Chasing Time

“Next, we have the most noble recipient of the Order of the Garter, the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Victoria Cross and the lower grades of Knighthood, the leader of the anti-colonial movement, the bell-ringer of the East India Company, the hero of the Crimean War, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifelong dear friend of literary giants such as Dickens and Great Dumas, a steadfast supporter of scientific luminaries like Faraday and Darwin, having served as assistant under-secretary, deputy under-secretary, and permanent under-secretary in departments of the Home Office and the Navy Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the inaugural Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, the first graduate and most distinguished alumnus of our school. Please welcome Sir Arthur Hastings to deliver a speech on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of London.”
Arthur's gaze swept across the crowd before him, looking at the young faces and murmured, “Agares, what do you think I should say?”
The Red Devil's wraith hovered behind him, saliva almost dribbling from the corner of his mouth, “Look at these ignorant souls; they still worship you as a hero. Why not say something they'd like to hear?”
Arthur took a deep breath and let out a deafening roar, “Oxford is a bunch of whores' bastards!”
“Oh!!!!”
The audience erupted into thunderous applause.
“Cambridge is the same!” he added immediately.
The applause grew even more fervent...
(The protagonist, possessed by a devil, travels through 19th-century Britain in a world without magic)

The Shadow of Great Britain

But just recently, Arthur invited me over to his place as a guest, and he made me listen to a few of his new pieces. It was then I realized how utterly absurd and impolite my worries had been. If my melodies represented elegance, nobility, and harmony, then Arthur stood for passion, restlessness, and fervent love—behind which lurked a heart-rending melancholy and profundity.


I really seldom envy anyone, but this time, I'm sorry, Arthur, even though you are my friend, I have to say it—I envy you, I really do envy you! Why does the Muse love you so madly? Could you have been her lover in a past life?


Alas... Arthur, it seems you did it on purpose. Why did you let me hear such a thing before I set out for Paris? Arthur, you really are a mean one. Now it seems to me that you working at Scotland Yard as a policeman might be good news for the musical world of Europe, for if you were to compose full-time, where would the rest of us have room to exist?


Chapter 254 London Focuses on You (6K4)_2