Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Either their graves, or...
As to how this "misunderstanding" was resolved, Jim Hack had no idea.
Of course, as Minister of an Executive Department with 23,000 civil servants and responsible for overseeing the administrative affairs of other departments, Jim Hackney could never have a clear grasp of the overall situation; let alone the fact that the British government was selling arms to Italian terrorists, which he knew nothing about - or should have continued to know nothing about.
When he learned of this from his confidential informant, his conscience was immediately pricked. This was, of course, unforgivable and must be stopped! But when he told his permanent secretary, Humphrey, that he had to do something to stop it, Humphrey said it was a matter for the Home Office, or the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, or even the Department of Foreign Affairs. In short, it was not the responsibility of the Executive Department.
After Huck tries to tell Humphrey that this is a question of "good and evil," and Humphrey responds that government is about "order and disorder," Huck is deeply disappointed with him; quite possibly the most disappointed he has been in all their years together, as Huck mercilessly criticizes him as a "moral vacuum," to which Humphrey responds, "Say so, Minister. Can we drop this question now?"
Of course, Huck would not let this issue go.
Although Humphrey had clearly told him that the arms trade was a matter of action or inaction, Huck's conscience still compelled him to act. He asked his private secretary, Bernard, to arrange an appointment with the Prime Minister (even with the immense power of these civil servants, there was no reason to prevent him from meeting the Prime Minister!). Bernard flipped through his calendar and, with a tone of obvious hesitation and resignation, said, "Uh, all right, Minister."
"What's the matter, Bernard?" Huck noticed his tone. "Am I too busy to have tea with the Prime Minister?"
"Of course not, Minister," said Bernard.
"Perhaps Bernard has just noticed that you're going to attend the Garibaldi reception we're hosting with the Italian Embassy tomorrow night," Humphrey said, crossing his arms. "You still remember this brave general who won the Italian War of Independence? This 'Hero of Two Worlds', the 'Sword of Italian Unity'?"
Huck took off his spectacles and replied, bewilderedly, "Of course I do! Londoners loved him."
Humphrey asked, "You like him, too?"
"Of course, my vote..." Huck blurted out, "My people like him, that's why I like him."
"Yes, Minister!" said Humphrey, smiling, pretending not to hear the word "vote." "Of course you like him, because you are one of the people! Not to mention your personal acquaintance... the Duke of Sicily, I believe? What's his name, Bernard?"
"Elio Vongola, Duke of Caserta," Bernard replied immediately, "He will also attend the reception tomorrow night."
"What do you mean, Humphrey?" Huck asked warily.
"Nothing, Minister!" said Humphrey, smiling. "Only, I suppose you couldn't make a big deal out of it while the General and the Duke are both in London. It would be embarrassing for everybody."
Huck practically slumped in his chair. "I don't mean to make a big deal out of this, Humphrey! I just think we should investigate..."
"Investigating why our government is giving new weapons to terrorists on their soil while General Garibaldi and the Duke of Caserta are visiting London?" Humphrey shrugged. "I have to say, that's quite courageous!"
Despite his inner struggle, Bernard couldn't help but glance at Huck, who was about to slip out of the chair. Huck was asking weakly and pathetically, "You mean digging your own grave?"
Humphrey said sympathetically, "Or 'political suicide,' as you like."
"I think I am both digging my own grave and committing political suicide!" Hake wailed.
"Well, Minister," Bernard could not help interjecting, "it is impossible for you to dig a grave and commit suicide at the same time, because..."
"Thank you, Bernard," Humphrey interrupted him. "Don't you see our Minister is troubled enough?" he said with a look. Even though the culprit who was causing the Minister so much trouble was none other than Sir Humphrey Appleby himself.
"Thank you, Bernard," Huck said, almost gibberish. "But what are we going to do with those terrorists?"
"Well, as I said," Humphrey shrugged, "that's a question for the Ministry of the Interior, or the Ministry of Commerce, or the Ministry of Defense, or even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..."
Huck's conscience struggled, "But those innocent Italians..."
"Put it this way," said Humphrey, "it's either their grave or yours, Minister!"
Hit the bull's eye, kill with one blow!
Obviously, Hacker can neither dig his own grave nor commit political suicide, because he still cares about his hard-earned job - it's the Queen's Lord Chamberlain! He worked hard to get to where he is today from the backbenches - and even if he protests by resigning, it will only satisfy his own conscience and will not make things better.
While Harker was venting his frustrations to his wife Anne (he would tell her everything about his work, without even having to use the adverb of frequency "almost"), Sir Humphrey was also studying the fact that the government he served was selling arms to Italian terrorists - of course, he was not really concerned about this thing he had long expected, but about the poor conscience of their Minister of the Executive Department and whether the actions prompted by this conscience would have further consequences for them.
"Tell me, Bernard," Humphrey said in his office, pointing his index finger at the table and motioning Bernard to sit down there, "is there anything else our minister has done?"
In theory, Bernard Woolley was the personal secretary to the Minister for Administration. But in reality, Bernard was completely subordinate to Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary of the Administration (the head of the civil service). Humphrey was in charge of personnel changes, especially promotions and transfers - if Bernard still wanted to be promoted instead of being transferred to the Swansea Traffic Management Center - so one can imagine the fiery work life he had every day caught between these two leaders.
"Not at the moment, as far as I know," Bernard replied.
"Very good. He didn't continue to ask you to make an appointment with the Prime Minister?"
“Not at this time.”
Not yet! That was a suspicious statement. Humphrey cast a suspicious eye at the young secretary, and Bernard immediately understood what he meant and replied a little hesitantly, "It's just that his conscience seems to be tormented."
"Ah, conscience!" laughed Humphrey. "Well, you must see to it that he is not affected by it."
"Of course, Sir Humphrey, that's my job," the young secretary said, still looking very conflicted. "But... are we really going to ignore those innocent Italians?"
"I can't believe what you're saying, Bernard!" Humphrey said. "Did we ever take care of those innocent British people?"
"Well, yes," Bernard said, realizing it, "I mean, no."
"That's right, Bernard," said Humphrey significantly. "Don't let things like 'conscience' or 'morality' bother you, or you'll never be a good 'moral vacuum'. Ah, it's half-past five. Would you like a glass of sherry?"
They drank a little, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. Just as Cabinet Secretary Arnold Robinson considered Humphrey his subordinate and protégé, Sir Humphrey was also interested in cultivating Bernard. After lecturing Bernard on the topic of "how unnecessary our conscience is to us," Humphrey recalled another topic he had mentioned earlier.
"The Duke of Caserta," he said, "what is his name again?"
Bernard replied in surprise, "Elio Vongola, from Sicily." He found it hard to believe that Humphrey could not remember anything. It was almost impossible.
"You said he was an Italian duke?"
Bernard began to fidget. "Yes."
"Well, that's odd," Humphrey drummed his knuckles on his polished desk. "I've never heard of an Italian duke named 'Vongola'. They're supposed to be Savoy, or Borghese, Colonna, Doria, Visconti, or something like that. Have you ever heard of 'Vongola', Bernard?"
"I've heard of it." Bernard's eyebrows immediately relaxed when he encountered a professional field. "It's the Italian term for a variety of small edible clams, usually referring to common bivalve shellfish, such as clams, moccasins, and..."
"Thank you, Bernard," Humphrey interrupted gracefully. "So you haven't heard of the 'last name' Vongola either, have you?"
Bernard was stunned for a moment, "Yes."
"And you just said he was the Duke of Italy," Humphrey said. "Just like in Britain, the Duke is the highest title among the nobility, and almost everyone is related to the Queen. Of course, in Italy, it means being a relative of the King."
Bernard's expression turned puzzled. "Yes."
"And you don't think there's anything strange about this?"
"Well, not exactly," Bernard scratched his hair, "because he often appears at events where the Italian ambassador is present and seems to be highly respected."
Humphrey also pondered. "It seems that this Duke of Caserta is the exception besides 'almost'. I will investigate his identity. In the meantime, Bernard?"
"Yes?"
"You should try to prevent our ministers from meeting the Prime Minister."
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The author has something to say: If you haven't read "Yes, the Minister", you might think it's ridiculous to let Bernard prevent the Minister from meeting the Prime Minister, but then again [dog head]...
But this specific plot is in the original work, so I won’t write it.
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