"The Widow" Bertha

Early morning a few days later.

Colonel Dent hurried back to London in the early hours of last night. After arriving home, he just changed his clothes, and then hurried out and knocked on the gate of Mycroft Holmes' mansion on Pall Mall Street. Already out.

Before meeting Mycroft Holmes, Colonel Dent was planning a speech, but when he followed the butler into the side hall, he didn't know how to start, so he could only greet politely: "Good morning, Mr. Holmes."

"Good morning," returned Mycroft, "please do yourself a favor and forgive me for my lack of hospitality, after all I never expected you to call, Colonel."

The elder Holmes sat at the dining table with today's newspaper aside, his tone was easy-going and polite, but Colonel Dent still felt that the second half of his sentence was slightly mocking, whether it was due to psychological reasons.

"sorry sir."

Colonel Dent bit the bullet and said, "I just don't quite understand why I came back from Liverpool suddenly."

Holmes: "Is a hotel in Liverpool more comfortable than a bed at home?"

Colonel Dent: "That's not what I mean, sir. But right now the Truth Society—"

"—Please return to London, because there are new clues."

Colonel Dent gave a sudden pause.

Seemingly surprised, surprised, he immediately gave up the idea of ​​persuading Holmes, and asked instead: "Is there any new clue from the Truth Society?"

Holmes smiled.

The colonel wanted to ask again, but before he could speak, the door of the side hall opened for the second time.He turned his head following the sound, but before he saw anyone, he heard a lazy and hoarse female voice: "I'm so hungry, Mike! You get up early and don't wake me up."

female voice?

woman? !

Before Colonel Dent had time to be surprised by the fact that "a woman appeared in Holmes' house", the slim figure appearing in the side hall pushed his shock to the peak.

The girl who walked in was tall and thin, and her dark skirt fluttered up and down with her steps. Just by looking at her figure, she could tell that she was quite a neat woman.And she has a face that is worthy of the outline - deep features, gorgeous face, under the long black and thick hair, there is a pair of dark golden eyes that Colonel Dent will never forget.

This was Miss Marple who had been at Thornfield Manor!

How did she, how did she appear on Pall Mall Street?

What surprised Colonel Dent even more than Miss Marple's hostess appearance was that Mr. Mycroft Holmes, who has always been ignorant of the details, saw her and smiled almost dotingly: "Look at you sleeping It’s so well done, I don’t want to disturb your dream, Bertha. By the way, this is Colonel Dent, I remember you have met before.”

"Ok?"

Bertha seemed to realize that there were guests coming to the side hall. She paused and looked at Colonel Dent.

"Ah, yes," Bertha smiled. "Long time no see, Colonel."

"..."

Seeing such a scene, no matter how surprised he was, Colonel Dent recalled it.

"Long time no see, Miss Marple," he said with a calm expression, hoping that his tone would not change due to surprise, "so you and Mr. Holmes..."

"Oh, there's nothing to hide now."

Bertha tilted her head indifferently, and even in front of Mr. Holmes, she did not change her presumptuous posture: "During Thornfield Manor, because my relationship with Mike had not been made public, I had no choice but to conceal it. Sorry, Colonel."

Colonel Dent was silent.Thinking about it now, Mr. Ashton pointed out their lover relationship with one sentence, and Miss Marple did not deny it.

"That being the case," Colonel Dent showed some lingering fear, "Fortunately, I chose to confess at the time. You were the one who investigated on behalf of Mr. Holmes."

"That's right."

Bertha smiled and admitted, "Otherwise we would be fighting each other."

The tall and beautiful female detective didn't seem to take Colonel Dent's sentiments seriously, and she completely regarded him as one of her own.After the greetings were over, Miss Marple walked slowly to Mycroft Holmes: "If there is nothing else, I will go first. When I come back, please continue to read Shakespeare's historical plays for me. Yesterday's I haven't finished reading Julius Caesar."

Mr. Holmes couldn't laugh or cry when he heard the words: "Don't interrupt my reading aloud, if you insist on arguing with me about right and wrong, let me read anything."

"That can't be done," Bertha was very proud, "Thinking is also a part of reading. You and I are full of emotions after reading the script. How can you make me hold back?"

After she finished speaking, she bent down, embraced the man's broad shoulders, and dropped a kiss on his cheek.

This look of loving love like no one else, is probably nothing more than a newlywed couple.

Assuming that Colonel Dent had sporadic doubts before, a few words and a kiss would be enough to dispel all his doubts.

"I'm going to work on the case right now," Bertha got up, "You two gentlemen, let's continue the discussion. They've all found their homes. Is there something important?"

"No big deal."

Mycroft said flatly: "The colonel is just here to say hello."

This is what it means to drive people away.

Although Mr. Holmes did not show anything, Colonel Dent still clearly felt his dissatisfaction.Fortunately, Miss Marple was present, the colonel thought in his heart, so he nodded following his master's words: "It's really all right, miss, maybe I can take you to the carriage?"

Bertha did not refuse: "Please, Colonel."

They left the house in Pall Mall together, and the Colonel himself opened the door for Bertha.As soon as he stepped into the street, Colonel Dent felt that the subtle pressure around him suddenly disappeared.

"Miss," he turned to look at the attractive lady beside him, "do you have a case?"

"Yes."

"Is it related to...the Truth Society?"

His question fell to the ground, in exchange for Miss Marple's cool glance, which was full of vigilance.

But Colonel Dent just smiled, and then said frankly: "To be honest, I was tracking Miss Ingram's movements in Liverpool. Halfway through the investigation, I was called back by Mr. Holmes, saying that I had found new clues. Originally, I I'm still wondering, but I didn't expect to see you, could it be your credit."

Bertha curled her lips.

Do you want to talk to her?

It has to be said that Mycroft's extra "lover" is simply an excellent shield to paralyze the opponent.When Bertha stood here, she looked like a beautiful and mysterious female agent. Everything she did seemed meaningful, and the eyes of the outside world would naturally fall on her.

Just like now, as soon as Miss Marple appeared, Colonel Dent immediately recognized her as the great contributor to the discovery of the clues.But in reality, Mycroft had a great deal to do with it, and Bertha was just running errands and shouting.

"This is..."

Of course, Bertha would not reveal the truth casually: "I am currently investigating an economic case at the printing factory, and I don't know if it is related to the Truth Society."

"Economic case."

Sure enough, Colonel Dent immediately lost interest when he heard what Bertha said: "I won't bother you to find out the truth, miss, I wish you success in your investigation."

"Thank you, Colonel."

Without getting the news he wanted, the colonel still opened the door of the carriage for Bertha himself, his posture was extremely low, and he didn't have the momentum to clink glasses with her at Thornfield Manor at all.

After getting into the carriage, Bertha did not leave immediately.

She knocked on the window behind her, and the driver immediately opened the window: "What's the matter, ma'am?"

Bertha: "Help me stop the newspaper boy and bring a newspaper."

Coachman: "Yes, ma'am."

Five minutes later, like a nimble little monkey, Charlie Bates got into Bertha's carriage.

Although Charlie Bates has long been one of the children who help Bertha with Jack "Can't Catch" Jack, this is the first time she has had a face-to-face and private exchange with Charlie.

Unlike Jack, who is full of swearing and slippery, Charlie looks much more upright, and the expectation on his expression also shows his straightforward character.

It seems that it is right to let him pretend to be a newspaper boy, and Jack will definitely reveal his identity.

"Ma'am, what do you want from me?" Charlie asked expectantly.

"Just to ask you," Bertha slowed down her voice, "Is there any extra manpower to keep an eye on that Colonel Dent?"

"Excess manpower..."

"Difficulties?"

"Not at all."

Charlie scratched his hair, and said rather distressedly: "It's fine for me to pretend to be a newsboy. If there are more fake newsboys, the real newsboys will be upset."

Also, they have to sell newspapers pretending to be newsboys, which is basically equivalent to grabbing the business of local newsboys.

There are rules in the industry. Although newsboys and street thieves are composed of children, their "organizations" are different, and the natural well water does not violate the river water on weekdays.But if every street thief took the money to change jobs as a newspaper boy, his interests would be violated, and trouble would inevitably arise.

"However," Charlie changed the subject, "children can't do it, but can the coachman do it?"

"That's a good idea, ma'am."

This was the first time that Mycroft Holmes's coachman was an invisible man.Both Bertha and Charlie were a little surprised by the sudden interruption.

"No one pays attention to the children, let alone the coachman," he said through the window, "make good friends with the coachmen near the colonel, and let them help to watch. You don't need to prepare anything, please, little Charlie." Send some hot water and cheap cigarettes, and everyone will remember you."

This... seems to be possible.

Bertha thought it over, and thought it might be worth a try.So a decision was made, and a few pennies were taken out of the purse: "Just do it, don't say who sent it, just ask them to help."

"no problem!"

Charlie promised earnestly, and then said: "Then... madam, do you have anything else to do?"

Bertha turned her head, she did not miss the worry in Charlie Bates' eyes.

"Nothing," answered Bertha. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, all right!"

Charlie let out a long breath and felt relieved: "I, I just think it's good to be a newspaper boy, but don't let me follow Thomas into the villain's laboratory like I can't be caught."

Bertha raised her eyebrows. She didn't expect Charlie to be a thief for so many years, but still longing for the life of ordinary people.

It's nothing, since that's the case, he can still complete his mission as a newspaper boy, so Bertha didn't say more about it: "You don't like adventures, and I won't let you take risks. Be your little boss, and you will be around here." Sell ​​newspapers well."

Hearing this, Charlie Bates imitated the appearance of British soldiers, and gave Bertha a rather lame military salute: "Yes, ma'am!"

As for the "can't catch" Jack in his mouth——

……

At the same time, outside Dr. Lang's laboratory.

Jack was as excited as Charlie Bates was worried.He moved his left leg, lifted his right foot, looked at Sherlock Holmes leaning in the corner with great excitement, and asked for countless times: "Sir, when shall we go in?"

Holmes was cold, but not impatient.

He just stared in the direction of the laboratory in the distance, calmly: "If you make any noise, I won't take you next time."

Jack shut up immediately.

You know, this is a good opportunity to "make contributions"!If it is done well, according to Mrs. Thames's style, he will definitely be rewarded with several shillings, and who can live with money.

He even made a gesture of zipping his mouth, lest Holmes would be upset and kick him out of the infiltration group.

Seeing Jack shut up, Holmes explained, "Wait for Thomas Thames to send out the signal."

Jack nodded desperately, understanding.

Two men, one big and one small, waited for a few minutes on the corner of the street, and then a metal button was thrown from the laboratory window and fell to the ground with a "snap".

The movement was neither big nor small, just enough to be heard, but it didn't attract attention.

Holmes got up immediately: "Let's go."

Jack cheered up and followed.

Dressed in disguise, the detective lowered the brim of his hat, went to the street, picked up the button, turned over, and jumped into the open window of the laboratory.

The author has something to say:

#We all know, when the whole world thinks they are a couple, are they still important? #

Thomas: The hero and heroine are in charge of showing affection, and Lao Fu and I are in charge of running errands, isn't it appropriate.

Ginger Flower: Not suitable.

Thomas: The male and female protagonists are responsible for enjoying life. Lao Fu and I went through the window to investigate on the spot, isn't it appropriate.

Ginger Flower: Not suitable.

Thomas: It's not suitable. Why do you still have to arrange it like this?

Lao Fu:?I think it's quite appropriate.

Thomas: ...

Jiang Hua: Look, the vote was two to one!Honestly go through the window.

Thomas: Holmes, you traitor! !