"The Widow" Bertha

Ever been to India?

Bertha really couldn't figure out what Mycroft was trying to trick, so she simply picked up the documents organized on the table, and after reading them, she found that the situation of Pastor White was far beyond her imagination.

Mycroft waited patiently for her to read, and when Bertha looked away, he said, "What do you think?"

Bertha: "Unfortunately."

Mycroft also sighed: "Indeed."

what a pityIt's a pity that Pastor White became famous at a young age, but ended up in such a half-dead end.

The nineteenth century was an era of great scientific discoveries, not only in physical chemistry, but also in biology and medicine.

Bertha is not a scientific researcher, but Pastor White's resume shows that he has published many papers and is quite influential.Think about all the hardships of graduate students in the 21st century for graduation, this resume is enough for Bertha to be speechless-a real boss!

It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a young genius.

The former Pastor White finished his university studies several years earlier than ordinary people, and has been conducting field trips around the world since then—he told Bertha that he followed his mentor to South America, but now it seems that it is clearly Pastor White’s The mentor took advantage of him.

In contrast, Dr. Lear's resume is much more ordinary. It was not a big deal before he met Pastor White. However, after the two went to the same university and became friends, Dr. Lear has never left Pastor White for field trips around the world. pace of.

They did go to India before going to South America.

only……

"What has it to do with the spread fingers under the window?" Bertha mused.

"The Reverend White once published a treatise on the indigenous peoples of India."

"I saw."

It's clearly written on the resume.

"Although I don't involve biology, it's really interesting to look at such a paper that is close to geographical discovery," Mycroft said, "Pastor White discovered a kind of indigenous people in India. They are more like primates than humans, with separate fingers. Almost all of these indigenous people live on the Andaman Islands in India."

"..."

"lady?"

Mycroft keenly sensed that Bertha looked ill: "Could you remember something related?"

Bertha returned to her senses: "Nothing."

Living in the Andaman Islands in India, with a short stature and toes apart, isn't that what the Sherlock Holmes collection "The Sign of Four" is about!

If I didn't have this paper, I might not be able to think so much.Now Mycroft directly stated the content of Pastor White's thesis...

"Let me guess," Bertha twitched her lips. "The academic journal where Pastor White published his thesis is "Medical and Scientific Research"?"

"That's right."

well.

At this point in the investigation, Bertha finally had a clear relationship chain in her heart.

From the Journal of Medical and Scientific Research, to the Truth Society, to Reverend White and Dr. Lear, it's all interconnected.

Since it was Pastor White who discovered the aborigines living on the island when he led a team to investigate in India, then they are just like the situation in "The Sign of Four", and it is normal for them to bring an aborigine to the UK, isn't it?After all, the characteristics of short stature and strong toes are very convenient for doing things like climbing windows.

"It's a good thing they didn't attack you and me with homemade remedies," Bertha said. "If the native Indians are as good at making poison as the natives of the Caribbean, we two will suffer."

Bertha vaguely remembered that in Holmes' original novel, such natives would kill with poisoned arrows.

"He doesn't necessarily want to do it."

Mycroft said, "Only you fire the breech first."

Bertha pretended to be afraid: "Thank you for your command, my dear, I am not afraid of anything with you by my side."

Mycroft said seriously: "Where is it! It's clear that you are planning for a rainy day, Madam, if you didn't hide your gun under your pillow, the two of us wouldn't have to stand here talking today."

The long-lost business exchange went online, the two complimented each other and looked at each other for a moment, and then laughed out loud at the same time.

It was in this just right atmosphere that Mr. Postman knocked on the door.

He knew that the attack last night was his own security mistake, and he had been lying down and scolding and staring for a whole day, and now seeing the smiles on the faces of the two masters, he was somewhat relieved: it is the same thing that Mr and Madam are fine , he doesn't want to lose his job is another matter!

"gentlemen."

"We have recovered the body of the attacker," Postman reported.

Bertha was surprised: "He's still dead."

Postman: "...sorry, ma'am."

This time, Mycroft didn't show a sullen face, he was very clear about how much damage his attack could cause: "It's not your fault, it doesn't make sense that a person can survive with a broken skull. Where can I find it?" Corpse?"

"On the lower bank of the Thames," said the postman, "it is probable that he fell into the river while fleeing, and was washed downstream."

To be able to find them is considered to be the ability of Mycroft's subordinates.

"Don't move the body."

Mycroft said slowly: "The assailant's appearance is outstanding, and it's almost a clue that he gave up. If I pretend that I can't find it, someone will take the initiative to destroy the corpse."

Postman: "Yes."

Seeing that he still hadn't left, Mycroft asked again, "Is there anything else?"

Mr. Postman turned his head to look at Bertha.

"Ma'am," he began, "we have word from the office that Sikes is back."

Sykes is back? !

Bertha frowned slightly, she asked Sykes to take someone to accompany Pastor White!This guy can't be drinking too much and neglecting his duties again.

Seeing her frowning, Mycroft said happily without Bertha needing to say more, "Get a carriage and go take a look, ma'am. At this critical moment, you still have to take care of the affairs of your 'natal family'. "

Hearing this, Bertha picked up her skirt without saying a word: "Mr. Postman, please come with me."

***

But Bertha was really wrong about Sikes.

And though he did get Lady Thames into a little trouble with his day-drinking, Sikes hadn't been in the big business so far—otherwise Bertha wouldn't have kept him so long.

Before, he was blackmailed in the name of breaking into a "haunted house" because Bertha was short of people, but now it's different.There are a lot of gangsters in the slums, and Bill Sykes can bluff in front of Bertha until now, so there must be something special about him.

"There is definitely a problem, there is definitely a problem! Can you Thames listen to me, I bet my wife on you!"

Before Bertha entered the door, she heard Sykes yelling in the office and refused to listen. She raised her eyebrows: "Why is your wife in custody with us, and I can't hold you hostage?"

Sykes: "..."

After being caught, Thomas still didn't forget to make up for it coldly: "What do you call your wife, are you married to Nancy?"

Sykes: "..."

When Sykes, who was still arrogant just now, saw Mrs. Thames, he had to withdraw his raised tail.

"Ma'am, I didn't say it," Sykes couldn't help muttering, "It's fine if I work for you, why do you let my woman go to work with you, or face that... what Ripper! These few days Today, I don't think about tea and food, I'm afraid that something will happen to her. How can I live if something happens to her!"

Thomas sneered: "Following you is not much better than facing the Ripper directly, hitting women."

Sykes: "You fucking—"

"okay."

Bertha couldn't laugh or cry, she finally understood that Thomas and Sykes must not be put in the same room in the future, otherwise, if she is not there, the roof of the office will be taken off by both of them.

Both of these two were with Bertha from the beginning, and were of different status from the boys who joined later, so when they quarreled and bickered, it was not easy for other young people to intervene, and even Ned, the little accountant, chose to copy the ledger and put it aside. Eat melons and watch.

Quite lively.

"I asked you to show someone to look at Pastor White," Bertha went straight to the point, "what are you doing here?"

"Of course it's because of circumstances."

Sykes shut up angrily, and replied honestly: "Pastor White started to have a fever again. Dr. Lear is usually the doctor who treats him. I sent someone to call Dr. Lear. But Ma'am, you have found Dr. Butts before." , so I also called Dr. Butts... Is there any problem? I just came to inform you, ma'am."

No wonder Sykes' attitude was extraordinarily rampant today, he had waited for a big opportunity.

"Don't blame Sikes for quarreling with you, Thomas," laughed Bertha. "You sent a girl to keep an eye on the Ripper. He was right. Can you afford to pay for what happened?"

"Yes, can you afford it!" Sykes shouted after him.

Thomas sighed.

The fool Sikes couldn't hear the subtext of the lady, couldn't he?

"I see," he picked up the red gloves beside the table, and stood up from the chair, "I'll keep watch tonight, okay?"

"Call Sherlock Holmes."

"Yes, ma'am."

Bertha doesn't know who Jack the Ripper really is, but she does know who his next target is: Anne Poole, a Hampton Street prostitute.

——Every time Pastor White has a fever, Jack the Ripper always appears.

Now that he has been watched, will Jack the Ripper show up again?

Tonight may be the only chance.

Bertha restrained her smile. She walked up to Thomas and adjusted the collar of the unrelated brother herself: "We must catch him, and if we can't catch him, we must get useful clues. But other than that In addition, you must also protect yourself, understand?"

Clues and people, she wanted them all.

Meeting those dark golden eyes, Thomas nodded heavily: "Naturally, I assure you, ma'am."