Chapter 283: The Trapped Beast Still Fights (4K4)

"Hmm..."

Arthur was at a loss for words when he heard Gladstone ask this question.

Perhaps because he was educated at the University of London, Arthur often attended public lectures given by Mr. Bentham when he had nothing to do during his university years.

As a serious graduate of Oxford University, Jeremy Bentham, in addition to talking about his specialized field of law, often mercilessly criticized his alma mater.

It was from Bentham that Arthur formed a basic impression of Oxford education in this era.

As one of the two oldest universities in the UK, Oxford University retains a strong aristocratic and religious attribute. Just like all European church universities, Oxford and Cambridge attach great importance to classical literature education, or more precisely, they attach great importance to ancient Greek and Roman classical literature education. As for the native English literature of Britain, it is naturally regarded as poor literature and is not included in their teaching scope.

In addition, as universities established by clergy, Oxford and Cambridge still retain many ancient and dull customs. For example, every student who enrolls must sign the Thirty-Nine Articles, which swears to believe in the state religion, otherwise they will not be allowed to enroll.

Although this ritual, which has become more and more formalistic today, has no great significance, similar dogmatic and almost rigid rules, as well as the rigid and rigid relationship between superiors and subordinates in the school, have spawned countless bad habits.

Professors order students around, seniors bully juniors, and under heavy pressure and relatively wealthy family conditions, the campus atmosphere of alcoholism, prostitution addiction, and violence is naturally born in Oxford.

In Bentham's mouth, there are only four types of students cultivated by Oxford.

The first type is a rebel like him who always refuses to integrate and sticks to the end. Although such people graduated from Oxford, they are ashamed of it. In addition to some knowledge, Oxford education has given them unlimited rebellious spirit.

The second type is guys like Lord Byron. Although they are also rebellious and hate Oxford, their long-term study in Oxford still makes them infected with Oxford's bad habits. But unlike ordinary Oxford people, they do not bother to hide their behavior, and use their own behavior to denounce the hypocrisy of Oxford's educational philosophy. The series of outrageous gossips and the broken hearts of ladies during Lord Byron's lifetime are the best illustrations of the lifestyle of this 19th century British hippie.

The third type is the norm for most Oxford graduates. They seem to have accepted Oxford's philosophy on the surface, and no one is louder than them when reciting the "Thirty-nine Articles". But everyone knows that this is just a show.

In public, these Oxford model students will act sanctimonious one by one, as if no one in the world is more glorious and upright than them.

But every night, the noisy beer halls and prosperous prostitution industry in Oxford town have already shown what they think. Perhaps when no one is alone in private, they play more fancy than Lord Byron, but they will not mention it. And they will eventually bring this habit to all walks of life involved in their family and to the parliament where Oxford and Cambridge graduates gather.

As for the fourth type, according to Mr. Bentham, this type of people can be called the most naive fools in the world. They are really deceived by the various mottos, regulations and so-called ancient traditions of Oxford University. They are the most respectful and pious believers, and the most studious and motivated students. They have withstood the test of Oxford's bad atmosphere. They are not stained by mud, and they are not evil in the clear water.

But when it comes to this, Mr. Bentham regrets that at least when he was studying in Oxford, he had never seen this fourth type of people. This kind of people only lived in his imagination.

Perhaps because of Bentham's influence, when Arthur first heard about Gladstone's style, he couldn't help but doubt whether this kid was really as flawless as the rumors said.

But he thought about it, even the University of London can produce a freak like Elder, and it seems that it is not a small probability that Oxford occasionally recruits a lunatic.

Besides, Oxford has already cultivated a weirdo like Pastor Newman, so it is not surprising to have another decent gentleman Gladstone.

Arthur looked at Gladstone's expression, but after a while, he still didn't read any deception from his micro-expression.

Since the other party really didn't understand, Arthur could only patiently explain it to him slowly. After all, the most important task of Scotland Yard today was to serve these pious gentlemen who came to give moral persuasion. Although Director Rowan didn't send him out to pick up customers, someone came to the door, and Arthur didn't mind providing a few high-quality services alone.

Arthur said: "The so-called secret prostitutes refer to those related workers who are not in a fixed place and soliciting customers openly. This includes mistresses who have been kept for a long time, and also includes those ladies who do not make a living from this for a long time, but occasionally do a business. The clothes and appearance of these ladies are almost the same as those of ordinary women. They are even married and have their own jobs, husbands and children.

Generally speaking, it is extremely difficult to identify whether they are engaged in related business. Only the most experienced veterans can understand their impromptu hints. This may be a provocative movement of lifting the skirt, a suggestive look, Or it may be tempting words that are not too direct.

In most cases, these ladies have one or several long-term stable customers. Their transaction scope is small and their relationships are kept very secretive. Therefore, for Scotland Yard, if you want to find out their specific number, Very difficult.

We can only send the most experienced agents to try their luck along the streets of London. If we happen to bump into a lady and lose a stable customer, or let her feel that our agent is a target worthy of development, Then we might be lucky enough to get it. "

Gladstone asked: "Does success mean being developed by her?"

Arthur had not yet swallowed the tea in his mouth. When he heard these words, he almost sprayed it directly on the other person's face. He swallowed the black tea calmly, took out his handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth: "Mr. Gladstone, I mean Scotland Yard's prostitution statistics are plus one. I don't think the average police officer has much spare money to do this."

Gladstone asked again: "Do you mean that senior police officers can do it?"

Arthur stared at Gladstone's serious expression, not knowing how to communicate with this young man who seemed to be politically ignorant. But at least for now, he finally understands why the conservative bosses of the Tory Party support this young man.

Whether by Western or Eastern standards, this guy's moral values ​​are pure enough, which will indeed endear him to the priests.

Arthur turned and said: "Well, Mr. Gladstone, if you really want to get to the bottom of it. Let me put it bluntly. In terms of cost alone, the salaries of senior police officers are indeed sufficient to meet this expenditure. Enough. High returns are one of the reasons why the number of prostitutes remains high.

Think about it, in London today, the annual income of most female workers is around 25-30 pounds. However, according to statistics from Scotland Yard, the unit price of an ordinary wanderer who has fallen into the dust can usually reach 1 shilling. Therefore, even those women who have to be drained by brothels at 40-50% can still earn 80-100 pounds per year, while those with better conditions can even double this amount.

You should also know what the current normal income level is in London. A well-respected mature mechanic can only earn 100 pounds, and a senior railway company employee earns 60-80 pounds per year. As Superintendent of Scotland Yard, my annual salary is £150. Under the temptation of such wealth, and through the moral inducement of some relevant people, they will have a second time after the first time, and it will become more and more uncontrollable in the future.

I heard that you have been admonishing them a long time ago, so you may also know from their mouths that once you do this, it is impossible to go back. Judging from the interrogation results of a total of 3103 prostitutes arrested by Scotland Yard in the past, 1773 of them were completely uneducated, 1237 were able to recognize twenty-six letters and had some basic reading and writing, and 89 had received tutoring. Tutoring, only 8 completed a women's grammar school.

Therefore, most of them can only work as textile workers or domestic maids. But what you may not know is that factory owners and home-based employers attach great importance to the past experience of their employees, so once they find out that the employee has had such experience, they are unlikely to get any job. I think this may be the reason why you have always failed in moral persuasion. "

When Gladstone heard this, he couldn't help but frown. He seemed to have figured out something, but also seemed to be in some pain. He sighed and said: "Alas... I can't think of anything to refute you. Reason. Mr. Hastings, I have to admit that maybe I had a preconceived impression of Scotland Yard before. Now that I heard about it, maybe it was just a minority phenomenon."

Arthur sensed something amiss from Gladstone's words: "What have you heard before?"

Pastor Newman heard this and explained for him: "William told me before that when he was walking on the streets of London, someone complained to him that 'if a prostitute quarrels with the police, she will definitely die', and There seem to be quite a few promiscuous women who hold this view, and I once heard a similar statement when I was sitting in the confessional. If they don't bribe the police or the sheriff, they will be taken away to accept it. investigation."

When Arthur heard this, he immediately figured out Gladstone's activity area. Originally, he thought that Gladstone was wandering around Fiona's territory at most, but now it seems that this kid has nothing to do. There must have been a lot of time wandering towards Holywell Street and Leicester Square.

Seeing that the young gentleman in front of him was likely to be elected as a member of Parliament in the near future, Arthur could only think about it carefully, and then said cautiously: "I do not deny that there is such a phenomenon within Scotland Yard, blackmailing brothels, forcing women to stand on the street Bribery, or forcing them to provide free services, similar situations occur from time to time, so Scotland Yard will remove and prosecute some police officers who are found to have violated the regulations.

But I also have to emphasize that not everything you hear may be true and reliable. Although the legal boundaries of their business behavior are very vague, and we cannot directly declare such behavior to be a violation, according to the provisions of the Vagrancy Act, police officers have the obligation and must control their solicitation and seduction of pedestrians. Moreover, many of them are not only engaged in the business of selling their bodies, but also include a considerable number of robberies, thefts, violent attacks and even the killing of clients.

And when we prosecute these women and their collaborators, most of them are charged with these crimes. Because of that, you see, Scotland Yard has always had a bad relationship with these ladies. "

The red devil sitting on the window sill couldn't help laughing when he heard this. He swung his tail and asked: "Oh, my dear Arthur, aren't you ashamed when you say this? All of London, no, all of London Britain, is there anyone who cooperates with these ladies better than you? And I think your relationship is quite good. At least you didn't ask for bribes or ask for free services, right? That’s a total of six hundred pounds!”

Arthur glanced at the sinister red devil, smiled calmly and said, "Now, Mr. Gladstone, is there anything else you want to know?"

Gladstone originally wanted to condemn Scotland Yard today, but the fledgling young man was confused by Scotland Yard's detailed statistics and Arthur's half-truths.

He was silent for a moment, shook his head and said, "No, Mr. Hastings, I think what you said is very good. Maybe I will still have problems in the future, but I don't have any anymore."

He stood up and prepared to go out. Seeing that he was leaving, Newman also stood up.

But before he could go out, Newman looked back at Arthur again, as if he was hesitant to speak, as if there was something difficult to say.

Arthur saw the doubts in his heart and asked softly: "Mr. Newman, are you in any trouble?"

Newman put his hand on the doorknob. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Arthur, you said it very well. It's always gratifying to hear such practical and logical conclusions. This I can't help but think of what you said to me the last time I saw you. You advised me to stop my campaign against Robert Peel because it would do no good to the clergy of Oxford. You were just defending your guide, Pierre, but looking back now, maybe you were right.

The views of the Whigs were more terrible than those of the Tories, and their contempt for the faith was beyond all imagination. They are rejecting God and the moral constraints they have established with God. As you said, ordinary police officers don't have much money to spend on caring for Liu Ying. How much sin must flow from how many people to support this hotbed of hell? Arthur, I have seen it, I have seen it with my lightless eyes, they want to be above God. "

After Newman finished speaking, he pushed open the door of the office and walked out with Gladstone, leaving only Arthur sitting behind the desk with a calm look on his face.

He held his chin with one hand, stared at the place where Newman left with squinted eyes, and murmured: "That doesn't sound right. Do the priests want to do something?"

When Agares heard this, he just gently unscrewed the sugar bowl on Arthur's table, picked up a sugar cube and put it into his mouth: "A trapped beast has to fight, let alone a servant of God. ?”