Chapter 6 Chapter 4 The Unwitting Accomplice

Forty-seven-year-old Henry.Mr. Fowler knew Edward.Pierce's situation is quite different.Fowler admitted that he knew very little about Pierce's background: Pierce had described himself as an orphan, apparently well-bred and reasonably well off, living in a very decent house that always had the latest equipment, Some are even more ingenious. Mr. Fowler especially remembers an ingenious hall stove that kept the entrance to the house warm.This stove is shaped like a suit of armor, and it functions really well.Mr. Fowler also remembers seeing a pair of fine aluminum field binoculars at his house, covered in Moroccan leather; I was surprised to find that the price was as high as eighty shillings.Clearly, Pierce was rich, Henry.Fowler was happy to have an occasional dinner with him.

With difficulty he recalled an incident at Pierce's in late May, 1854.Eight men attended that dinner, and the conversation centered around new proposals for an underground railway in London.Fowler found the idea tedious, and he was disappointed that the discussion continued until the end of the meal when they went to the smoking room to smoke cigars. Then the subject turned to cholera, an epidemic which had lately been endemic in certain parts of London, affecting about one in a hundred people.Controversy revolved around one of the Sanitation Committee members Edwin.Mr. Chadwick's proposals to build a new sewer system across the city and clean up the polluted Thames seemed boring to Mr. Fowler.Besides, Mr. Fowler had authoritative sources that old Chadwick, Commissioner of the Gutters, would be stepping down shortly, but he had sworn not to reveal the matter.He drank his coffee and felt more and more tired.As he was considering leaving, Mr. Pierce, the owner, asked him about a recent attempt to rob a train of gold consignments.

It was only natural that Pierce would ask Mr. Fowler, because Henry.Fowler's brother-in-law Edgar.Sir Hadleston was a partner in Hadleston & Brive Bank (Habs Bank) in Westminster, and Mr Fowler was managing director.Founded in 1833, this thriving bank specialized in foreign exchange. At this time, the super powerful Britain controlled the world economy.Its coal output exceeds half of the world, and its pig iron output exceeds the sum of all other countries in the world.Britain also produced three-quarters of the world's cotton cloth; its annual foreign exchange was 700 million pounds, twice that of the next largest countries, the United States and Germany.Britain created the greatest overseas empire in the history of the world, and it continued to expand until it finally occupied almost a quarter of the earth's surface and a third of its population.

Due to various business activities involving overseas, London became the financial center at that time, and the development of banks in the city was thriving.Henry.Fowler and his bank also benefited from overall economic trends, of course, but their focus on foreign exchange brought in additional business as well.Thus, when Britain and France declared war on Russia in March 1854 (that is, two months earlier), Hab's Bank was appointed to arrange the payment of British troops in the Crimean War.It was this consignment of gold to pay military pay that was the target of the latest attempted theft.

It was overreaching, Fowler said, realizing he was speaking for the bank.The other cigar-smoking and brandy-drinking gentlemen present were all important people, and all knew other important people.Mr Fowler felt compelled to address any doubts people might have about their bank in the strongest terms possible.Yes, it is, he said: overconfident and unprofessional.No chance of success at all. Is the bad guy dead?asked Mr. Pierce, sitting opposite him, puffing on his cigar. Of course, Mr. Fowler said: the train guards threw him out of the train at such a high speed that the impact must have killed him instantly.Then he added: Poor wretch.

Does anyone recognize who he is? Ah, I don't think so, Fowler said: He was thrown out of the car like that, so his face was very, very different.At one point someone said his name was Jack.Perkins, but who knows.The police are also not very interested in this incident, which I think is indeed very sensible.The whole robbery was too amateurish to be successful. I believe, said Pierce, that the bank must have taken very strict precautions. Dear friend, said Mr. Fowler: quite a precaution indeed!I can assure you that it is impossible to send twelve thousand pounds of gold bullion to France every month without the most extensive protection.

So the gangster's goal was the military pay for the Crimean War?Another gentleman, Harrison.asked Bendix.Bendix was notoriously opposed to the Crimean War, and Fowler really didn't want to be embroiled in a political war of words at this late hour. Apparently so, he said curtly, and Pierce spoke to his relief. We're all curious to know what's going on with your precautions, he said: Or is that bank secrecy? Not at all confidential, Fowler said, taking the opportunity to pull his gold pocket watch from his vest pocket, flicking off the cover, and glanced at the surface.It was after eleven o'clock, and it was time for him to go; but in defense of the bank's reputation, he had to stay.In fact, these precautions are of my own design.And let me say that, if there are any weaknesses in this established plan, you are welcome to correct it.As he spoke, his eyes flicked over the faces of everyone present.

Every gold bar consignment is boxed inside the bank, and I don't need to say how indestructible the bank's security measures are.The gold bars are packaged in iron-clad safe boxes, which are then sealed.The average smart person might think that this protection is enough, but of course we do a lot more than that.He paused for a sip of brandy. Next, these sealed iron boxes were transported to the railway station by armed guards.The escort team has no fixed route and no fixed timetable; but it must take the crowded street so that there is no chance of being ambushed and robbed on the way to the train station.At least ten guards are sent to each delivery, all reliable employees who have served the bank for many years, and they are fully armed.

Then, at the station, the tin box was loaded into the baggage car of the train to Folkestone and placed in two of the latest Chubb safes. Ah, Chubb Safe?said Pierce, raising one eyebrow.The safes manufactured by Chubb Company are the first in the world, and its technology and craftsmanship are widely respected by all walks of life around the world. It's not the Chabu safe of the general production line, Fowler continued: it's specially made according to the specifications specified by the bank.Gentlemen, these safes are a quarter inch thick tempered steel on each side, and the doors are hinged on the inside so that they cannot be opened or pried from the outside.However, each of these safes weighed more than two hundred and fifty pounds, and the weight alone was already a major obstacle for thieves.

It's amazing.Pierce said. These designs, Fowler said, may be reassuring that the gold bars that are consigned are adequately protected.However, we still add additional measures.Every safe was locked, not just one, but two, requiring two keys for each. two keys?So thoughtful. Not only that, Fowler said: The four keys are two to each safe, and each is kept separately.Two were kept in the offices of the railway company, and the third was given to Mr. Trent, a senior partner in the bank; who, as some of you may know, was a most trustworthy gentleman.I don't know where Mr. Trent kept the key, but I know the fourth key, because I was the one who kept it.

It's a big deal, Pierce said: I think it must be a huge responsibility. I have to admit, it took some innovative thinking to deal with this.said Mr. Fowler, then paused dramatically. Then the slightly drunken Mr. Whedon finally broke the silence: "Oh, hell, Henry, can you tell us where you hid that damned key?" Mr. Fowler showed no displeasure, but smiled kindly.He didn't drink much himself, so it always gave him some satisfaction to see some small gaffe in a drinker.The key, he said, hangs around my neck.Then he stretched out his palm and patted the front of the starched shirt.I wear it all the time, in the shower and even when I sleep.The key never leaves the body.He was all smiles.Therefore, everyone can understand that it is really not a concern for Hab's Bank that a small thief of a dangerous class wants to rob.The chances of such a thief stealing gold bars are no higher than my chances of flying to the moon. Speaking of this, Mr. Fowler felt that it was too ridiculous, and couldn't help laughing lowly!So, he said: Can you find any loopholes in our arrangement? flawless.said Mr. Bendix coldly. Mr. Pierce was much warmer.I really have to congratulate you, Henry, he said: This is the most astute plan I've ever heard for the protection of this precious consignment. I think so myself.Mr Fowler said. Mr. Fowler got up and said goodbye shortly afterwards, saying that if he didn't come home and report to his wife, she'd think he'd been messing around with some wild girl again and I'd be damned if I didn't get a taste of it first. pain.There was a burst of laughter at his words; it was, he thought, a fitting farewell.Everyone expects the banker to be careful, but not overly formal; he's delivered a very good line just now. I'll take you out.Pierce stood up as he spoke.