"The Widow" Bertha

The plan is properly arranged, and it will be done as soon as it is said.

In the early morning of the next day, Rochester announced that he would conduct a final carpet search on the case. In order to avoid interference, the owners of Thornfield Manor should be temporarily transferred to his other property, Ferdinand Manor.

While everyone left on the front foot, Colonel Dent asked someone to deliver several large barrels of kerosene to the door on the back foot.

"It's a pity for the furniture and books."

Bertha touched the simple-textured desk in the study room and the philosophy books on the desk with emotion.We must know that in the nineteenth century, whether it was antique furniture or the massive collection of books of the landlord class, they were all priceless things, and they were valuables that could be used as dowry for daughters.

Colonel Dent smiled wryly: "I have asked someone to transfer all the valuables in the manor to Ferdinand Manor as much as possible, Miss Marple. As for these furniture, there is really no way."

Bertha curled her lips: "Anyway, if you pay compensation, as long as Edward doesn't mind, what does it have to do with me?"

After she finished speaking, she turned around and asked with great anticipation: "When shall we start?"

One must know that Bertha was looking forward to this day, but she had been looking forward to it for ten years!

Colonel Dent dispatched several porters from the town to fill the entire manor with large barrels of kerosene, focusing on taking care of Rochester's room.Bertha did not forget to tell the command: "Remember to pour it on the curtains and beds in each room, because the fabric is very flammable. Also, don't close the windows tightly, leave a gap. Otherwise, the fire will be easily extinguished." .”

After all, only oxygen can burn, and a purely closed environment can easily burn out the oxygen, so no matter how hard it is to support the combustion, it will not be able to burn.

"Wait for a while when the fire starts," Bertha said enthusiastically. "The door of Edward's room should be closed first. Wait until the fire gets bigger and then open the door. This will be very efficient."

All the men looked sideways: Why are you so proficient!

Bertha bluntly said nonsense: "Why, do you think I have no experience in dealing with arson cases? Arson in a secret room is the most classic method of killing!" ——The name of a detective is so easy to use, thanks to Ms. Agatha, thanks to Marple Miss!

When everything was ready, Bertha took it upon herself to take out a bottle of whiskey from Rochester's collection.

"It's a celebration of happy cooperation."

Bertha smiled and handed the whiskey glasses to Rochester and Colonel Dent: "From now on, we are accomplices."

Colonel Dent took the wine glass, thoughtfully: "Miss Marple seems very happy."

Rochester gave Bertha a hard look: Don't get carried away too much!

Bertha didn't panic at all, she didn't believe that Colonel Dent's imagination was so rich that she could think of her as Rochester's crazy wife—Bertha Mason had been imprisoned for a full ten years, during which she went from a A young girl in cardamom age becomes a young woman. Even if Bertha's father stood in front of him, he would not be able to recognize his daughter.

"Of course," Bertha said frankly, "you have given Edward a lot of benefits, and as a person who helps solve troubles, Edward will naturally give me a lot of benefits. You must know that I am going to move from the village to London, but it will take a long time." money."

This is true!

Colonel Dent accepted this statement. He smiled and raised his glass to Bertha: "To the queen."

"To the queen!"

After speaking, Bertha took a sip of the liquid in the glass, and the mellow Scotch whiskey spread in her mouth. Well, it really is the treasure of a big landowner. Even in the 21st century, Bertha has never tasted this level of wine.

The three "accomplices" drank their glasses one after another, and Bertha threw the fire bag in her hand on the curtain of Rochester's bedroom.

The curtains soaked in kerosene almost shot up into the sky, and Colonel Dent was relieved: "For the sake of safety, let's go too?"

"Let's go."

Bertha stared at the bright flame and replied quietly.

Walking out of the manor from Rochester's room is only a flight of stairs and the living room of the manor.This distance is long enough for everyone to leave safely before the fire ignites.

However, when Colonel Dent and Rochester led the porters to the courtyard, they turned their heads suddenly, only to find that "Miss Marple" who had been following behind them had disappeared silently at some point.

where did she go

When Bertha was walking towards the stairs, she turned and changed direction, and walked up to Thornfield's third-floor attic.

In order to facilitate the spread of the fire, even the attic was sprinkled with a thick layer of kerosene.The flames would spread as fast as they could, and she didn't have much time.

Not much time...

Walking into this dark and cramped room, Bertha Mason could only feel a kind of unstoppable grief attacking from the bottom of her heart, and this emotion was condensed into a short word——finally.

A full ten years.

Ten years of hatred, ten years of anger, and ten years of madness have finally come to an end.

Bertha finally got what she wanted and was willing to kill and die for, that is freedom.

Realizing this, the persistent obsession in her heart suddenly disappeared.

The original Bertha died here.

Let the whole estate be buried with him.

She laughed at herself, and then took out the second fire booklet.

The whiskey bottle in his hand fell hard to the ground, the alcohol splashed and mixed with the poured kerosene.Bertha threw the torch out, and saw with her own eyes that the blazing flame finally illuminated the attic room that was always shrouded in darkness.

At the same time, the courtyard outside the manor.

"Where did Miss Marple go?" Colonel Dent was taken aback, and asked anxiously, "Who saw her among you walking behind?"

Several porters looked at each other.

Rochester's heart sank—no matter what Bertha Mason wanted to do, it was too dangerous to delay leaving the manor after lighting the fire!

Is she insane or ill, or does she have other plans? !

"Damn."

Rochester gritted his teeth: "I'll go in and have a look."

Colonel Dent was shocked when he heard the words, and grabbed Rochester who was about to take a step: "No!"

During the conversation, there was the sound of glass being shattered by flames in Thornfield's manor loft.

"Rochester, Miss Marple is your friend, you know her well," Colonel Dent said hastily, "such a smart lady would not take any risks herself, the fire is already burning, you will be waiting for death if you go in."

"Isn't she—"

"Out! My lord, Miss Marple is out!"

The porters exclaimed one after another, causing the two gentlemen who were about to quarrel over this to turn their heads.

For a moment, they almost thought that the figure that came out was a ghost that did not belong to this world.

The fire spread extremely fast. In such a short period of time, the windows had already been broken, and heads emerged from all the exits of the manor.And just before that, Bertha Mason walked out of it unharmed.

She was still wearing the old dark red dress, which was almost blood-colored under the reflection of the flames.The slowly rising temperature made the air seem to shake. Under such a view, her high coiled hair, dark golden eyes, and that gorgeous face all seemed so unreal.

It seemed that it wasn't the original woman who came out, not Bertha, not Miss Marple.

It is the incarnation of this flame.

Such an image made Rochester and Colonel Dent not come back to their senses for a moment, until Bertha approached the crowd, the phantom disappeared, and the intact lady raised a kind smile: "Got it."

Rochester: "What?"

Bertha: "The transcript."

After she finished speaking, she shook the note in her hand, and anyone with a discerning eye could immediately tell that this was the second statement recorded by the sheriff at that time.

"I almost threw the physical evidence into the fire," Bertha said with a look of lingering fear, "It's not that I'm maliciously judging others, but I have to save something to ensure that Edward and I won't be killed, right? , Colonel Dent?"

It was for this.

Colonel Dent, who was still suspicious before, immediately dispelled his last vigilance.He cried and laughed: "Then I have to be careful in everything from now on, Miss Marple. If anything happens to you and Rochester, I'm afraid we will be the first to suspect it."

Bertha: "It's good to know."

After finishing speaking, she handed the transcript in her hand to Rochester.

In fact, she considered keeping it for herself, but when she thought about it carefully, "Miss Marple" only played the role of threading the needle in this incident, so it shouldn't attract attention.

On the contrary, Rochester, after such a toss, is afraid that he will be targeted by the Truth Society that Colonel Dent said.

Having the record in his hands means that Rochester has the handle of Colonel Dent and the others, and his personal safety can be guaranteed to some extent - Bertha hasn't received the full [-] pounds yet, and Rochester can't die.

"It's a pleasure to meet you through Edward, Colonel," Bertha said with a smile. "Next time we have a chance, let's meet in London."

"..."

Colonel Dent gave Bertha a look of resignation and amusement.

"See you in London, Miss Marple."

In this way, everything that stayed at Thornfield Manor was over.

Before leaving, Bertha took a long look at the manor.Under the premise of being deliberate, the fire burned extremely fast.It was just the time they boarded the carriage, and the huge manor was completely burned like in the original book.

The difference is that Thornfield is empty at this time.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, all the existences that bound Bertha Mason in the past have completely disappeared under such a fire.

Next, it is necessary to start preparing to leave and go to London.

***

That night, Ferdinand Manor.

Unlike Thornfield, Ferdinand Manor located in the middle of the forest is like a paradise outside the world.It's a pity that Bertha didn't have time to stay long, and she was going to be on the road tomorrow.

"All right, all right, Grace."

Bertha looked helplessly at the busy maid, and said, "There are not many things, and you have already counted them several times."

Hearing this, the maid Grace Poole stopped and said nervously, "Forgive me, ma'am, I have...haven't left Thornfield Manor for a long time."

Also.

As long as Bertha was mad, Grace watched over her.Unlike Bertha who traveled here, Grace Poole has not been in contact with society for ten years, so it is normal to be nervous.

"Take it easy," Bertha comforted, "John the porter will send us to the train tomorrow."

"...thank goodness."

Hearing this, Grace relaxed a little.Want her to buy a ticket at the train station?She thinks she can't do it!

Bertha couldn't laugh or cry: "Go and rest, you have to get up early tomorrow."

Grace: "Yes ma'am, I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Who?" asked Bertha.

"It's me, ma'am."

It was Miss Jane Eyre.

Bertha nodded to Grace, who understood, opened the door to invite Miss Jane Eyre to enter, and at the same time bowed her head and left the guest room.

"What can you do?" Bertha asked after Grace closed the door and walked away completely.

What responded to her was Miss Jane Eyre's slightly clenched fingers.

She was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind, and said, "Before you said that if you were on the way, you could leave together, madam, does your sentence still count?"

Bertha: "..."

Well, it seems that Miss Jane Eyre has made up her mind to leave.

It doesn't matter, she also left in the original book.Maybe it's good to separate and calm down for a while.

So Bertha nodded: "Of course, I never say polite words."

Jane Eyre: "Then please allow me to walk with you."

"no problem."

Bertha obliged her with interest.

"Where have you ever thought about going?"

"I am going to London, too," answered Jane, "where there are more opportunities for work, and there is always a need for governesses."

Well, Miss Jane Eyre, who is going to London, will naturally not go out of the moor, be picked up by her distant cousins, and be forced to marry him.

The track of the original book has changed so much, Bertha really wants to know, what will be the future of Miss Jane Eyre?

The author has something to say: Bertha: Abducting her ex-husband’s sweetheart and running away is really exciting.jpg

Let's go, let's go, let's go to London, Maggie, don't get paralyzed, the lover you haven't met is here!