Chapter 472 On the Crater

Before I first visited Paris in 1833, my knowledge of the country was almost entirely based on paper. But after talking with the royalists of Vendée and Brittany, I realized that the foundation of these royalists was not the orthodox aristocracy. Although the aristocracy played a leading role in this team, they would never have been able to compete with the Republicans and Bonapartists without the support of the peasants in the provinces.

Looking back on the development of France from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, it can be clearly seen that Paris, the center of the European continent, was expanding, while the local autonomy of rural areas was shrinking, the passion and characteristics of independent life were disappearing, many rural traditions were disappearing more and more, and the ancient national life was gradually fading away until there was no trace of history.

The countryside was declining and dying, but the whole country was full of vitality, and it had never been so full of vitality. However, there was only one source of vitality for the country, that was Paris. Cities were selfishly monopolized, they only cared about their own interests and were always ready to sacrifice the interests of rural areas. The peasants seemed to be eliminated from the entire nation and thrown aside.

In the 1780s, no one in France thought that France was in decline. The French had been in the limelight in the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. So naturally, everyone felt that the country had a bright future and would prosper forever.

However, this superficial prosperity did not bring stability and peace, but brought the Great Revolution. The three most politically literate classes in France, namely the first-class clergy, the second-class nobles, and the third-class citizens, set the agenda for the revolution for France.

They ignited the flames of the revolution. But what they did not expect was that once the enthusiasm for the revolution was ignited, it was not up to individuals to decide which direction it would burn.

Why was the actual process of the Great Revolution so inconsistent with the slogans he shouted? Why was Thomas Paine, who wrote "The Rights of Man", eventually forced to leave during the Great Revolution? Why did Wordsworth, Coleridge, and other British poets who had enthusiastically supported the Great Revolution in their early years eventually become insane and become the most ardent opponents of the Great Revolution?

I think it was because they discovered that the people responsible for implementing the revolution were not the same people as those who formulated the revolutionary plan. The ideals of the Great Revolution actually only existed in the initial period. And soon after, it was wiped out in the streets and fields of France by bloody conflicts and violent incidents one after another.

The management style of the republican government during the Great Revolution was not as new as they hoped. On the contrary, in many places, they just changed the management style by a different name. In fact, the management background of the republican government was still the Bourbon iris flag, and even more so. History is like a gallery, but there are few original works in it, and most of them are copies.

The republicans were eager to abolish religion and law because they believed that these were old things that must be overthrown. But they did not prepare a set of moral standards that would convince everyone. This should have been a process of replacing parts for a locomotive, but the solution given by the Republicans was to start with the invention of the wheel.

The result of this behavior was that the spirit of the entire French people began to lose balance. They didn't know when to stop, what principles to refer to, and how the country should be managed. They sank the broken canoe and naturally drowned. When they found that the old system they destroyed had caused such bad consequences, they were eager to find the rotten ropes of the old system to pull themselves ashore.

However, precisely because the old system had been partially destroyed, they tore off the layer of hypocrisy that they thought was the easiest to tear off, so the remaining part they grabbed was exactly the most difficult to eradicate and the most vicious remnant. Theocracy did not disappear in this land, but merged with the government, and the government replaced God.

The peasants lost their cows or horses and begged the government for compensation. The rich asked the government for loans to help them better develop their land and gain more benefits. Industrialists begged the government for privileges to exclude competitors. The businessman confided his private secret to the governor, saying that he was short of money and asked if he could get help, at least some loans.

The enthusiasm and desire of the French middle class for public service has never been so strong. When a person gets a small amount of money, he will immediately use it to buy a position instead of investing in business. This pitiful obsession with public positions has caused greater harm to the development of French agriculture and commerce than industry monopoly and agricultural taxes.

As for obtaining official positions, today's enthusiasm is greater than that of that time, but there is a biggest essential difference between that time and this era: the government sold official positions back then, and the government today grants official positions. Today, people do not need to spend money, but only need to sell their souls to achieve their goals.

When the love of freedom was severely injured by disorderly rule and anarchy, the ideals of the revolution gradually became pale. Until this time, the helpless country began to look for a master. The revolution with freedom as its ideal eventually gave birth to the most autocratic government and a great dictator-Napoleon Bonaparte.

This great military genius keenly smelled the breath of opportunity and found that he was destined to be the successor and gravedigger of the Great Revolution. Who put Napoleon on the throne of emperor? The Republicans will say that it was all the work of those ignorant provincial peasants. They will never admit that they themselves played the greatest role in promoting it.

They did not understand this truth half a century ago, and they still do not understand it today. But unfortunately, I want to tell them: because of your impracticality and selfishness, you have long ignored the provincial peasants who account for three-quarters of the population. I have vaguely seen the imperial eagle flag re-planted on the high ground outside Paris. Soon, you will suffer the consequences again.

Arthur Hastings

Written on the eve of the presidential election of the French Republic in 1848.

——Eld Carter, "The Letters of Arthur Hastings"

Arthur walked out of the alley, and a light rain fell on the streets of Paris. The cold raindrops hit his face. The switching between hot and cold made his mind clear a lot, and the ebb of adrenaline also made him gradually feel the burning wound on his shoulder.

Arthur leaned against the lamppost, ignoring the pedestrians coming and going on the street, and lit his pipe.

He was lighting a cigarette, and suddenly a red-nosed robber with a knife rushed out of the alley. They pointed the bright blade in their hands at Arthur fiercely and threatened: "Sir, do you want to be decent, or let us do it in an indecent way."

Arthur glanced at him, took off his pipe and blew out a puff of smoke, then kicked the robber in the crotch: "Fuck you! You robbed me!"

The robber fell to the ground with his crotch covered, wailing and screaming. Arthur was about to turn around and leave, but he suddenly heard a shout behind him.

"Arthur, did you catch them?"

Arthur turned his head and saw that it was Victor and Dumas who had been tracking him all the way.

Arthur looked down at the robbers on the ground and spat, saying, "Robbery has no future. I'll show you a way out. You should become an assassin."

Dumas ran all the way to Arthur. The fat black man bent over with his hands on his knees and panted, "Arthur, who is this on the ground?"

"What do you think?" Arthur did not admit it directly, but hinted with the usual tricks of the blue lobster of Scotland Yard, "Why do you think I knocked him down?"

Victor was also surprised to see this situation, "Brother, you are really amazing! You caught this? It seems that you will be famous in Paris now!"

"No, Mr. Victor." Arthur shook his head slightly, "This is all the credit of the Breoque Detective Agency. I am just a temporary worker you hired."

Victor was stunned at first, and then he was quite Arthur patted Arthur's shoulder with gratitude: "Brother, are you willing to give this credit to the agency?"

"What else?" Arthur smoked his cigarette: "Can I, a British, become the Minister of Police in France with this? Mr. Vidocq, this job should be enough for you, right?"

Vidocq nodded happily: "Brother, I am grateful to you. Our Breaux Detective Agency will definitely be a big hit this time!"

Arthur took off his hat and fanned himself: "I will leave the person to you. I have to find a clinic to bandage the wound quickly."

"No problem, go with peace of mind." Vidocq did not forget to add at the end: "Your medical expenses will be reimbursed by the agency."

Seeing Vidocq so enthusiastic, Arthur did not refuse, but waved his hat to him and said goodbye.

The robber saw Dumas and Victor rushing towards him, and his lips trembled with fear when he spoke: "Call for help, call for help, right? Don't think you are the only ones, my brothers are also nearby, I will shout and no one will survive."

Victor was not afraid when he heard this, but snorted coldly and kicked him in the chest: "Call! I want to see how big your gang is!"

Dumas saw Victor punching and kicking the robbers, and repeatedly persuaded: "Mr. Victor, that's enough, you are almost catching up with the torture of the Security Department..."

Arthur walked back the way he came in the drizzle on the streets of Paris. Not far away, he saw a group of dragoons galloping past and National Guard soldiers running forward. Needless to say, they must be chasing the assassins.

Arthur didn't want to talk to them because he was in a bad mood tonight.

At this time, he suddenly felt that being a policeman in London was actually quite good. At least at that time he had clear goals and discipline requirements, and he didn't need to express his political stance. When facing the torture of conscience, he could always use the "Internal Affairs Regulations" to deceive himself.

Now, he slowly understood the true meaning of what Talleyrand said to him at the beginning.

If you can't stay calm in the face of blood, in the face of painful scenes, and in the face of obvious evidence, you can't be a surgeon.

If you don't stay calm in the face of passion, you can't be a strong person. If you can't be indifferent in the event, you can't be a politician and a statesman.

He is really not a politician. He is only suitable for being a policeman. It feels good to be a humble social tool.

Arthur walked back in the rain all the way, and suddenly looked up at the dark sky.

The sky in London was cloudy and rainy, and the weather in Paris was not very good.

"Is it... is it Sir Arthur Hastings?"

The carriage stopped beside Arthur, and a delicate hand holding a handkerchief stretched out from the curtain.

Arthur turned around and saw that it was a familiar face. She looked a little nervous and maybe a little surprised.

"Didn't you bring an umbrella? You can wipe your face with a handkerchief first. Although I heard that London often rains, so Londoners generally don't like to carry umbrellas. But if you walk on the streets like this, you will get sick when you go back. "

Arthur stared at her face in fascination until he saw Miss Draisaitl blushing, then he came back to his senses, took off his hat and thanked her: "Thank you for your concern."

He took the handkerchief, wiped it on his face, and handed back the handkerchief with his name embroidered in gold thread.

Seeing him like this, Miss Draisaitl asked cautiously: "Are you separated from your servant? Fortunately, nothing happened to you. What happened at the Kaidouxe Mansion tonight was really terrible. If you If you don’t mind, you can take my car. Wherever you live, I can give you a ride.”

When Arthur heard this, he asked in surprise: "No, of course I don't mind, but you...your husband doesn't mind?"

"Husband?" Miss Draisaitl replied with a blushing face: "Sir, I don't have a husband. My father accompanied me today. But he was called to a meeting after the explosion tonight. So now, the car There are still empty seats.”

When Arthur heard this, he thought for a moment, and finally asked politely: "I don't know much about the situation in Paris, but can an unmarried lady like you sit with me?"

Miss Dresser nodded repeatedly and said: "Of course! I am accompanied by a male servant, and I am not alone with you. The atmosphere in Paris is not as conservative as in London."

"Then it's better to be respectful than to obey. Thank you for your generosity."

Miss Dresser asked the groom to open the door for Arthur. Arthur got on the carriage and the wheels started turning again.

Arthur first took a look at the warmly decorated carriage. Sitting in the carriage, he didn't know what to say. He could only chat with Miss Dresser about tonight's incident.

"You weren't hurt tonight, were you?"