"The Widow" Bertha

If it hadn't been Mycroft Holmes standing in front of Bertha, she would have decided that this man was looking for an excuse to have a one-night stand with her.

But the one who said this was Sherlock Holmes.

So Bertha was not shocked or surprised, she was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Sir, I boldly assume that you have not used any metaphors in this sentence."

"No."

"Then what reason do you have?"

Mycroft seemed very satisfied with Bertha's composure, he smiled, and sat down on the sofa opposite Bertha again.

The office is still the same office, and the teapot and snacks are still placed in front of the two of them.But even though the sun was shining and the tea was fragrant, when they picked up the tea again, there was no relaxed atmosphere between Bertha and Mycroft at all.

The elder Holmes picked up his teacup: "I think, ma'am, you asked me for information about the Truth Society a few times before, but I was vague, which must have aroused your dissatisfaction."

"Your brother may be more dissatisfied," returned Bertha calmly. "Now are you going to give me an explanation, Mike?"

"It's a long story, starting with you leaving Thornfield Manor."

"Then make a long story short."

"Okay," Mycroft nodded, "When we first met, you asked me if Colonel Dent belonged to me, and I didn't give you a positive answer. Now I will give you the answer, ma'am, he is mine, not mine. people."

"..."

Bertha was not in a hurry to ask questions, and after a moment of thinking, she understood what Mycroft was referring to.

"You mean," Bertha raised her eyebrows, "Colonel Dent is a spy of the Society for Truth kept by your side."

"So, does everything make sense?"

When they met for the first time, Mycroft only expressed his disapproval of Colonel Dent's murder and framing, and Bertha also felt a little strange: If Colonel Dent's head was someone else, he would be killed if he killed him, but if it was Mycroft Well, obviously it is more valuable to catch big fish with a long line, how could he do this kind of business of breaking the fishing rod.

But if Colonel Dent is a spy of the Truth Society, Mycroft’s reasons for allowing Colonel Dent to act without permission are much more justified: First, judging from the fact that Miss Ingram is an undercover agent, the Truth Society should be very good at infiltration ;Secondly, if one's own people kill their own people, there is only one motive left, and that is to destroy the corpses and traces, and cut off the clues.

This trick is indeed effective. At present, it seems that if Bertha came to London and stirred up a pot of muddy water in a daze to lead Dr. Lange's laboratory, Mycroft's clues would indeed be broken at Miss Ingram's death.

but……

"Wait," Bertha frowned slightly when she thought to this point, "Colonel Dent killed people directly, isn't he afraid of your suspicion?"

Mycroft laughed and said, "If you've seen Colonel Dent's resume, you won't have any doubts, ma'am."

Bertha: "How?"

Mycroft: "Ma'am, you are ambitious and want to have your own territory in the Whitechapel area. In a way, what we do is no different from gangs. If you want to get along, you have to have a skill ——Some people live by brains, some live by technology, and some live by working for others.”

"I think Colonel Dent is the last kind."

"That's right, he is the extreme in the life of others. Ever since Colonel Dent served in the army, in order to climb up, he has been making a knife in the hands of others. It's just that this knife is temporarily hanging in my scabbard. .Miss Ingram was but one of many dead by this knife."

At this point Bertha understood exactly what Mycroft meant.

In short, the reason why he has survived until now is to do dirty work for others.The more such a "knife", the more someone will protect it, because he knows too much.

So strictly speaking, if Mycroft didn't know that he was a spy of the Truth Society, Colonel Dent's murder of Miss Ingram was nothing worth mentioning.

As for why Holmes knew... Bertha didn't ask much, it was obviously not something she could ask.At least not yet.

"I understand."

Finally she said, "It's just, what does this have to do with me?"

Finally back to the crux of the matter, Mycroft explained: "After the Thornfield Manor case ended, you came to London, and Colonel Dent was appointed by me to the north. Now he is coming back, ma'am, since you and I Another lead has been found, so it's no use keeping Colonel Dent."

"You want to get rid of Colonel Dent, and those behind him."

"Yes."

Mycroft admitted Bertha's temptation: "I also have to thank Colonel Dent. Without him, how would I know you, madam. But everything has advantages and disadvantages. You once told him that you knew me at Thornfield Manor, but Now that the entire London social circle knows that you and I are lovers, it's better to use this identity to numb him. When he returns to London, you'd better live in my bedroom, so as not to expose your other identity, The second is to let him understand that I have a new investigation assistant now, he is no longer the only one, and he may not be able to do anything about it. Once the matter of Colonel Dent is resolved, you will be absolutely safe in London."

Bertha curled her lips and caught Mycroft's words.She leaned gently on the sofa and teased, "Living in your bedroom? I don't mind."

She made flirtatious remarks, but Mycroft seemed unmoved: "It's just a metaphor, ma'am."

Therefore, he wanted her to move to his house in order to fool Colonel Dent and further substantiate the pretense of "Holmes has a lover".

I have to say... To some extent, Mycroft Holmes is indeed a very "lazy" person.

She doesn't believe in Holmes, so she can't think of other ways to deceive her subordinates, but why should he do this?Since he has a lover right now, let this lover move in. What's the difference between a ready-made bait and a pretense, real or fake?

Wouldn't it be a waste of energy to think about other solutions for something that can achieve the goal by saying it directly.

What's more, since Bertha wanted to accompany him to appear in the social circle and help him cover up in front of his mother, she was actually a bad lover—Mycroft definitely didn't just want her to act for him. Colonel Dent saw it as simple as that.

But Bertha had no reason to refuse. In any case, Mycroft Holmes' actions were also considering Bertha Thames' identity.

"Mere metaphors? I'm so disappointed, Mike."

Bertha leaned on the armrest of the sofa, raised her brows, and her dark golden eyes showed a bit of charming sadness: "You invited me to your apartment, but only let me sleep in the guest room? I even doubt my own charm Not enough."

"Where is it, please don't underestimate yourself, madam."

Mycroft complimented me: "You are outstanding in appearance and ability. I have already taken advantage of you as a 'lover'. How dare I presumptuously be rude? Besides..."

The man's words paused, then he raised his hand lightly, and patted the folded white handkerchief in his chest pocket.

"My lady's good night kiss, I've always kept it."

"..."

He was referring to Bertha's parting kiss at gunpoint on the night of the party.

The old matter was brought up again, but in exchange for Bertha's unrelenting expression, she showed no sign of being pleased at all, but instead said dissatisfiedly: "If you keep it, it's over?"

"What does the lady want?"

"Do you have to..."

As Bertha spoke, she tapped her lips with her finger: "I have to give one back?"

Mycroft nodded frankly when he heard the words: "Of course, it's just a good night kiss, Ma'am, you can have as much as you want."

Tsk, but any man with a normal physiology can understand that what Bertha wants is definitely not a good night kiss from him.

Bertha didn't believe that Mycroft didn't understand, he just used this gesture to fend off her flirting.This made Bertha feel bored, and she immediately withdrew her flirting gesture: "Okay, it's not too late when I move to Pall Mall Street. When Colonel Dent returns, do you need me to help you with anything? "

"I will negotiate with you in advance when the time comes, madam."

Mycroft twitched his lips: "So, ma'am, do you agree with my suggestion?"

Bertha: "Why not?"

"Well," replied Mycroft, "you're still free during the day, ma'am, even if you live temporarily in my flat. Miss Marple is a private eye, and walking in Whitechapel is not a It is something worthy of vigilance and vigilance, please rest assured. Just stay between night and morning, please be sure to stay with me."

"When do I move there?"

"As soon as possible, arrange it one day earlier, and the loophole will be smaller. If you are ready, just ask the postman to deliver the letter to the Diogenes Club as usual."

"I see."

After the negotiation was over, Bertha got up.

She smoothed the folds of the dress slowly, and before she left, she did not forget to flirt: "Don't forget, you still owe me a lot of kisses, my dear."

"of course."

Mycroft, who was sitting on the sofa, squinted his eyes imperceptibly, and then said with a smile: "This is my honor."

***

In terms of preparation, there is actually nothing to prepare.

It is nothing more than carrying enough daily necessities and a change of clothes.Bertha thought about it, and decided to bring Grace there too—although there must be servants in Pall Mall Street, they may not know Bertha's living habits.

As for Minnie and the coachman, they were left to Miss Jane Eyre for the time being.

When we returned to South Bank Street, it was already dark, and even Jane's evening school was over.After dinner, Bertha relayed the matter to Jane succinctly, and then said: "I have to move to Mycroft's mansion for a period of time, but you can rest assured that I will come back except not sleeping at home. If something happens, just ask Thomas or the coachman to find me."

"I see," Jane nodded, "Please...please be careful, Bertha."

Bertha looked at Jane's hesitant expression, paused for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Is there anything you can't say to me, about work?"

Jane shook her head.

Bertha: "It's not about work. Could it be that Rochester wrote to you?"

Hearing this, Jane froze. She was silent for a moment and then forced to speak: "Mr. Rochester does write to me regularly...but I'm not worried about it."

Bertha: "Then what are you worried about?"

"I was worried about you, Bertha."

"..."

Worried about her?She has nothing to worry about.Although Bertha did not deceive Miss Jane Eyre in major matters, what was going on in the Whitechapel district, and what cooperation she had with Holmes, Bertha never told Jane Eyre about these trivial matters.

"You said that you and Mr. Holmes are not really lovers," Jane said worriedly, "but he asked you to move to his apartment. Wouldn't this ruin your reputation?"

"........."

Bertha hadn't heard the phrase "ruin your reputation" said for probably ten years.This caused her to hear Jane's words, and even took a moment to realize what she meant.

She immediately laughed out loud: "If you are confused, why don't we have a chat."

The author has something to say: Brother Mai: Let’s discuss this matter...

Bertha: No need to discuss it, that's fine.

Mike:?

Bertha: Food, housing and a man are all included, only fools refuse!