shadow of britain

Chapter 926 Yes, Sir!

It's no wonder Ridley was so wary, not only because Lewis had previously revealed the secret of Huang Chunju Street, but also because he had been asking around about Sir Arthur Hastings's experiences.

Scotland Yard is currently experiencing another major opportunity for reform since its founding in 1829, and this opportunity is also closely related to the fate of Sir Arthur himself.

Since the establishment of Scotland Yard in 1829, Sir Robert Peel, the father of Scotland Yard and then Home Secretary, had always wanted to expand the jurisdiction of this modern police force, which had made outstanding contributions to the security of London, as much as possible.

Unfortunately, the Wellington cabinet at the time faced two major challenges: the Catholic Emancipation Proposal and the Parliamentary Reform Act. As a result, Scotland Yard’s reform and expansion of powers had to give way to these two major contradictions.

After the Whig Party came to power, police reform was out of the question because this liberal party inherently disliked Scotland Yard, a department with a strong centralized and authoritarian nature. Therefore, both the Cold Baths incident and the personnel changes made to Scotland Yard by the two Whig Home Secretaries, Viscount Melbourne and Viscount Duncannon, can be seen as the Whig Party's suppression of this modern British police force.

However, after Queen Victoria's accession to the throne, and especially after Scotland Yard legend Sir Arthur Hastings announced his formal retention as a member and secretary of the Commissioner for Police, the conditions for a new round of police reforms were fully ripe.

After suffering a major setback in the latest general election, the Whig Party no longer maintains a hardline stance on police reform. Viscount Melbourne took the initiative to argue that the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 is no longer keeping up with London’s growing security needs, and therefore a completely new Police Act should be passed to match the ever-expanding new London.

As for the opposition leader, Sir Michael Peel, as a major advocate for police reform, he did not hold the view that "it's none of my business" regarding the new Police Bill, nor did he cling to partisan prejudices. Instead, he responded to the Viscount of Melbourne's call on this issue and believed that the Conservative Party should actively participate in the drafting of the new Police Bill.

According to current statements from both parties, the new Police Bill will be the second priority issue after the next Parliament opens, with only preparations for Queen Victoria's coronation taking precedence.

Just two days ago, Home Secretary Lord John Russell made a special trip to the Commissioner's Committee on Police Affairs to consult with three members on their opinions on the drafting of the new Police Act, and instructed the committee to submit a draft of provisions that were "legislable" within three weeks.

But Ridley knew in his heart that Lord Russell, while saying he was consulting the committee, was actually just conveying the attitude of the Melbourne Cabinet and the Department of Home Affairs to Arthur.

Based on Arthur's work experience and his social circle, there is no one more suitable than him to serve as the interagency coordinator for the new Police Act.

Firstly, Arthur had previously served as Deputy Attorney General and Police Representative at Scotland Yard. Therefore, he not only possessed the ability but also the experience to communicate effectively with the Attorney General's office, ensuring that the provisions of the new bill did not conflict with the existing judicial system.

Secondly, when Secretary Rowan and Arthur were at odds, he often dumped the arduous task of securing funding from the Ministry of the Interior and the Treasury on Arthur, and frequently criticized his incompetence by pointing out Arthur's inability to obtain funds. However, every cloud has a silver lining. As a seasoned accountant, Arthur knew how to prepare a budget estimate for the Treasury that looked reasonable, would pass its second reading in Parliament, and wouldn't be criticized by the newspapers as "police extorting taxpayers."

His skill is something even most senior Scotland Yard officers lack. Throughout Scotland Yard's relatively short history, Arthur Hastings remains the only officer with a complete service record.

From a street patrolman to an assistant commissioner of police, he not only knew the patrol logs and when the night shifts changed, but also understood how much salary, lamp oil, and equipment costs were allocated for a complete precinct system. He was also clear about how to draw the lines of the expanded policing districts so as to ensure full police coverage without provoking dissatisfaction from local parishes.

Finally, there is one crucial point, which is also the reason that Whigs and Conservatives tacitly agree on: Arthur's influence on the royal family.

The relationship between Arthur and Queen Victoria was neither that of personal confidants nor political supporters, but rather a more subtle and easily exploitable one.

In the eyes of this young monarch who had just come of age, just ascended to power, and just broken free from the control of her mother and Conroy, Arthur was both a reliable interpreter of the chaotic situation in London and the embodiment of order she was most familiar with.

Therefore, when Lord Russell asked the Commissioner of Police to give his opinion as a whole, what he really wanted was not the consensus of the three commissioners, but Arthur's nod.

Once this nod is made, the new Police Act will have been passed at Buckingham Palace.

Lord Russell, being a seasoned politician, would certainly not say such things aloud; that would be too undignified.

It would be enough for him to simply sit down at the Commissioner for Police's committee, ask a few questions, nod, and casually jot down a note in the memo that "it is hoped that Sir Arthur Hastings will continue to effectively assist the government with his respectable professional experience and integrity."

Because Arthur had no reason to oppose the new Police Act, all he needed was a signal from the Whig Party, and the Home Secretary's personal visit was the starting gun.

Now, even the most pessimistic within Scotland Yard have no doubt that the new Police Act will pass Parliament with unstoppable momentum.

After the bill passes, due to the expansion of jurisdiction, Scotland Yard will undoubtedly see a surge in sergeants, inspectors, and the superintendent position that Ridley has been eyeing, and even... even... assistant commissioner of police might be a possibility...

Or rather, even if it's not an assistant commissioner of police, it's at least a position somewhere between an assistant commissioner of police and a superintendent...

Ridley remembered a conversation he vaguely overheard a few days ago when he passed by Arthur's office.

"The Metropolitan Police District has been reorganized into nineteen districts, each further subdivided into sub-districts, and sub-districts into sections, each section into several patrol areas. Officers are responsible for maintaining order in their patrol areas, sergeants oversee their sections, superintendents manage their sub-districts, and superintendents oversee their entire district. In addition to the nineteen Metropolitan Police Districts, the Thames Water Police District and the five major naval dock districts of Woolwich, Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham, and Pembroke have also been placed under the unified management of Scotland Yard. Four additional officers have been appointed to positions between Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent in the Capital Police District, each directly responsible for one-quarter of the Capital Police District, with the rank of Chief Superintendent."

Chief Superintendent?
my God!

Does Scotland Yard currently have this position?

Surely my news about Ridley King shouldn't be that slow?
The thought made Ridley's hands tremble.

His minor misconduct on Huang Chunju Street was at most a breach of etiquette, but if Sir Arthur's grand plan were to be leaked due to the machinations of some petty villains, leading to the failure of the new Police Act, then that would be a breach of integrity.

Such people are not only pests in the human world, but also public enemies of Scotland Yard's more than 4,000 officers and potential criminals who must be eliminated in time.

Therefore, when Ridley finally put down his sandwich and raised his eyelids to stare at Lewis, the sense of oppression came silently, yet felt as heavy as a brick.

“Mr. Lewis,” Ridley repeated his question, “which department are you from, and what is your purpose in inquiring about Sir Arthur?”

Lewis was taken aback by the question, as if he hadn't expected it to be so direct.

He instinctively straightened his back, trying to make himself look like someone with "some connections".

“Me? I’m just… a freelance journalist.” As he said this, he casually pushed up his cheap fedora to make himself look less threatening. “Sir Arthur… appreciates my writing. We had a very pleasant conversation last night, but it wasn’t enough, so he invited me to visit him at Scotland Yard today.”

When Blackwell heard the word "journalist," he gasped in shock, secretly glad he hadn't said anything inappropriate.

But Ridley didn't seem particularly surprised.

He slowly raised a finger and gently tapped the table.

a bit.

Two times.

Three times.

Each blow struck Lewis's heart.

“A reporter,” Ridley said casually, “is someone who often inquires about the details of civil servants’ lives; I understand.”

Lewis subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to nod when Ridley's next words suddenly pierced through like a knife.

“But you’re not asking about the details of an ordinary civil servant’s life.” Ridley’s gaze fell on Lewis’s face: “You’re asking about the Commissioner of Police’s Committee and its Secretary General, the kind of person in London’s security system who should be the last person a journalist should be able to find out about.”

Lewis's smile faltered slightly: "I...I was just curious..."

“Of course reporters are curious,” Ridley suddenly grinned mischievously. “But curiosity has its limits. Who would come to Whitehall first thing in the morning to keep an eye on the serving members of the Commissioner of Police and ask about their preferences? Who would wander around Scotland Yard headquarters? Who would suddenly start mentioning Sir Arthur’s name in a place like Wong Chung Kwan Street?”

“What? Huang Chunju Street?” Lewis thought he had misheard. “I said, what I saw on Huang Chunju Street was…”

Ridley didn't let him finish: "Mr. Reporter, listen carefully. Sir Arthur admires more than just you as a journalist, and he usually admires two types of journalists. If the first type comes to Scotland Yard, we can welcome him with open arms and offer him a drink. But if you are the latter type, I suggest you avoid places like Huang Chunju Street at night. It's foggy and slippery, and you could easily slip and fall."

Ridley's use of the word "fall" is clearly not literal.

Lewis swallowed, wanting to say something.

Ridley calmly poured himself a cup of tea. "There's something else I need to remind you of. You probably know which bill Sir Arthur is currently working on. He doesn't like people digging behind his back, nor does he like people writing things carelessly. If someone inadvertently writes something they shouldn't, it could give certain people in Parliament an excuse to make trouble..."

Lewis realized then that Ridley seemed to have misunderstood him, and he quickly explained, "I...I really just admire Sir Arthur, I...I just wanted to know more..."

“Respect?” Ridley raised an eyebrow. “Then you should be even more careful. The best way to respect someone is to avoid mentioning their name where you shouldn’t, and to avoid being near them when you shouldn’t. Do you understand?”

Lewis nodded repeatedly: "I understand...I understand...I completely understand..."

Ridley finally showed a hint of satisfaction when he saw that the reporter was much more obedient.

“Very good.” He stood up and neatly folded his napkin. “You now have two choices. First, leave Whitehall and stop asking about Sir Arthur in the Scotland Yard area. Second…”

Lewis swallowed hard: "Second?"

“Second,” Ridley smiled, “I can summon Sir Arthur right now and have you explain to him in person what this recent ‘curiosity’ is all about. But I must warn you, Sir Arthur is far more difficult than I am.”

At this point, Ridley thought Lewis would be so frightened that he would run away.

Based on his past experience in intimidating those street thugs in Whitechapel, a normal reaction would be to break out in a cold sweat, forget to wear a hat, and rush out the door like he was going to a funeral.

To his surprise, Lewis remained seated motionless in his chair, his eyes wide open.

Stunned.

It felt like being struck by lightning, or like someone suddenly pressing the pause button.

Ridley frowned; he always hated this kind of feigned ignorance. "Didn't you understand what I meant?"

Lewis remained motionless.

Blackwell, sitting opposite him, was extremely embarrassed. He reached out and tugged at his scarf, hesitated for several seconds, and finally couldn't help but cough softly.

"Officer Kim... Officer Kim..."

He raised his fingertip and pointed behind Ridley.

Ridley frowned. "Is something the matter, Mr. Blackwell?"

Blackwell pointed again, but this time the gesture was more urgent, more awkward, and more desperate: "You...you behind you..."

Ridley slowly turned his head, and the next second, a chill ran up his spine and straight to the top of his head.

The knight, rumored to be even more difficult to deal with, stood half a step behind him without making a sound or giving any warning.

“Rydley.” Arthur took off his hat and tilted his head slightly to look at him. “You look quite energetic. Threatening reporters first thing in the morning?”

Ridley felt a cold sweat break out on his back, and he almost reflexively stood up straight, his heels hitting the floor with a loud thud.

"Sir! Sir!"

Ridley stood at attention, head held high, chest puffed out—this was probably the most perfect salute he had ever given in his life.

Ridley was so flustered he almost stammered, "Sir, I...I wasn't threatening him! I was just...I was just worried that this gentleman was asking you questions with ulterior motives, I...I just..."

Arthur simply raised his hand slightly.

A very slight movement.

But Ridley immediately shut his mouth, as if some kind of contraption had suddenly tightened around his throat.

He dared not utter another word.

At the same time, Arthur casually patted Elder on the shoulder as if nothing had happened.

"Come on, Elder, who said there weren't any empty seats? Isn't there one here?"

After speaking, he raised an eyebrow and looked at Ridley: "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"

Ridley stood like a stake against the wall: "I just finished eating. Please sit down with Mr. Carter."

Upon hearing this, Arthur laughed and said, "Then we won't stand on ceremony."

Arthur had just stood down beside the chair and was about to pull back the chair when he seemed to suddenly remember something.

He turned his head and looked at Ridley, who was still standing properly to the side.

“By the way, Ridley,” Arthur said in a relaxed tone, “have you ever considered returning to your local patrol post?”

Ridley's heart skipped a beat.

Returning to local patrol areas?

Returning to the local level may not necessarily mean demotion, but in this era where everyone is crowding into Whitehall, being transferred back to the local level from the Police Intelligence Bureau is like being pushed back from the center of the chessboard to the side.

Of course he doesn't want to.

But he knew even better that he couldn't directly refuse Arthur, nor could he fawn over him in a cheesy or foolish way, as both would offend him.

In the presence of a knight, neither refusal nor obedience should be too forceful, but loyalty must be deep enough.

"Sir, if you feel that I am too hasty and need to go back to patrolling the local areas to hone my skills, then of course I have no complaints. When I was young, I patrolled the streets of Whitechapel, and I can find those dirty streets and alleys with my eyes closed. If London needs me, I am ready to go back and be a stone in that muddy water at any time."

Ridley was extremely cautious, suppressing his inner panic and trying not to make his voice sound like he was begging for mercy: "There are some things in Scotland Yard that can be done by anyone else, that's true. But... some of the things you often ask me to do are very detailed and fragmented. If I were to leave you alone to go to the local districts before I have trained a successor, that would be too irresponsible."

Ridley's attitude was extremely respectful, which, in the eyes of the unsuspecting Lewis, seemed like he was earnestly advising Sir Arthur and was entirely concerned for his well-being.

But in Blackwell's eyes, this senior scribe of the Foreign Office could only sigh, "If I had been able to learn even a fraction of Officer Kim's essence back in Russia, I wouldn't be in this mess today."

However, Ridley's deeply moving speech made Arthur sigh slightly, and he even seemed to have a hint of regret.

“So…” he began slowly, “Rydley, you… don’t want to seek new challenges?”

This statement completely stunned Ridley.

In no mood?

He had initially thought Arthur was trying to give him a warning, but now it sounded like... he was the one who had refused something.
Suddenly, Ridley's brain circuits clicked.

It's like the gears in a pocket watch clicking into place.

New challenges?

Patrol area?

Re-divide the nineteen partitions?
as well as……

Four additional Chief Superintendents will be appointed, positions falling between Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent!
Ridley's pupils contracted slightly.

"Sir, I...of course I didn't mean to not want to," Ridley quickly explained, afraid the Sir would misunderstand him as cowardly. "I'm just worried about the work at the bureau, worried about..."

Ridley's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Sir... this new challenge you mentioned... I... I'm completely baffled. Forgive my bluntness, but... would you... be willing to be more specific?"

"Specifically?" Arthur seemed amused, and he shook his head slightly. "Rydley, your temper is still too hasty. You'll have to work on that when you're on the ground. After all, local patrols aren't like the intelligence agency. From Tottenham to King's Cross to Whitechapel, these places are a melting pot of all sorts of people. A person who isn't calm and collected can't do this job well."

Arthur spoke of laziness, but Ridley's hair stood on end.

Tottenham, King's Cross, Whitechapel...

This is not an area under the jurisdiction of the same police precinct.

If there were a position, it would require him to deal with people, guilds, and parishes from three or even four districts simultaneously...

Then there is only one possibility left.

Arthur certainly wouldn't say the job title aloud, but what he just said... was enough.

“Sir…” Ridley’s throat tightened, but his voice dared not tremble: “If…if there were truly such a job, requiring me to set aside my personal interests and to serve the country with unwavering devotion, then I…”

Arthur glanced at him, his eyes confirming something he already knew.

"Whether you refuse or not, it's useless for you to say it now. But you have to control your temper first. In the future, when you encounter reporters, don't threaten them that you will fall down on Huang Chunju Street. The local patrol is not like the intelligence agency. If you really say that, you will see yourself in the tabloids the next day."

Arthur said calmly, "First, learn not to treat curious people as enemies. After all, there will be plenty of curious people in the area you'll be in charge of later."

Arthur's words landed softly, like a feather, yet in Ridley's heart they carried the weight of the Alps.

He snapped to attention, raised his hand in salute, and said, "Yes, sir!"

(End of this chapter)