The Shadow of Great Britain

They talked about honor, boasting extravagantly, but ultimately it was only for money.

——Stendhal "The Red and the Black"

What should a banker's residence look like?

It should have a good location, luxurious decoration, and a group of servants coming and going.

The DelaSalle Family's mansion perfectly fits these standards.

The grand mansion stands on the prime location by the Seine River, with an exterior that combines typical neoclassical architectural elements.

Above the main entrance, exquisite patterns and relief carvings are engraved, while lion statues majestically guard the entrance on either side of the door pillars.

Upon entering the mansion, the first sight is a spacious foyer, with smooth marble floors featuring black-and-white geometric patterns that exude a subdued yet luxurious atmosphere. A gigantic crystal chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, its gleaming light illuminating the entire space with translucent brightness. The walls are adorned with famous oil paintings and mirrors in golden frames.

Passing through the foyer, one enters the main hall. This is the core of the mansion, suitable for hosting large social gatherings.

Around the main hall are exquisite carved furniture, silk-upholstered and velvet-cushioned chairs surrounding several marble tables.

Each table is adorned with floral decorations, the fragrance of fresh flowers permeating the air.

The curtains are made from fine velvet, the deep red drapes complementing the pure white curtain rods.

On one side of the main hall is a gigantic fireplace, above which is a relief depicting an ancient mythological story.

The carpet before the fireplace is a hand-woven Persian rug, rich in color and intricate patterns.

Bookshelves beside the fireplace overflow with various precious books, ranging from classical literature to the latest philosophical works, as if a bookstore had been opened inside the house.

Yet, despite such a vast collection of books, one cannot help but wonder if the owner has any time to digest these crystallizations of wisdom spanning thousands of years beyond their work.

This may be impolite to say, but Arthur indeed harbors such doubt in his heart, not for any other reason, but because he even found a Chinese version of the "Analects" in the bookshelves.

With a casual flip, one could see the famous line 'To know what you know and know what you do not know,' and it must be said, this statement appears somewhat ironic in this room.

As more and more guests arrive, Arthur only felt the temperature in the air continuously climbing, and the white shirt on his chest seemed rather glaring under the candlelight.

He adjusted his bow tie, intending to find a coat rack to hang his tailcoat he had just removed, but before he could take a step, a footman waiting by the window had already courteously taken the coat from his hands.

Arthur glanced around the ballroom; the gentlemen were dressed in crisp suits, while the ladies wore luxurious gowns, glittering with jewels.

In one corner, a band played elegant music, and the pleasant melodies lingered in the air. Waiters moved through the crowd, carrying trays filled with exquisite glasses and snacks.

Disguised Louis, the Great Dumas, Victor, and others mingled among them, engaging in booming conversations about that fictitious bank business with the guests.

Meanwhile, their accompanying footmen closely followed nearby; all of them were handpicked underlings of Gervais.

On reflection, it's laughable how these hoodlums, who usually shouted and killed on the streets of Paris, appear here with humble brows and obedient demeanors, as docile as the most honest and naive country peasants, not showing a hint of their rogue essence.

Arthur suddenly recalled what Victor had previously mentioned to him about civil folk, the expressions displayed by junior clerks in the Government when facing their superiors, should be no different from the state of these rogues today.

There's not even a need to present those gold-trimmed calling cards or proclaim lofty titles, as the mere ambiance of an upper-class party, the sights and smells of opulence, and the prestigious labels on the ladies' jewelry could already frighten them out of their wits, making these rogues utterly convinced of the infiltration of their bank scam into high society.

The plan progressed even more smoothly than anticipated.

Perhaps after tonight, Gervais would dispatch someone to contact the forgery expert Francois in prison.

Arthur speculated so, when suddenly, his gaze settled on an elegant lady. She stood not far away, engaged in conversation with several genteel ladies.

That was Miss Clara, and coincidentally, within this small circle of ladies was another acquaintance of Arthur's.

She wore a blue silk gown, her golden hair shimmering under the candlelight, none other than Miss Emily DelaSette.

Arthur realized the dire situation at once.

Among the guests present, Miss DelaSette was the only one who had shared the experience of the Kaidao Sai Mansion explosion incident with him.

If she carelessly revealed anything and aroused suspicion in Clara's heart, matters may become very troublesome afterward.

Emily seemed to notice Arthur's gaze; she turned her head, hesitating for a moment, then a slight blush appeared as she courteously offered him a smile.

Seeing this, Arthur took steps towards the ladies.

First, he politely greeted the ladies present, then reminded Clara, "Clara, are you free now? I have something I want to discuss with you."

Clara seemed somewhat excited, her face glowing with a smile; evidently, she quite enjoyed her time alongside the noble ladies.