After the collapse of Roman law and The Senate, the nation’s fate and future were entrusted to three men who claimed revenge but were driven by ambition.

— Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Arthur did not immediately respond to Stockma’s questioning, as if those resounding words were nothing but a gentle breeze.

He neither spoke nor looked up, just following his own pace, slicing the veal steak on his plate into small pieces and sending them to his mouth.

However, the more he handled things with such calmness, the more uncertain Stockma felt.

He had no clear idea of what Arthur relied on behind the scenes; he had just questioned Arthur’s connections to the Duke of Wellington and Sir Pier based on his deductions from recent happenings at Kensington Palace.

After all, from a common-sense standpoint, Stockma found it indeed hard to imagine that Arthur Hastings, the Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of London, could mobilize the plainclothes police of Scotland Yard without any political backing.

At the same time, he found it equally impossible to believe that a man without support could smoothly navigate the diplomatic storm caused by the Caucasus event and successfully pass the internal investigation of the British Foreign Office.

Of course, the most rational explanation for the force supporting Arthur from behind was actually the Radicals led by Lord Brougham.

However, given the total loss of influence of the London University System in Parliament, this answer had already been ruled out. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

As a former Catholic, Arthur Hastings was inherently unwelcome among the High Tories within the Tory Party.

As for the current mainstream of the Whig Party, Viscount Palmerston has always had a harsh relationship with him, and the former Home Secretary Viscount Duncannon was quite displeased with the rapid expansion of Scotland Yard and extremely disliked this legendary figure who holds significant sway in Scotland Yard. Although Prime Minister Viscount Melbourne does not dislike him, with the intention of distinguishing himself from the Radical Party, he does not plan to incorporate this student of Lord Brougham in the short term.

Thus, at this moment, the Whig Party could definitely not be Arthur’s supporter.

And after a series of exclusions, Stockma could only conclude that this former star of the police was a capable officer of the Peel faction of the Tory Party.

Furthermore, due to the inseparable connection between Scotland Yard and Robert Peel, Arthur Hastings belonging to the Peel faction was also very reasonable.

Not to mention, Stockma had specially dispatched someone to collect last year’s whole series of The Times, and discovered the story of authors under the British\ conducting a grand campaign to assist Benjamin Disraeli.

Although Sir Arthur Hastings himself never appeared at Disraeli’s campaign events, but upon thorough investigation of their relationship, it becomes easy to find that both of them are board members of the Empire Publishing Company.

And just before the elections were held, Sir Arthur Hastings also coincidentally arranged the memorial ceremony for Officer Robert Cali at St Martin’s Church, and granted the honor of delivering the opening remarks to Mr. Disraeli.

If analyzed in depth, Sir Arthur Hastings, this young man who often self-proclaims as "a nameless nobody living by Hyde Park" is actually far more powerful than the common perception.

Stockma suddenly throwing out such a viewpoint was merely a ploy to test him.

Ultimately, he didn’t dare to push Arthur too hard, after all, this chairman of the Empire Publishing Company’s board holds significant influence over various channels of expression.

As long as Arthur wished, he could at any time spread unfavorable news about Victoria across Fleet Street, in just one night’s time, rumors of Princess Victoria being involved in an illicit affair could spread throughout London.

It’s just that, as it stands, Arthur had no intention of doing so, moreover, as the Crown Prince’s tutor, he’s certainly more inclined to supporting Victoria’s smooth succession.

Ding.

The light sound was made when the back of the knife struck the porcelain plate.

Arthur put down his knife and fork, raised his napkin to wipe his mouth: "Your Excellency, I mean no offense, but, do you not feel that your baseless accusations just now were rather rude? I have been running around for Princess all morning for her matters, only to be told by you that I have ulterior motives. Forgive me for being unable to accept your opinion, if this is His Majesty Leopold’s intent, I can accept immediately withdrawing from Kensington Palace, since as far as Princess is concerned, her rhetoric skills have already been well grounded."

Stockma’s expression changed, he genuinely hadn’t anticipated Arthur would respond in such a manner—not angered, yet sharp—without raising his voice even slightly, yet every word confronted him, reminding him that the probing had crossed the line.

The officers of Scotland Yard all knew, Sir Arthur Hastings was not the type to easily lose temper, but precisely because he was of that character, his cold response carried more weight.

In this regard, pioneering youth Ledley, or Miss Quinn, had quite the experience; compared to anger and shouting, Sir Arthur’s silence and departure were the true warning.

Stockma promptly stood up, gently adjusted his hat brim: "Please forgive my earlier rudeness, it was not my intention. As you know, so much has happened overnight, I inevitably feel a bit anxious."