"The Widow" Bertha

The murder case against Bertha Thames was quickly approaching the trial stage.

It's just that no matter from the motive, autopsy or on-site analysis, it is impossible to confirm that it was Mrs. Thames who made the first move.There were no witnesses at the time, and the defense lawyer tried his best to prove to the judge that his employer was just an ordinary woman who was threatened—even if an ordinary woman appeared in the sewer in the middle of the night is really problematic.

The final result of the case was that there was insufficient evidence and he was acquitted.

When she walked out of the court, Bertha felt that she was the kind of villain that only appeared in Hong Kong-style movies. She was powerful and rich. Even if Scotland Yard knew that she was guilty, there was nothing she could do. Mrs. Thames even approached Lestrade before leaving. The chief said hello and said, "I will meet you next time", which made the conscientious detective very angry.

After the farce-like prosecution, it was Bertha's real business to deal with.

She returned to the office in Whitechapel, but after a week's absence, she returned as if it had been a lifetime.

With the death of Marco Esposito, the huge underground forces in London are about to face a reshuffle.And the affairs waiting for Bertha can be described as many and chaotic.

First of all, a good thing—Bill Sykes was finally rescued from the brink of madness under the careful care of Dr. Butts.

The high fever in a short period of time made Sykes thinner, almost out of shape.He came to the office together with Nancy, although he put on clean clothes, and his beard and hair were carefully groomed, but his bloodshot eyes and tired posture still showed his poor mental state.

"I'm unlucky."

As soon as Sikes saw Bertha, he cursed and said, "When you meet something like that, it's good enough to get back from the gate of hell."

Bertha: "What 'medicine' did Dr. Butts take?"

Sykes: "How the hell did I know."

It was Nancy who answered Bertha, and the silent girl lowered her head: "It is said to be a local recipe called devil's heel, madam."

Devil's heels?

It sounds a little familiar at first glance, but if Bertha remembers correctly, it should have appeared in the original book "The Collection of Sherlock Holmes", and it is a hallucinogenic drug.

Combating hysteria with hallucinogenic "drugs"...

Forget it, as long as it can be cured, Bertha will not consider other things.

Just looking at the state of Sykes taking a step and taking three breaths, he will not be able to recover for a while.

"Go back and have a good rest," Bertha ordered. "I can't guarantee that you will have a drink every day. I can guarantee that you will be fine if you don't have to worry about eating and drinking."

"I haven't said anything about you ordering my woman!"

At this, Sikes began to cry: "I'm so sick, and Nancy must come back to take care of me!"

Bertha: "..."

You have grown up with hands and feet for a long time, why do you need others to take care of you? !

Only this time, Nancy chose to back down.

She looked at Bertha, lowered her head, and felt a little guilty without saying a word: "Please let me go back and take care of Bill, madam."

What more could Bertha say?

She sighed: "Have you figured it out? If he doesn't work and you don't work, the two of you will live in a more difficult life."

Nancy: "Be thrifty and you'll be fine."

Bertha: "As long as it's your own will, I don't care."

However, with this withdrawal, Bertha may not give her another chance.

But can she still force the girl to stay?Not everyone can be as resolute as Katie—the girl in the red light district dares to risk her life because she has nothing but this life.

But Nancy was different.

She wasn't part of a gang, and she wasn't pushed to the point of selling herself into prostitution.She is just one of the countless women at the bottom of society struggling to make ends meet.Nancy relies on Sykes to live, not only does he hold the source of income, but also her entire spiritual support—even if this support is really not very good in Bertha's view.

"It's my wish," Nancy whispered.

"Okay then," Bertha said lightly, "I'll let Ned pay enough money, don't worry about that. Go back and recuperate."

After seeing off Sykes, Thomas Thames and Ned Morrison arrived belatedly.

As soon as the little accountant saw Bertha, he immediately turned over his account book.

He straightened the frame of the mirror, and continued: "The Esposito family in Sicily has completely abandoned the London branch. Ma'am, Marco Esposito's uncle has decided to file for bankruptcy, so all the property of the Italians will be transferred immediately." It will be handed over to the "government". If we go through the process, we can get their assets at a very low price."

"The focus is on real estate."

Bertha exhorted: "Factories, bars, and offices. For residences, it depends on the specific price. It is not necessary."

Hearing the word "factory", the little accountant immediately cheered up: "The Italians have a considerable number of factories, madam, this is a good opportunity!"

What a good opportunity?Naturally, it is an opportunity to clean up and go ashore.

Even if street gangs do not do anything truly illegal, they are not something that can be put on the table.The Thames boys are at best wandering in a gray area. Who wouldn't want to be a legitimate name?

but--

Bertha sneered: "You are the son of a worker yourself, Ned Morrison, so you are dreaming of being a capitalist and whipping your parents?"

Ned: "..."

The little accountant who was ridiculed felt embarrassed.

Bertha did not really mean to reproach him.In the nineteenth century, was there any other means of making a fortune?

"The bar and the office can stay," Bertha thought for a while before making a decision. "The factory can be leased to other factory owners."

Although this price will still become a reason for the factory owner to squeeze the workers, at least Bertha can control the price.It is much better than selling at a high price and letting the capitalists intensify the exploitation of workers in order to repay the cost.

"Yes, yes," Ned accepted Bertha's method, "in this case, it would be an extra continuous income."

"In addition to real estate, there should be other things."

"others……"

Ned's tone paused and became more subtle: "It's not so fair, ma'am."

Bertha nodded.

As long as the gang can be involved, the Esposito family is involved.The nature of this part of the property is "not fair and aboveboard", which can be regarded as an unspeakable part.

"The half," said Bertha, "is given to the Sicilian as an apology."

Although it was the Esposito family in Sicily who took the lead in cutting off their wrists and giving up the branch in London, Bertha still worried that the other party would hold a grudge.It never hurts to be proactive.

Besides the money, Bertha felt guilty.

It doesn't make sense for Ned to return to the pain of the flesh: "It's right to spend money to settle the trouble."

Bertha looked at Thomas now.

"And you," she asked, "what do you want to tell me?"

"Have."

Thomas replied with a smile: "Miss Jane Eyre has a letter, and I want to give it to you."

Bertha: "Huh?"

During the few days when Bertha was "in prison", Miss Jane Eyre's uncle, Mr. Eyre, also came to London from Madeira Islands.

Bertha had never met Mr. Eyre, but she was able to endure the turbulence of the ship for a long time, so her body was absolutely fine.

After her uncle came, Jane moved away from South Shore Street, and went with her relatives.

And when Thomas handed over the clean envelope to Bertha, she belatedly realized what made Mr. Eyre, who was once seriously ill, couldn't wait for his niece to go back, and came to London instead.

Miss Jane Eyre's beautiful and gentle font says it all.

After reading the short letter, Bertha raised the corners of her mouth.

——Naturally because she agreed to Edward Rochester's marriage proposal, and the wedding date was fixed.

As an uncle, Mr. Eyre wanted Jane to be handed over to Rochester from the church. How could he be absent?

This is simply the happiest thing in the recent mess of things.

Bertha happily read the letter from Miss Jane Eyre several times, and then asked Thomas without raising her head, "How is Katie?"

Thomas: "I broke my arm in the lab, and the rest are just bruises and scrapes. It will be fine after a few days."

Bertha: "Well, take something to see her."

Thomas: "I will."

Bertha: "It's delicious, isn't it?"

Thomas: "...Huh?"

It used to look like a beauty threw herself into her arms and hugged her indifferently, but now she is "moved", isn't it really sweet.

But Bertha didn't explain, but smiled and said: "Okay! On the day of Jane's wedding, you all have to spare time for me! It's a decent way to support the show, you hurry to arrange it one time."

Thomas, who received the order, only felt that he had been teased, but couldn't figure it out, so he had to leave dumbfounded.

When her brother had gone, Bertha turned to Ned again.

"There's one more thing," Ned reported unsolicited, "that... the boy you sent out said he wanted to see you."

"..."

Bertha froze slightly.

After a long time, she broke the silence: "Please ask him to come in this afternoon."

During the lunch break, Bertha specially changed into a long black dress.

Sitting on the sofa in the living room on the second floor of the office, she watched Ned bring a timid boy over.

Bertha had almost only a "familiar" impression of him. She remembered that he had done things for Sykes, and he didn't talk much, that's all.The boy said little when she made the decision to "deport" the three young men from Whitechapel.

Thin, timid, and freckled like a child's, when he met Bertha's eyes, his first movement was to avert them.

One of the boy's arms is missing.

"What?" Bertha looked at his empty sleeves with a heavy heart, "You see me and want to say something?"

"Yes... yes."

He mustered up his courage: "Ma'am, you said... We will come back, and when we come back, we will be rewarded."

Still a stutter.

Bertha patiently listened to him, and then said affirmatively: "Of course, the pension is indispensable for you, and I will properly arrange for your parents."

"Do not……"

The boy shook his head desperately: "Funeral."

Bertha choked for a moment.

He had come to do honor to the two dead children.

Bertha closed her eyes, and promised: "I will definitely give them a funeral for two gentlemen. My child, what's your name?"

Ned heard this and spoke for the boy: "His name is Benjamin Browning."

"No no, no no no!"

Unexpectedly, after Ned's words fell to the ground, the boy began to shake his head again.

This time, he finally chose to look up into Bertha's eyes.There were tears in those clear eyes, but they did not fall for a long time.

"I am... I am Thames."

He choked up.

"From this day forward, I am Phoenix Thames, ma'am."