"The Widow" Bertha

"If I don't like what you say," said Bertha with a smile, "I'll sink you in the Thames."

No wonder both Maria and Bertha were negligent.After all, the dock area is not their own territory. There are also a lot of people talking here. They communicate in the factory building, and there are still sounds of riots and fights outside the factory building from time to time, which can be described as "very lively".

And the young man suspected to be Sherlock Holmes just leaned against the door of the factory building openly, as if I would let you off.As the saying goes, the safest place is the most dangerous place. If he hides and hides, the gypsies may have been alerted long ago, but he stands in front of everyone, making everyone ignore his existence .

If Bertha hadn't mentioned the exact number of people present so much, it is estimated that when the discussion is over, the young man can leave with everyone swaggeringly.

"it is good."

The young man lying on the ground readily accepted Bertha's threat, and he struggled symbolically: "Then please let your people let me go, madam."

Thomas glanced at Bertha, and after she nodded, he let go of the shackles on the young man.

The young man who had regained his freedom stood up. He was tall and thin, with a straight back. Even though he was dressed in shabby clothes after disguise, his black hair and deep facial features made him look extraordinary.

Standing up like this made Sherlock Holmes more demeanor, and Bertha didn't feel like she was thinking too much at all—the standing posture of this young man was almost exactly the same as that of Mycroft.

"You say you have a plan," began Bertha, "and I'm all ears."

"Gypsies cannot be wooed," the young man glanced at the vigilant Maria, and said firmly, "European civilization excludes them, and similarly, Gypsies will not accept British rule. Oppression makes no difference."

"So?" Bertha raised an eyebrow.

"Gypsies can't, but there are other forces that can, and you have them around you, ma'am."

"what?"

The young man pointed to Thomas Thames behind him.

Bertha paused for a moment, and then immediately realized the meaning of the young man who seemed to be Holmes—he was referring to the Irish!

"Most Irish people came to London looking for job opportunities because of the famine in their hometown," the young man gushed. Like the Sai people, the Irish are also exceptionally united and will not accept 'leadership' from outsiders. But their living conditions are very bad, madam, and you have an Irishman by your side. Why don't you let him help? It's better than wooing Gypsies are much easier."

Thomas was stunned for a moment when he heard these clear-cut words: "How do you know I'm Irish?"

The young man snorted: "You wear a cross under your coat, sir, and you have to cover it with a scarf. Obviously you don't want people to know that you are a Catholic. I don't think Catholicism is something worth hiding unless you are Irishman, you don't want people to know who you are."

Thomas: "..."

Bertha was thoughtful: "Well, it does make sense to win over the Irish."

Although the Irish have their own circle, they are not as exclusive and closed as the Gypsies. At least it is reasonable to give them enough benefits.

Youth: "So, madam, are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied, of course satisfied."

Upon hearing this, Bertha smiled brightly again.

"Thomas, you can tie him up and throw him in the Thames."

"You—" the young man slightly widened his eyes.

"how?"

Bertha smiled and said, "I said that if you didn't satisfy me, I would sink you into the bottom of the river. But I didn't say that if your answer satisfied me, you could avoid death?"

youth:"……"

There was a momentary blankness in his sharp face.

Seeing the bewildered expression of the young man in front of her, Bertha had only one thought at this moment: Bullying Sherlock Holmes is so, so cool!

Even if Bertha succeeded by relying on the other party's fledgling and inexperience, she still felt extremely happy.Want to know who Holmes is?He's so smart, if he's shattered this time, he'll definitely do it the next time, it's a rare opportunity, okay?

"Don't forget that you eavesdropped on my private communication with Maria. If you are an undercover police officer," Bertha said, "I don't know who you are. Putting you back, wouldn't it be suicide?"

"police."

The young man was very disdainful: "If they had the ability to go undercover among the gypsies, they wouldn't be in the Whitechapel area at all."

Bertha: "Then what are you doing here? I didn't provoke you, but you came to follow me."

Youth: "I'm not following you, I'm following him."

He turned to look at Thomas Thames beside Bertha.

Thomas was taken aback: "Are you following me?"

"Connor Thames died from the drugs in Dr. Long's laboratory. You have been pursuing this matter," the young man said, "but you have stopped in the past few days. It seems that you are doing things for others. I naturally want to see to the end What's the situation."

Bertha understood: "You are investigating the death of someone in Whitechapel due to drugs."

Her questioning words, the young man's strange silence for a moment.

After a brief eye contact, the young man said seriously, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know it very well," Bertha was now more certain that he was Holmes himself, "you are pursuing the drug trial case, sir? Why don't you confess to each other after this has come to this? What I hate most in my life is when someone perfuses me. , if you tell the truth, maybe when I am in a good mood, you can walk out of here with all your needs."

The figure of the young man paused subtly. In such a short time, he seemed to have sorted out his thoughts.

"The children near Dr. Lang's laboratory belong to you," he quickly figured out the cause and effect. "I saw the old Jewish children with the Thames children."

So he has found Dr. Long's laboratory from the Whitechapel area, it is indeed Sherlock Holmes.

Bertha nodded secretly. From this point of view, the progress of their investigation is really similar, and maybe they can collect clues and cooperate.

"Jack used to be an old Jew's kid, and now he's not."

"what?"

It seems that the great detective who has just entered the industry is not so well informed.Bertha smiled indifferently, and then said, "So you are also investigating the Institute of Truth."

Youth: "What Truth Society?"

Bertha: "..."

Damn it!In turn, he was tricked by the other party.

The words spoken, the water splashed out, not to mention Holmes on the other side.When Bertha leaked a word, the young man showed a clear expression, and immediately connected the scattered clues in his hands.

Having obtained enough information, the young man twitched the corners of his mouth a little, and confidently issued a friendly invitation: "Madam, no matter what your purpose is, but since we are both investigating the same thing, I don't think you need to embarrass me so much. "

With such a gesture, it was certain that Bertha did not really want to tie him to a stone and sink him into the Thames.

All that needs to be said has been said, what else can Bertha do?

As expected of a detective, her mind is really bright, Bertha hasn't played enough yet.

She sighed regretfully: "That's natural, I didn't want to embarrass you, it's just..."

"but?"

"I just wanted to see how clever you really are, Mr. Sherlock Holmes."

Bertha's light words fell to the ground, which surprised the other party.

As a time traveler and a fan of suspense and reasoning, seeing the big detective's blank expression twice in a row, Bertha really felt that this time travel was worth it—even if the detective in front of her was still a fledgling newcomer.

Sherlock Holmes claimed that he had no flaws. Even if he was caught, it would be impossible for someone to expose his identity directly!

He looked at the woman in front of him suspiciously for a long time, trying to see any clues, but the woman of the foreign race standing opposite not only did not flinch, but let him look at her with a smile, as if she had seen through everything.

The great detective is quite confident in his ability to conceal his identity. He cannot make mistakes unless Mrs. Thames knows his identity early.

"You know me," said Holmes, "because I was investigating in Whitechapel? Or because I was wandering around Dr. Long's laboratory?"

Bertha smiled brightly, but did not answer his question.

"Since you and I both have the intention to cooperate, let's cooperate." She raised the corners of her lips. "If you have any clues, or if you have caused any trouble in the Whitechapel District, just go to Thomas Thames."

Holmes: "..."

The young man still looked like he couldn't figure out the reason, but Bertha didn't give him time. She deliberately said harshly: "Go away soon? Don't drag me until I get impatient, and really throw you into the Thames River?"

***

When she returned to the White Horse Hotel, Bertha still felt incredible.

She just went to meet the gypsies, and she accidentally bumped into the most famous detective in London.

However, thinking about today's situation carefully, although Bertha accidentally leaked the news, but from the reaction of Sherlock Holmes, it is known that he has not yet found out the existence of the Truth Society.

That is to say, the elder Holmes checked from top to bottom, while the younger Holmes checked from bottom to top.

Bertha thought about it for a while, and finally made a decision, found a postman near the hotel, and sent a letter to Mycroft.

[Your brother is investigating the case of the Truth Society, do you know about this? ] — so she wrote.

Originally, Bertha thought that Mycroft didn't know, but when she received a quick reply from the other party as usual, she realized that she was wrong.

Nor did Mr. Mycroft Holmes conceal the situation from Bertha.

[To dear Bertha:

I did know about this matter. In fact, I revealed the clues of Dr. Lang to Sherlock. He is too idle in London, so I can find something for him to do.

Has your brother intruded into your life?If not, please ask Madam to take care of it. ]

Taking care of Sherlock Holmes is okay, even if she has that idea, she must have that ability.

It's not that Bertha underestimates herself, but she feels from the bottom of her heart that the future detective doesn't need a nanny.It is true that his character and behavior do not meet the standards of a gentleman in the nineteenth century, but is there anyone in this world who is more sober and rational than Sherlock Holmes?

Mycroft certainly knew Sherlock Holmes better than Bertha did.What he said was euphemistic, in fact, he should let Bertha not mind his brother's eclectic behavior.

Of course Bertha didn't mind, she wasn't a conformist herself.

and……

[The case of the Institute of Truth, if there is some overlap, and I can get help from others, I will naturally be happy before it is too late.In terms of the case, it may not be that I take care of your brother, maybe he is helping me.

Then again, according to the relationship between you and me, isn't it a matter of course for me to take care of your brother for you? ]

Bertha admitted that her last flirting was intentional. After getting along twice, she probably understood what kind of behavior Mycroft had.

After one letter, it didn't take long for the postman to deliver a second reply from Mycroft.

[To dear Bertha:

You are so sweet, madam.A "should" is really good to use, and in the same way, helping you solve troubles is also what I "should".Scotland Yard has been notified about the gypsy. If you are still not at ease, you can contact the director yourself in the name of Miss Marple, and he will send someone to explain the situation. ]

Seeing the end, Bertha couldn't help laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Jane couldn't help asking.

"It's nothing." Bertha shook her head, "I just discovered that smart people are especially good at settling accounts."

This Mr. Mycroft really doesn't like being involved with other people.

Coincidentally, Bertha, though not quite as bright, was just as much.

"Don't say that."

Meeting Jane's curious eyes, Bertha smiled and changed the subject: "Grace has already prepared the supplies for the house on South Bank Street, and we can move there right away."

After so long from Thornfield Park to London, Bertha finally slept in her own bed.