The private room on the second floor of the 'Little Castle' Inn.
In the center of the room stood a smooth oak table, flanked by two carved wooden chairs, with a dimly lit kerosene lamp placed on the table. On the tea table, exquisite ceramic tea sets exuded the enticing aroma of black tea.
A few pairs of riding boots stepped on the intricately decorated Turkish carpet, accompanied by the low murmurs and laughter of gentlemen, as well as the faint lavender scent of men's perfume.
"Arthur, this is Sir Charles Elliot, a Colonel in the Royal Navy. For the past few years, he has been responsible for combating the rampant maritime slave trade in the Guiana colony of South America. The reports he sent back from Guiana on the living conditions of local slaves provided a strong factual basis for our abolitionist movement. This year, Parliament has finally resolved to completely abolish the slave system in the Empire and its overseas colonies, and Charles has been absolutely instrumental."
