Shadow of great britain

Disraeli took Arthur into the second floor. Although the shelves on the second floor were not as densely packed as the first floor, the decoration here was obviously much more luxurious.

There are four or five bright glass chandeliers. Although the wooden exterior wall frame is slightly mottled, fortunately, the paintings hanging on the wall cover up its staleness well. The floor-to-ceiling windows greedily absorb the few sunshine in London. The Persian carpets covering the whole place, composed of golden and red complex patterns, set off the classical elegance here.

Perhaps because of the high value of the goods here, the shop owner specially arranged two clerks to guard the entrance on the second floor.

As soon as Arthur walked up to the second floor, his eyes were attracted by the dazzling array of merchandise.

Complexly decorated ivory pipes, Ceylon black tea packaged and sold in gold-painted jars, and exquisite mechanical pocket watches lying in the containers with hour hands and gears turning, but what most concerned Arthur was the pure black and simple watch leaning against the corner but claiming to be... Sir Isaac Newton's same gentleman's umbrella.

Generally speaking, Arthur tends to think of this kind of thing as self-marketing by the merchant, but given that Sir Newton's former residence is next door, and the history of this store is more than a hundred years old, and the owner patted his chest and told him He emphasized that his grandfather's grandfather's grandfather had been close friends with Sir Isaac Newton for eight years. Arthur could only believe his statement for the time being.

But Arthur's trust did not last long, because after a rough walk around the second floor, he discovered that there were too many things related to Newton in the store.

These include, but are not limited to, the wig that Newton wore, the top that Newton smoked, and the manuscripts that Newton wrote. Of course, with so many things, the legendary apple that hit Newton's head cannot be missing.

Arthur squatted in front of the glass window, bent over and stared at the apple that was marked as not for sale for a long time. Suddenly, he saw the skin of the apple move, and a hole was opened from the inside. A small caterpillar stuck out its fat body. The belly came out from inside.

Arthur held his chin and pondered for a while, then suddenly nodded to the little green insect: "To be able to survive until now, you are much more powerful than gravity."

Having said this, he did not forget to shout to the shopkeeper who was snoring at the counter on the second floor: "Sir, come and meet your grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's friend."

After saying this, he walked out of the store called 'Newton's Selection' with a cane.

At the other end, Disraeli was holding a brown cigar to his nose and sniffing gently.

He saw Arthur coming and hurriedly waved to him: "Arthur, you should be tired of smoking ordinary tobacco. How about some Havana cigars today?"

"Cigar?" Arthur took the cigar box from Disraeli's hand, took a slight whiff, and nodded: "Okay, some smoking is better than nothing."

"Oh, Arthur, look what you're talking about?"

Disraeli said contemptuously: "Smoking cigars is a delicate job and a fashion. Don't treat this thing as ordinary tobacco. If you want to smoke cigars well, you have to learn a little bit. Oh, yes Oh, I almost forgot, do you have a cigar cutter at home? If not, why don’t you buy one today."

"Cigar tongs? What are those for?"

"It's a cigar cutter. Do you have one at home?"

Arthur just shook his head when he heard this: "No, but I have a French tenant named Alexander at home, so I don't think I need to buy anything specifically for cutting cigar ends."

Disraeli wondered: "Why? Is Alexander good at biting cigars? This thing is quite astringent after one bite!"

Arthur said: "No, it's because the French have always been good at making machines for cutting off heads. I know there is a big one in Paris. Anyone who has used it has never said that it is bad. I'll beg Alexander later. , and asked him to make the same one for me for the sake of his friend."

When Disraeli heard this, he laughed so much that he burst into tears: "Wouldn't it be a bit overkill to cut cigars with a guillotine? But okay, since you said you don't need it, then we won't buy it. Let's go next See the cologne?”

Arthur took out his pocket watch from his chest, took a look at it and said, "Counting the time, it's time for the perfumer to go to work. Let's go to the backyard for a walk."

Disraeli summoned the boy and took them to the perfume room in the backyard. As he walked, he asked: "Why do you suddenly think of buying cologne? I remember that you usually have no smell, even if you should. It’s not like you have to use cologne to suppress the smell, right? Arthur, just tell me the truth, which girl are you attracted to?”

Arthur heard Disraeli teasing him, and replied indifferently: "Benjamin, I still like a lot of girls. I am different from you. Although I am not as philanthropic as Elder, I still have to For me, beautiful ladies are always welcome. But you are different. I really don’t understand why you always prefer ladies who are much older than you? "

When Disraeli heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He trembled and said, "Damn it, Arthur, how did you know that?"

Of course Arthur would not tell him that the number of Benjamin Disraeli's file in the London Police Intelligence Bureau's archives was 001.

He just came up with the reasonable and easy-to-fool reason: "I said, Benjamin, I am a detective. As the most outstanding detective of Scotland Yard, it is normal for me to have keen insight. Look at the eyes of the older lady. , obviously different.”

Disraeli looked like he had seen a ghost: "Thank God, you are the only detective friend I have in my life. If there were a few more, it would probably be obvious what color underwear I am wearing today."

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly remembered the Disraeli file that had just been updated a while ago.

The social atmosphere these days is relatively conservative on the surface, so except for some upper-class ladies who want to buy lace underwear, most people choose to buy fabrics and make their own underwear at home.

Not long ago, an agent from the Police Intelligence Bureau accidentally ran into Disraeli buying a small piece of dark green fabric in a fabric store. It was such a small piece of material that he couldn't think of anything else to do except sew trousers.

Therefore, Arthur casually replied: "Dark green."

As soon as Arthur said these words, Disraeli was directly shocked. He stopped where he was and stared at the road with his eyes: "How do you know this?"

Arthur shook his finger: "Don't be nervous, Benjamin, this is just my guess, and I happened to guess it right."

"Of course I know you guessed it! You can't stand on my window sill every day and watch me change my underwear, right?" Disraeli asked: "I'm talking about how you guessed it?"

Arthur glanced at his extremely showy attire and said calmly: "As you said, Benjamin, you are a fashionista in the London social circle, and your dressing style has always been very sophisticated. For example, today , you are wearing a Byzantine purple tuxedo and a pair of burgundy pants, so from the perspective of color matching, I tend to think that you will wear a pair of dark green pants."

When Disraeli heard this, he couldn't help but applaud and exclaimed: "Arthur, I really didn't expect that your observation skills are so meticulous. Although I used to think that detectives are not something ordinary people can do. They need to understand chemistry." , natural history, and even criminal psychology. I didn’t expect that you are so concerned about fashion trends and color matching. There is really a reason why you can become a police celebrity respected by London citizens. "

Arthur just smiled and took off his hat in return: "Benjamin, you are really flattering me. After all, my observation of London fashion is far inferior to yours."

Disraeli asked again: "But you haven't told me yet. Why are you suddenly thinking about buying cologne? You really don't smell like anything."

Regarding Disraeli's question, Arthur still chose to change the subject. After all, this case involved a congressman. He still did not intend to reveal too much until he understood the situation.

He just interrupted: "I don't have body odor because I bathe often. Benjamin, if you are fine, don't listen to those science magazines. Taking less baths will not reduce your chance of getting sick. Just wiping your body with a wet towel every night can It can't solve your hygiene problem. As for cologne, I plan to use it as a deodorant. I plan to ask a manure digger to clean the toilet landfill at home in a while. Then I will inevitably use cologne to make the air smell better. Gotta be fresh.”

When Disraeli heard this, he couldn't help but ask: "Speaking of which, my toilet should also be cleaned. By the way, is the cleaning price still two shillings now?"

Arthur replied: "It's a little bit higher. The economic situation has been good recently, so the wages of various positions have increased, but it's worth paying a few pence more for this kind of dirty and tiring work."

The two of them chatted all the way, and soon they came to a small house in the backyard.

Before they even entered, they felt various fragrant scents in the air.

They took a slight sniff and felt refreshed. Nowadays, places like this are rare in London.

As soon as they entered the door, they saw a middle-aged man wearing only a white shirt holding a medicine spoon in his left hand and a perfume bottle in his right hand in front of a long table filled with colorful bottles and jars. He was talking about something nonchalantly.

"The Marchioness of Londonderry's Mediterranean Passion, 8 drops of bergamot, 1 drop of grapefruit, 5 drops of orange, 1 drop of cardamom... The Earl of Winchelsea's Bordeaux Garden, 4 drops of lavender, 4 drops of clary sage, 2 drops of orange blossom , 2 drops of rosemary…”

Seeing this, the young man stepped forward and shouted softly: "Mr. Ruimei, another customer comes to you to prepare a customized cologne."

Rui Mi?

When Arthur heard this name, he instantly remembered the "Book of Perfume" that he had received from Fiona. The French perfumer Rémy, who had recently become popular in London, was the broken man in front of him. Mr. Broken Thoughts?

Ruimi just rubbed her hair irritably when she heard the little boy's voice.

"Okay, I understand. You leave the list and I will match it later. Now I have to concentrate on finishing a few big orders. Matching perfume is a delicate job. If there is more or less essential oil, the aroma will be completely different. Different effects. I have to think hard about how to make these noble men and ladies exude a unique scent at the banquet, so that people will think that the guy who made their perfume is extremely skilled just by taking a whiff. "

When the boy saw this situation, he wanted to say a few more words to Ruimi, but he hesitated.

Because he knew that the perfumer in front of him was hired by the boss at a huge price. If he was so angry that he quit the job, he couldn't bear the responsibility.

Seeing this, Arthur just patted the young man on the shoulder, indicating that he could go about his business and there was no need to worry here.

The boy was relieved at first, then took off his hat, showed a slightly apologetic smile to Arthur, and then left.

Seeing that he was walking away, Arthur walked up to behind Rimi with his hands behind his back.

He watched as Rui Mei tremblingly put the spoon into the essential oil jar, and then carefully added drop by drop into the mixing cup.

Arthur suddenly asked: "I heard that there is a cologne used by Sir Isaac Newton here?"

It was good that Arthur didn't make a sound, but when he made a sound, Rimme's hands trembled in fright, and she almost pushed the mixing jar to the ground.

He turned his head suddenly, and the half-long hair on his forehead swung violently with the turning back movement, and went back to the back of his head.

Rui Mei said angrily: "What do you do? This is my private space. You are absolutely not allowed to enter without permission. Didn't Mr. Baxter tell you?"

The Baxter that Rui Mei mentioned was the owner of this store. Judging from his appearance, he probably thought that Arthur was the new guy.

However, to Arthur, it didn't matter who Rimi thought of him.

Relying on his previous interaction with Vidocq, he fully grasped the essentials of how to deal with a Frenchman.

Arthur just took out his police officer ID card from his pocket and placed it in front of Rui Mi: "Arthur Hastings, Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, can I come in now?"

"police?!"

When Rui Mi heard this identity, she was so shocked that she leaned back and protected her perfume jar.

"You...what are you here for? I'm doing business as expected, and I haven't done anything illegal or criminal. Why do you arrest me?"

Arthur put away the police officer's certificate and said with a smile: "Mr. Rimmel, you are right. The French police do not need a reason to arrest people, but the British police still need a reason. Therefore, I am not here to arrest you today. , but came to you to configure some cologne that suits me. What kind of fragrance do you think I need so that when criminals approach me, they can feel the dangerous smell on my body with just one whiff? "

When Rui Mi heard this, he finally let go of his worries. He swallowed and said, "Please forgive me, you are dangerous enough now. There is really no need for perfume or anything else."

There will be more later