrocketed due to this act, forcing him to flee to England.
Then there was Charles Darwin, who studied theology at Cambridge for years but paid little attention to the Bible, instead becoming captivated by Lamarckism, deeming the creationist theories of clergymen as utter nonsense.
And finally, there was Charles Dickens, a future “living Shakespeare” who was never quite good enough for Eld Carter, the first critic of British literature, and who worked as a journalist.
Dealing with these men didn’t require the same level of etiquette as interacting with high society, unless they decided to wear skirts for a change.
Just as Arthur thought he could escape the social labyrinth, his eyes landed on a paragraph that made him question everything.
– Proper etiquette dictates that unmarried young women should not go out unaccompanied. A well-behaved lady should not look around for acquaintances or stop to chat on crowded streets.
– If a young lady encounters her gentleman friend on the street and feels she can’t ignore him, she should extend her hand first.
– When a gentleman spots his female friend, he should not approach her immediately. Instead, he must wait for her to recognize him and then use his hand furthest from the lady to remove his hat as a greeting.
– Note: If the lady extends her hand, it is considered an invitation. The gentleman must then turn and walk with the lady, not stand there, to avoid awkwardness. Their conversation should be polite and subdued, with short, concise statements to avoid misunderstandings and irreparable damage to their reputations.
– Gentlemen should not smoke in front of ladies, and ladies should not approach gentlemen who are smoking to engage in conversation. This could lead to the gentleman extinguishing a fine cigar, which is considered inappropriate for both parties.
Arthur couldn’t help but reach for his pipe, muttering, “Good thing I smoke cheap tobacco.”
As his eyes continued downwards, he finally understood why Rothschild’s old butler had strongly suggested he hire experienced servants.
– If the reader of this book is moving to a new residence, especially in an upper-class neighborhood, remember to send your servants to visit all your neighbors and leave your calling cards in their mailboxes.
– Those who receive your calling card will usually return one or visit your residence within a week, which will enhance your reputation and social influence in the neighborhood.
– If a lady is moving to a new residence, or if the adult male in the household is unable to visit the new neighbors, the lady should travel by carriage, with your male servant carrying your calling cards and delivering them to the host.
– Married women who have changed their surnames should carry a card with their own name and two cards with their husband’s name. If there are unmarried daughters or lodgers in the household, their calling cards should also be delivered.
– Note: The unmarried daughter’s name should be written below her mother’s name.
Arthur stared at the dense text, goosebumps rising all over his body.
Fitting seamlessly into high society and expanding his intelligence network and influence seemed far more challenging than he’d initially thought.
He closed the book, rubbing his tired eyes.
Agareus, sitting opposite him with his legs crossed, asked, “Finished already?”
Arthur shook his head honestly, “I’m not as good at reading and memorizing as you think. These elaborate rules about etiquette are hard enough to read, let alone remember.”
The Red Devil snapped his fingers, and a thorny vine appeared in his hand, seemingly used as a whip.
He tapped the cover of the “London Social Guide” disapprovingly, urging, “Arthur, this won’t do. If you can’t even manage Codrington’s party, how will you ever infiltrate the Almacks Club’s gatherings? Besides these rules, you also need to learn to dance: German waltz, Viennese waltz, French quadrille and salon dance, British Regency dance, Scottish reel…
Oh, and you should learn traditional British male dances like Roman sword dance and Morris dance. These are perfect for a swordmaster like you, who combines strength and skill.”
Arthur sighed, “One step at a time. This is my first time, and Rothschild’s old butler said Mrs. Codrington is a member of the ‘Blue Stocking Society,’ right?
They’re usually kind to young scientists and give them certain privileges. After all, I can even wear blue stockings to a party. A few etiquette blunders shouldn’t be a problem.
Besides, Eld will be there tonight. He’s a Carter, a noble young man, so he must know all the basic social etiquette. If I’m unsure about anything, I can just ask him.”
The Red Devil chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand, “Arthur, are you sure?”
Arthur, who had initially held some hope for Eld, felt a pang of doubt at the Red Devil’s question.
He was used to relying on his own knowledge and strength, but relying on someone else was new, especially someone like Eld. The thought made him uneasy.
He clutched his forehead, gritting his teeth, “There’s an Eastern saying, ‘Every talent has its use,’ and the Western Bible says, ‘When God closes a door, He opens another.’ Eld can’t possibly be an exception to this universal truth, can he?”
The Red Devil didn’t answer. He spun around, instantly transforming into a meticulously dressed gentleman in a black suit.
He adjusted the red bow tie around his neck and said to Arthur, “According to social etiquette and your relationship with Codrington, I suggest you arrive at Codrington’s residence between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.
My rates are quite reasonable: one soul per dance, and a bit more for a crash course in social etiquette – ten souls gets you sorted. If your balance is insufficient, I accept payments on credit, but interest will be calculated.”
He rolled up his sleeves, glanced at his wristwatch, and smiled, “Don’t worry, Arthur. You have two and a half hours to decide.”
Arthur looked at Agareus, shaking his head, “Agareus, if you keep this up, I’ll be bankrupt soon.”
The Red Devil clasped his hands in a mock bow, “Oh, my dear Arthur, never underestimate yourself. With enough determination, you, my little fiend, are invincible.”
“Invincible?”
Arthur shook his head, pointing to the factories outside the carriage window. A group of workers were playing football, their faces beaming with joy and mud, on the muddy ground outside the factory. This was Arthur’s destination.
He had come here specifically to check the weapons, including guns and ammunition, that the Greenwich police district had stored at the factory after the workers’ riot a few days ago.
The Red Devil glanced outside, “Just a bunch of workers playing football for entertainment at the Woolwich Arsenal. What are you pointing at them for?”
Arthur shrugged helplessly, “From what I know and remember, I’m not invincible, but the team formed by the workers at the Woolwich Arsenal, their ‘Arsenal,’ is invincible.”
(End of Chapter)