"The Widow" Bertha

Symbols belonging to the Truth Society also appeared on Pall Mall Street?Bertha could hardly believe her ears.

You know it's Pall Mall!And it's Mycroft Holmes' apartment, what does that mean?It means that Pall Mall Street is so close to Whitehall, and the law and order is extremely strict. Not to mention, there must be people placed by Mycroft nearby.

Even so, the Truth Society broke through the layers of stalking and silently painted the threat on Mycroft's home.

This makes people doubt... who is the person who draws the symbols by hand.

However, Bertha was so courageous enough to come to her door to provoke her that she admired the Truth Society.You must know that their enemy is Sherlock Holmes!Although Bertha also felt that this matter was a bit tricky, she still lit a candle in her heart for the Society of Truth—if you offended the Great Devil, you still want to die with dignity?

Sure enough, Bertha didn't hide what was in her heart, and Mycroft easily saw it.He even sighed cooperatively: "I chose the wallpaper for the study room myself. This is great. For a symbol, I have to replace them all."

OK, the Truth Institute is over.

"Do you have a clue?" she asked.

"It can be made clear at the moment."

Mycroft said slowly, "The patterns that appear to you and me are made of different paints. Of course, lapis lazuli is also expensive."

Bertha: "..."

Even in such a weird scene, with such a big threat in front of the two, Mycroft still made Bertha laugh with such a serious word.

Lapis lazuli seems to be the color raw material used in oil paints to make ultramarine blue or crow blue. Forgive Bertha for not having a deep understanding of art. She only knows that what Mycroft said is right. Lapis lazuli is expensive, and it is indeed quite valuable. pigment raw materials.

To sum it up in one sentence, Truth Society does have money.

"It's such a luxury," exclaimed Bertha, "that I should be jealous."

"Where is it, ma'am?" Mycroft couldn't help laughing, "Even you are jealous. Wouldn't it be more bitter for a person like me who eats a dead wage?"

Bertha raised her eyebrows, but didn't answer.

Her words came from the bottom of her heart—in the six months since she came to London, Bertha had invested a lot of money in her modest "career".From buying a house and land to setting up a bar, and finally waiting for the Thames Office to open in the Whitechapel neighborhood, the money can finally be recovered now.

"I will send someone to keep an eye on the Bartz couple," Bertha returned to the topic, "Even if there is nothing suspicious about them at present, the suspicion cannot be ruled out."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about the Buttzes, ma'am."

Mycroft said seemingly indifferently: "At this point, there is no need for the gang to take action."

"Okay."

Bertha nodded: "Since you care about me so much."

Ready-made cheap don't take advantage of bastards.

Even when discussing business matters, Mycroft was still very willing to cooperate with Bertha to perform a show of caring for a lover, and he pursed the corners of his lips very much: "Of course, this is what I should do."

Bertha: "In that case, have you found that the truth will treat you differently from me?"

Mycroft: "Naturally."

As he spoke, he raised his cane, and the tip of the stick pointed to the symbol of the Truth Society on the wall: "If your house wasn't occupied all day, I'm afraid this symbol would be painted in your bedroom."

That's what Bertha means.

For Miss Jane Eyre lived at 23 South Shore Street even if Bertha was not at home.Minnie and Grace Poole, the maids, were at the house while Miss Jane Eyre was away at work.

It is said that Grace Poole quite liked to take some boys who were under the influence of "can't catch" to the kitchen. Bertha didn't say much about it. A good relationship pays off.

Now that No. 23 Nan'an Street is very lively, it is not so easy for the Truth Society to get in, so we can only choose an empty bar as the next best thing.

And Bertha remembered that Holmes had no other permanent servants in his apartment in Pall Mall Street, except a butler.Even the cook who has worked in the kitchen for many years is an hourly worker.This housekeeper has to shoulder the responsibility of managing and taking care of the entire apartment, so naturally it is impossible to be there 24 hours a day.

Perhaps because of this, Mycroft's residence was more vulnerable than South Bank Street.

"The Society of Truth overestimates me enough," Bertha couldn't laugh or cry, "Aren't they afraid that I will never find out?"

If Mrs. Butts hadn't checked carefully and happened to know the meaning of this symbol, otherwise no one would have noticed after the bar opened - Bertha and Thames boys would not have nothing to check the room themselves, as for the tenants, maybe I think this symbol is an inn decoration painting.

"So," sighed Mycroft, "I am the only one who needs to move."

Bertha felt that moving or not was not really important.

Since it was a warning threat, moving house probably wouldn't be useful.But...it's better to plan carefully.

"I can move my family and my family to the office," said Bertha. "Although the Whitechapel area is mixed, it is absolutely safe on my site."

"It's a really good idea, but I have a favor."

"what?"

"Since the symbol of the Society of Truth appeared on Pall Mall Street, I boldly assume that there are still undercover agents of the Society of Truth at my hand," Mycroft politely asked, "If they want to target you and me, ma'am , it is best for us to control when the opponent has a shot."

In the end, I just want to implement Bertha's phishing law enforcement to the end.

Bertha understood what Mycroft meant: if the two of them were separated, the Truth Society would not necessarily attack anyone first; but if the two of them were together, the Truth Society would definitely choose an appropriate time to catch them all.

That's what they thought, wasn't Mycroft?

It is much easier to protect two people together than to protect two people separately.

"That's fine," Bertha didn't mind, "but this time, where do you want to live?"

Mycroft first expressed his gratitude for Bertha's care, and then explained: "We have quite a few properties in London, which are specially provided for our own people to hide when they are performing missions."

Bertha: "Safe house?"

Unexpectedly, a noun she spit out without thinking, in exchange for Mycroft's interested expression.

The gentleman tilted his head as if in surprise, and then said with a smile: "This description is very appropriate, why not call it this way from now on."

Bertha: "..."

Wait a minute, are you so sloppy!Bertha didn't know if there was such a description as a "safe house" in the [-]th century. After all, spy warfare really came into play during the Cold War.She said so casually, and even created a proper noun for the spy chief!

Traveling through such a long time, this is the first time Bertha has a subtle feeling of "controlling history" - still in this situation and in this field.

She curled the corners of her mouth, but said nothing, just bent her eyes, and then a sly look appeared in those witch-like dark golden eyes.Bertha leaned back in her chair and lazily said, "Actually, there is another way, Mike."

"All ears, madam."

"It's fine if you move to the office together with me," Bertha said seriously, "There are so many people over there, the Truth Society naturally doesn't dare to make a move."

"..."

The man standing near Bertha stiffened visibly for a moment.

Bertha almost laughed in her heart - of course he wouldn't want to, if he wanted, Bertha wouldn't have offered it.

The point is, will the dignified Mycroft Holmes move to Whitechapel?Not to mention that Thomas Thames and his younger brothers and sisters are still living in the office. In the future, Bertha will drag her family and bring her friend and servant from No. 23 South Bank Street there, but the excitement will not stop.

Bertha was used to the coldness, but she also liked the excitement, but Mycroft would be crazy.

The Great Demon King, who has always been secretive, finally did not hold back his beautiful etiquette: "...I will give you the address of the safe house when the arrangements are made."

Bertha finally couldn't help herself, and let out a wanton laugh.

What else could Mycroft say?

He naturally knew that Bertha did it on purpose, but he just smiled helplessly: "It's a joke, ma'am."

"I have my measure."

Saying this, Bertha finally stood up from her chair.

The tall girl stood up, and the dark skirt rippled around her feet with her movements. The fabric drew a beautiful arc like a flying butterfly, kissing the trousers of the gentleman in front of her.

But after a while, it returned to its original position in a regular manner.

"Be careful, my dear," Bertha raised her hand and lightly brushed the shoulder line of the black suit for Mycroft, exhorting as if a real lover were parting, "Although you and I are not good at each other, the Truth Society It’s really hard to deal with.”

The tall and straight man was a little interested in her evaluation.

"Isn't it good stubble?"

He smiled and said, "Thank you for your compliment."

After finishing speaking, Mycroft leaned slightly, the distance between the two was less than half a foot, and a single movement wiped away most of the distance.The man clasped Bertha's shoulder with his broad palm, then bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

It was still where it was last time, and it was still between the forehead and temples. The familiar breath was fleeting, and before Bertha recovered from his sudden movement, the kiss was fleeting.

"Please be careful, ma'am," Mycroft whispered in her ear, "Maybe in the future, I may really need your assistance with resources."

Then the gentleman shook his cane, turned and left.

When the smell of aftershave disappeared around Bertha, she came back to reality from the surprise.

The sideburns are still faintly hot.

Is it her delusion?

Bertha raised her hand and gently stroked the place where the man kissed just now, and then smiled.

I always feel that Mycroft's lips are not so cold anymore.

***

Back in South Shore Street, Bertha announced the move to everyone.

With the experience of last time, even if the whole family was dispatched this time, it didn't seem so messy.Not even Miss Jane Eyre disputed this.

"I miss the children under Thomas' supervision," Jane said sincerely. "Anna and Jacob were bright and studious students."

"That would be the best," Bertha said with a smile, "but if the children make you work overtime at night because of the noise, you're welcome. The office is not big, and there isn't such a spacious study."

"it does not matter."

Miss Jane Eyre was born in a girls' school, and what she is best at is dealing with children.It was just that Bertha mentioned her work, Jane lowered her head, and then took the initiative to speak: "Bertha, Mrs. Fisher plans to give a lecture at the prescription near the school next weekend. This time, she will not target female workers. Mrs. Fisher intends to use health science popularization as a The topic is expanded, would you like to take a look at the situation?"

Ok?

That's a good idea.

Bertha naturally had no reason not to go, she nodded: "Okay, I will make time on weekends, I may not be able to personally participate in it, but it is still okay to listen and help maintain order."

She has no other skills, and she has a lot of younger brothers at the moment, the last thing she is afraid of is someone making a fuss.

Jian Wenyan smiled and said, "Thank you."

Bertha: "Why are you being polite to me?"

The one who really thanked me should be Rochester.

Didn't he want to know what Miss Jane Eyre is doing now? The weekend lecture is the best opportunity.