I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

In front of the Heidegreen Theatre, a short blond gentleman stood alone under the corridor lamp. He looked down at his pocket watch, and then looked towards the intersection.

A carriage bearing the Sissel crest came from another direction.

"Here, Paddington!"

Lester Sissel jumped down from the carriage, raised his hands excitedly, and looked at his friend under the light with shining eyes.

"I can't believe it, you just met me so easily."

The blond gentleman who was waiting alone, that is, Pei Xiang, nodded to Lester. She strode to the carriage of Sissel's family and said with a smile:

"You've repeated that line a dozen times since we first met last night."

"Oh, my friend, I'm just, just a little surprised, haha, well, well, I promise, you'll see a steady and reliable Sissel next."

"I believe," said Pei Xiangzhanyan, "I can probably understand the surprise in your heart. After all, my previous behaviors were very strange, and I looked too much like a hidden conspiracy. Come on, you will definitely find it unusual."

"Haha, I never thought you were a hidden schemer."

Lester shook his head hastily, but silently added in his heart, it is another smart person who suspects you.

While talking, the two boarded the carriage one after the other.

Pei Xiang pretended not to notice Lester's distracted mind. Looking at the bustling night scene and receding buildings outside the car window, she asked gently:

"Are we going to the Bartley's Card Club?"

Lester nodded: "Yes, during this period of time, Baron Defoe usually plays cards in that card club."

Pei Xiang understood, she had learned the general situation from Lester's letter, and understood Lester's urgency to buy the mine shares held by Baron Defoe.

However, before she could ask about the follow-up progress, Lester sighed deeply, and the soaring emotions between his brows visibly dropped down.

Pei Xiang was surprised: "What's wrong, my friend?"

Lester explained in a dull tone:

"Actually, it's useless to see him. Before, after my friend Colonel Deville introduced Baron Defoe to me, I immediately pooled up the money to visit him at the baron's mansion, but the baron was unwilling to give up the shares of the mine. Sell ​​it to me. It is said that he is currently negotiating a deal with a Spanish businessman."

"Foreign businessman?" Pei Xiang was a little puzzled, "Did the Spaniard's bid be much higher than yours? Otherwise, even for the face of the Sissel family, he shouldn't be inclined to a foreign businessman."

"Baron Defoe is a bit strange. He has a strong background, so he is not afraid of offending people, and he does things more freely."

"How to do whatever you want?"

"For example, the Spanish businessman, the reason why he was willing to sit down and negotiate with the other party was also because the man flattered him at the poker table."

"Pleasant? It seems to be what you like."

Lester pinched the bridge of his nose: "I heard from some old friends that the Spaniard played cards with Baron Defoe, and the two won more than 300 pounds in two weeks. Baron Fowler was very happy. He boasted at the banquet that winning three hundred pounds with real poker skills is definitely more enjoyable than earning three thousand pounds every day."

Pei Xiang nodded lightly: "That's really rare. Playing cards in those clubs, it's normal to win or lose within ten pounds every night, but if you plan to win more than 300 pounds in two weeks, it's not easy. "

Lester spread his hands, with a helpless expression:

"You see, the fact is that it is disappointing. Paddington, now that we have learned the details, let's go to another place. I can see it now, and there is no need for me to waste time on Baron Defoe. gone."

Pei Xiang squinted at Lester: "Your thoughts change quite quickly, so if you can't say it, you won't go."

"Because I suddenly regretted it," Lester said very sincerely. "I just thought that this is the first time we have traveled in the same car. Instead of taking you to see the red face of Baron Defoe, Might as well take you to meet my friends. Paddington, let's go to the Rangers Club, and I'll introduce you to Aldrich de Vere, and a few other old friends who are all very fond of your paintings .”

Pei Xiang pondered for a moment, and an idea gradually formed.So, she blocked Leicester's plan to divert.

"Lester, I have a proposal here. I don't know if you are interested."

"What proposal?" Lester sat up slightly, and the lazy emotion in his eyes was swept away, "I know you very well, my friend, and your proposals have always been very interesting."

Pei Xiang smiled, she considered the words, and then said slowly:

"Lester, if I say, I can beat Defoe and the Spanish businessman, and finally get Baron Defoe to agree to trade with you at the poker table, how about it?"

Lester was taken aback for a moment, and immediately, he was first surprised and ecstatic, and then hesitant.

He stomped his feet nervously. When the carriage stopped near the Bartley Card Club, Lester tentatively asked:

"Paddington, have you ever had a brilliant record at the poker table? Are your poker skills as impressive as your painting?"

Pei Xiang shook his head, and promised under Leicester's puzzled eyes:

"Give me three days to observe. After that, I will definitely beat Baron Defoe and his Spanish partner."

Now, Lester became even more curious. He wanted to continue asking, but Pei Xiang didn't go into details.

She looked at Lester with a smile, and gently persuaded:

"What's the loss if I try it? Even if I lose a few more times, it's only a few tens of pounds. I just think I'm spreading money and making connections. However, once I use my card skills to win the victory of Baron Defoe Desire, successfully stimulate him to agree to use that equity transaction as a bet, and we will make a profit."

"This..." Lester's furrowed brows loosened a little.

"I can guess Baron Defoe's character and temper from your words, of course, and some information I have inquired before. Believe me, Lester, just say a few more words to get angry with him, Tease him, Baron Defoe at the poker table is easily emotional and impulsive."

Lester hesitated to speak.

Pei Xiang continued to analyze: "Besides, it's not that Baron Defoe will give you the shares for free, it's just a transaction priority. He has no losses, so it is naturally easy to persuade."

Lester finally couldn't help asking the doubts in his heart:

"Paddington, the premise of all this is, do you have such superb poker skills? Have you always won before?"

Pei Xiang shook his head calmly: "I don't play cards much, and occasionally I play casually at friends' gatherings, and I won a pound at most."

Lester: "..."

Pei Xiang looked at Lester's speechless and tangled expression, and smiled suddenly:

"Lester, as I said before, whether you believe in my ability or not, we won't lose anything if we try it. If we succeed by luck, we will earn it."

"Then can you tell me the bottom line, what is your support? Just a little bit."

Pei Xiang raised his eyebrows, and explained lightly:

"It's not that I'm trying to make a fuss, but because... some of the truths are very simple, and everyone knows it. Playing cards is nothing more than memorization, observation and analysis, plus a little bit of luck and psychological tactics."

Lester seemed to understand, but still nodded pretendingly.

"So, you need three days to observe, what to observe?"

"Observe Baron Defoe's various little habits and micro-expressions when he played cards with the Spaniard."

"Oh, this is a bit difficult. Is three days enough? Or... procrastinate?"

"It's only three days, if it takes longer, the Spaniard should urge Baron Defoe to sign the contract."

Lester stared at the calm and confident Paddington, and his mind flashed through his past deeds and extraordinary methods, and he suddenly felt certain.

The heir to the baron inexplicably believes that the possibility of success this time is very high.

Then, some words blurted out:

"Paddington, what do you need me to do in return for helping me like this? Hey, don't say nothing, or I will be uneasy. And, you know, sometimes I don't want to owe too much debt of favor."

Lester spoke frankly, Pei Xiang also did not conceal his purpose, and said directly:

"Lester, if I win, how about a fifth of the mine investment?"

"As long as one-fifth?" This price just stepped on Leicester's psychological bottom line.

"Not only that, but you also have to lend me the principal, and I will pay you back in installments after I make a profit."

"Does the principal count as interest?"

"Of course not!" Pei Xiangli asked bluntly, "Lester, do you still want interest from your friends?"

Such a natural and strong tone made Lester Sissel laugh and shake his head.

For some reason, it was obvious that he suffered some small losses, but when he saw Paddington's wide-eyed eyes, Lester felt warm in his heart.

At this moment, Lester felt from the bottom of his heart that the friendship between him and Paddington was stronger.

After the two reached an agreement, there was no further delay.Lester ordered the carriage to move on and stop directly in front of the main entrance of the Bartley Card Club.

Because of the recommendation and guarantee of the heir of the Sissel family, this card club, whose membership system is not very strict, quickly added a new member.

"Hello, Mr. Sissel, this gentleman is..."

"Hey, Lester, why didn't you come over yesterday? I still want to partner with you. Hey, who is this?"

"My God, are you Mr Paddington?"

"What? Which Paddington?"

"Mr. Brown Paddington who painted Rage and Birds of Paradise..."

"Hey, I like his "Mountain Spring" and "Garden" better..."

"Nice to meet, nice to meet, Mr. Paddington, I am..."

Through Lester's introduction, Pei Xiang quickly got acquainted with several decent gentlemen. After that, her social circle expanded rapidly, and she soon became the topic of conversation at the Bartley Card Club that night.

On the night when Pei Xiang was chatting happily with his new friends, some well-informed people also got specific news about the famous painter Brown Paddington.

The next day, several newspapers with good sales published a piece of news at the same time.

The general content is that the mysterious painter Brown Paddington appeared in a card club in London, and his friend and referrer was Lester Sissel, the eldest son of Baron Sissel.

In the morning, in the breakfast room of the Earl of De Vere's Mansion, Lester quickly browsed through the reports on "Brown Paddington", and curled his lips with joy.

"Aldridge, Paddington is the most amazing man I've ever met. You know, I played with him last night and it was great! He's like a mind reader, except for the first loss After a few times, it has been winning money since then.”

Aldridge put down the knife and fork in his hand, and said flatly:

"As long as you keep in mind that it's a pastime, don't get addicted to it."

"Don't worry about me, Aldridge," Lester said with a cheerful tone, "I know in my heart that such 'good luck' is all due to Paddington's observation and calculation. Moreover, the main reason we went to the Bartley Card Club The purpose is to attract the attention of Baron Defoe."

Seeing Lester's clear eyes, Aldridge didn't say anything more.

He picked up the newspaper in hand, glanced casually at the news about "Brown Paddington", and inadvertently thought of Miss Marian in Nolan Manor.

"Hey Aldrich, can I ask you a favor?"

"What are you busy with?"

"It's just..." After hesitating for a moment, Lester stammered out the reason why he came here early in the morning.

"That, that Paddington told me that the Spanish businessman is very shrewd, and Baron Defoe is also very experienced. After observing last night, he thinks, uh——if his partner is a more sophisticated and proficient People with certain skills will have better results..."

Aldrich raised his eyebrows: "You want me to handle the game for you?"

"I have always trusted your abilities, no matter what, my friend."

"Is that what Mr. Paddington meant?"

Lester quickly shook his head and explained:

"No, you misunderstood. In fact, Mr. Paddington didn't have a very strong idea of ​​changing partners. He only mentioned a few words occasionally last night. Besides, he has never met you before, so how would he know what you are? What kind of person?"

Aldridge wanted to meet that Mr. Brown Paddington.

Therefore, instead of immediately rejecting Lester Sissel's request, he began to think about the itinerary for the next two nights.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Leicester noticed Aldridge's wavering and hesitant, he lobbied very impatiently:

"Aldrich, I remember... you praised the racehorse I bought last year, remember, that little brown Leon. Why don't I resell it to you?"

This sudden "benefit" made Aldrich stunned for a moment, and then, he suddenly felt a little unhappy. He felt that his friend Lester had been misled by that Paddington.

The black-haired man withdrew the dark light from his eyes, and asked in a flat tone: "Are you willing to give up your heart?"

Lester shook his head with a bitter face, he was naturally reluctant.

However, in order to have more pounds to buy more good horses in the future, he can only reluctantly give up his little Leon.

"I can't bear it, Aldrich, but I can't think of any other way to impress you."

Aldrich got up and left the table, looked down at Lester with a tangled face, and said in a deep voice:

"Although I praised the racehorse named Leon, I don't want to own it. However, you do have something in your hands that can impress me."

"What is it?"

"I remember you mentioned before that Mr. Paddington promised you to draw a picture for you, right?"

After Lester froze for a moment, he asked uncertainly:

"You want the painting that Mr. Paddington promised me?"

Aldridge shook his head: "I don't want him to create according to the theme you have formulated, I want him to draw the scenery I like according to my ideas."

"However, it is not up to me to change the theme and style of the painting."

"Mr. Paddington will agree to my request, as long as he still wants to get the one-fifth investment share."

"You said it as if you had to, alas, you don't have to change partners, I think my card skills are not bad..." Lester muttered with some dissatisfaction.

Aldridge ignored Leicester's reluctance, but said indifferently:

"You can ask Mr. Paddington."

Lester suddenly felt a little distressed.

Aldrich took the hat from the manservant, and continued to add to Leicester's gloomy mood:

"To be honest, Lester, if you didn't take the initiative to exchange that racehorse for my help, I was going to help for free. As your friend, I would never help like that Mr. Paddington. At the same time, one-fifth of your investment share will be taken away. Unfortunately, you seem to be influenced by his behavior."

"Oh, Aldridge, this is different. You are different, regardless of status or friendship, do you understand? It's not about high or low, it's that subtle distinction between status and wealth... In short, Pa Mr. Dington knows that I don't want to owe too much debt, so he uses this method to relieve my anxiety."

"So he's a very understanding and generous gentleman."

After Aldrich Deville made an unintelligible comment, he put on his gloves slowly, and then went out with his cane.Lester Sissel was left to struggle alone.

After a while, the cheerful heir to the baron recovered from his contemplation, and suddenly muttered to himself:

"This person used to be cold, as if he was always indifferent. Why does he seem to be a different person recently? Not only is his temper a lot worse, his mood is also good and bad, even more fickle than the cat raised by Mrs. Sissel , Tsk, what can't you think about?"

After walking out of the house, Aldridge looked up at the cloudy sky, but a pair of beautiful eyes as bright as spring waves flashed in his mind, and he sighed silently.

That night, Aldrich Deville finally met the "legendary" Brown Paddington.