"Hmm..." Tsar Nicholas I quipped, "Perhaps the Earl of Dalmo should consider entrusting business affairs to you as well. If I may be candid, your talents in comrce are no less than those in culture and arts. I heard you run a newspaper in London? Is ’The British’ under your na?"
Arthur’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
It’s not a big deal that the Tsar knows ’The British’ is his business.
But what if the Tsar knows ’The Economist’ is also his star product?
After all, ’The Economist’ has previously published political essays by the Polish exile leader, Prince Czartoryski, and supported the Poles during the Polish uprising.
Arthur smiled and said, "I am indeed one of the shareholders of ’The British’, but I’m not the largest shareholder. Above are Mr. Disraeli and the Rothschild Family."
"Rothschild?" Tsar Nicholas I was slightly surprised by the na, but not for long, as it’s quite normal to have connections with Rothschild when doing business in Britain.
He turned and asked with insider mystery, "Rothschild... is old Nathan perhaps holding shares for the Duke of Wellington again?"
Obviously, the Tsar understands Rothschild’s role as the Duke’s financier; whether during the Peninsular War or Waterloo, Rothschild’s risky exchanges of gold and silver and procurent of military supplies underpinned the Duke’s military success.
For Arthur, the Tsar steering thoughts toward the Duke is all the better.
He didn’t want to solely bear the label of ’Polish sympathizer’; he preferred the Tsar to interpret the Polish articles as guidance from the British Governnt.
Arthur evasively replied, "I have not received clear notifications on that; at least at each board eting, I see Rothschild’s representative rather than the Duke’s representative."
In the Tsar’s view, not denying equals affirming, and besides, he never believed the British Governnt would fully and truthfully implent press freedom; it’s quite normal for the power elite to hold shares in newspapers and magazines.
Arthur took a sip of amber liquid, the taste of tobacco and charred wood exploding on his tongue, the pungent sll making him cough continuously.
The reaction amused the Tsar, his lips curling up: "Are you not used to whiskey?"
Arthur wiped his mouth and nose with a napkin: "Scots and Irish might enjoy it, but I am an Englishman. In terms of drink, I prefer the choices of King George IV."
"Really?" Tsar Nicholas I sliced a piece of veal: "How about my brother’s taste? I heard he had quite a knack for enjoynt."
Arthur put down his napkin and said, "The late king was obsessed with drinking; during dinner, he typically had two glasses of hot malt beer, ate a few slices of toast, followed by three glasses of red wine and strawberries. Then, he’d settle into an armchair with a novel and have a glass of brandy. Even at the height of illness, after taking dicine, he’d still drink three glasses of port wine plus a glass of brandy."
Tsar Nicholas I shook his head upon hearing this: "I think wine isn’t much of an issue, but mixing strawberries with malt beer—even a Don River horse couldn’t handle that; you should have advised him."
"I said the sa at the ti," Arthur replied helplessly, "but Mrs. Arbuthnot told these were his demands. He’s the King; who could stop him? When it cos to drinking, neither a court attendant nor even the Duke of Wellington could deter the King."
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