Mary's Nineteenth Century

In late September, one leaf knows autumn.

Mary completed all the writing work on "London Public Transport Travel Guide" · "Subway Chapter", and submitted the manuscript to Professor George in the research room for review.

It is reported that this set of guides will be published before Halloween, and if the sales reach the target, an additional manuscript fee will be rewarded.

Maybe a few hundred pounds?

Mary didn't pay much attention to it. The gains brought about by writing the subway guide have long been out of the writing work itself.

President Abel gave a generous gift as a thank you for the success of the defense of the treasury.Assuming she cracks a few more similar cases, she can easily become a wealthy family in London.

However, the treasury robbery can happen but cannot be sought, and it should not be staged for the second time in the short term.

This unfinished grand robbery caused a series of shocks.

Not only in London, but when the news spread to Europe, the East, America and other places, banks, antique shops, jewelry shops, etc., all businesses that have stored valuables in underground warehouses are preparing to strengthen anti-theft and security measures.

Don't be sorry, there is more than one way to make money wisely.

The original intention of staring at the robbers is not to get rich, but more to add fun to ordinary life.If you want to make money, there are naturally other ways.

Recently, Mary took a stroll around the Financial City, and President Abel thoughtfully arranged an assistant as a guide.Someone can show you the way, even a layman who doesn't understand at all, can enjoy watching various transactions such as stocks, foreign exchange, futures, shipping, insurance, etc.

Of course, Mary is no layman.

The financial market in the nineteenth century was not as complicated as it was more than 150 years later, but she will not take it lightly and hold a forward-looking vision regardless of time and space differences.

Telegraph communication is currently the fastest method of information transfer.Three years ago, the first transatlantic submarine cable between Europe and America was successfully laid, which also accelerated the development of international financial markets.

Even so, today's financial transactions are still far from efficient.People can't imagine the real-time dynamic updates filled with electronic screens in the lobby of the exchange, let alone get instant knowledge of what's happening on the other side of the world through the Internet.

Now, just to know the price change of each stock, traders can only get it by reading the regular paper report of trading index.

People have to wait patiently for the market clerks of the exchange to compile new data every few hours, and then print and compile them into books batch by batch.

Loud chatter on the floor of the exchange became the norm.Courier boys are eager to get the latest index to send to their employers, and by the time traders or brokers see the report, it may be two or three hours old.

This is definitely out of the word "real time".

Time is money, and all financial players think that they don't get enough money, and who doesn't want to pursue efficiency.

Where there is demand, business opportunities can be found.

Mary collected a bunch of news papers and materials, and determined that the stock ticker that appeared in the 19s in her previous life was still missing.It is not surprising that there are small differences in the historical processes of the two worlds, and when it comes to a certain invention, there is a more likely time difference.

That's not an overly complicated machine.At first glance, it looks a bit like an automatic typewriter, and the volume is about the same size.

Making this kind of machine needs to combine part of the principles of telegraph communication technology to obtain stock prices from the other end through the telegraph line, and then continuously and automatically print the changes in the data on the paper strips.

Sounds simple, but it doesn't come often when you think of the creative inspiration required for this invention.

As a result, several design drawings were freshly released.

Mary also purchased second-hand telegraphs, metal parts, production tools and other equipment, and set out to make the first automatic quotation machine herself, which did not take much effort.

But in a few days, the prototype machine has been produced.

Next, you only need to make specific fine-tuning of parts, circuits, etc.

"OK."

Mary nodded in satisfaction at the prototype machine on the console.He took off his work gloves, washed his hands, and rang the bell to let the maid bring a pot of black tea, and let the chef prepare lunch by the way.

Come to the window, drink a cup of tea for a short rest.

Mary took out another candy from the glass jar on the coffee table, peeled off the candy wrapper, and put the "cool in early autumn" candy into her mouth.

The window is half open, and the autumn wind is getting deeper.

The wind blew, and the pages of "Sweet Food Appreciation·Autumn" on the coffee table were slightly blown.

Looking at the entire workshop, it is full of circuit diagrams, papers on the principles of telegraph machinery, wires and metal parts, welding equipment and other items, as if in a cold and hard space.

Here and now, the stained glass jars of candy are conspicuously out of place with the existence of the book Sweet Food: Autumn.

Mary scanned the pages of the book, and could vaguely see the half-exposed golden bookmark.

This set of books from a strange old woman was originally destined to be randomly stuffed in a corner of the bookcase, but she found that the book was unexpectedly readable after a lot of hands-on.

"Sweet Foods" tells about different sweets suitable for spring, summer, autumn and winter.Including their birth process, production techniques, and related anecdotes.

Instead of using gorgeous and ostentatious words, it tells stories one by one.Between the lines, it is like an autumn afternoon when the leaves of the ginkgo tree fall, and the amiable middle-aged woman tells the warm things in life to the juniors—it fits the author's pen name "Big Red Riding Hood" very well.

This set of books is suitable for quiet reading, which can make people smile from time to time.

Mary no longer put the book on the shelf, but took it to the workshop.Turn over the rest time, relax your brain and relax your thinking.

I also used the bookmark that comes with the book, which is a piece of ginkgo leaf with a small cake pattern painted on it.It is worth mentioning that the bookmark is made of pure gold.

That's right, a bookmark made of solid gold.

There are four books in the collection, and there are four bookmarks, which use leaves of different seasons in spring, summer, autumn and winter.Judging from the exquisite carving process of the bookmark, its market value is conservatively estimated to be more than 20 pounds, which is about ten times the price of the whole set of books.

In this way, is it possible that the old lady bought an extra set of books at the bookstore?

Of course not.

Mary later went to the bookstore to inquire, and there was no activity of giving gold bookmarks with the books at all.

It was indeed a little surprising that the plainly dressed old lady was so generous.And if you haven't opened the pages of the book, you can't see the golden bookmark in it.

In addition, such a set of books is only packed in ordinary cloth bags, and has not been carefully packaged. Does it mean that its buyers don't care about the little money?

Mary admitted that it was an interesting stranger, and she thought of those eyes that were still calm and steady in the face of bad luck.

There is almost no possibility of giving this set of books by mistake, but the old lady estimated the price of the umbrella at a glance, and gave the most suitable gift she could give in return.

"London is really a city with secrets."

Mary flicked the pages of the book lightly, looked down at the people coming and going on the street, and smiled slowly.It's good to have secrets, secrets make life more interesting.

After lunch, groups of twos and threes relax in the cafe.

Some people are admiring the autumn street scene through the glass windows, while others are chatting about recent gossip news.

Mycroft had absolutely no interest in being a part of it.I really hope there is a club where no one speaks, but everyone who enters can enjoy a quiet space without being invaded by various noises.

Passing by the coffee shop, he only glanced through the floor-to-ceiling windows.A total of 57 people including shop assistants, most of them are familiar faces.Yes, the café is almost taken over by Whitehall civil servants.

Something seems to be missing today.

It was one person missing.Ben Oliver, the twenty-six-year-old man who always had to drink a cup of coffee after dinner, was not there.

Mycroft and Oliver did not know each other well, and had never spoken to each other to be precise.

It's just that he has such a good memory, he can clearly remember the small staff in the office building next door, and the faces of the three colleagues who often drink coffee with him.At the moment, the expressions of the three people couldn't hide their sighs. Maybe something happened to Oliver?

Without looking too deeply, even Mycroft makes a vague discovery that the seemingly ordinary Oliver seems to be somehow related to the cabinet bigwig Lord Matthew.

so what?Even if they are all Whitehall employees, there are thousands of public officials in the British government, and how many of them are worthy of his in-depth friendship.

**

Two kilometers away, the City of London.On the same autumn afternoon, it was also in the coffee shop, and the noise was even louder.

During the lunch break, financiers temporarily leave the trading floor and take a cup of coffee to catch their breath, although the topic they talk about is most likely still inseparable from how to make money.

There are always exceptions.

In the cafe's private seat, a door seems to isolate the noise from the outside.

The room is quiet, with a dining table and two middle-aged men.

On the left side of the table, the middle-aged professor George looked at the old schoolmate in surprise.

"Your Excellency Matthew, it's rare to see you outside of Whitehall. If you still have time, invite me to sit down and have a cup of coffee."

"George, you haven't stayed in the research room of the British Museum all the time. Don't you allow your old buddy to wander around casually and come out for a while."

Matthew fiddled with the coffee spoon casually, "Don't call me sir. You always called me "Fish King" in school more than 20 years ago.I still remember the days when we went fishing together, the mountain streams were dangerous, and we used to save each other in danger.It's a pity that I have been busy after graduation, so I seldom meet to go fishing again. "

This was many years ago.

Although George and Matthew didn't completely cut off contact after graduating from university, one went to graduate school and the other went to politics because of career choices. The two did not have much intersection in work and life.

Especially as time went by, Matthew's position was promoted again and again. After he was promoted to the Cabinet Council, there were still a few people who could call him by his nickname when he was young.

We ran into each other on the street today, and Matthew actually offered to have a cup of coffee together.

George decided that this was not just a whim of reminiscence, but something important to talk about.

Only one major incident happened in the Financial City recently. The French AB Bank was almost robbed of its underground vault.

Because President Abel abides by the confidentiality rules and keeps silent about which angel prevented the vault from being stolen, most people don't know who "M" is.

The ignorant do not include George.It's not that he is well-informed, but "M" took the initiative to explain to him the general process. "M", the man who caused a storm recently, is his good assistant in the laboratory - Mr. Minton.

When Mary was handing in the manuscript, she said a few words to her boss in passing.

'Professor George, I just meddled in a little business, adhering to the basic principle of doubt and looking for evidence, I went into the sewer.Because it was an investigation of the underground sewer robbery incidentally while completing the task of the research room, I think it is necessary to report it to you. '

George clearly remembered that the person concerned expressed the matter in the usual tone of "I bought a newspaper after get off work today".That kind of demeanor made him unable to express his astonishment, as if even a little bit of surprise would appear to be a fuss.

"Matthew, you came to me because of Mark Minton? Please tell me why?"

George hit a straight ball, abandoning the twists and turns.When he saw Matthew's eyes paused, he was sure he had guessed right.

"George, how easily you gave up the art of language."

Matthew put down the coffee spoon, seemingly helpless but did not deny it. "Since you asked so frankly, as an old man, I don't need to hide it. Yes, I want to inquire about the young man's situation. Maybe there is a small matter I want to ask him for help."

Professor George: Really?He doesn't believe it.

I don't believe that senior officials of the British government will ask someone to help with small things.This is all the more cautious to answer, he can't push the good assistant he wants into the pit of fire.

"It seems that you are very optimistic about that young man."

How can Matthew not understand what George's silence means, "Hey! My reputation has always been good, far from bad enough to make you guard against it? Over the years, I have also been supporting outstanding young people with both character and intelligence. Are you still afraid that I will dig a hole for you?"

George couldn't deny it, "The one who let me entrust my back is "Fish King". We all know that time will change many things.Sorry, I am not familiar with the current Lord Matthew.What do you need an average research assistant to do? "

The mediocre Mr. Minton?

Matthew looked at George, really not guilty of saying such things in the City of Finance?

Looking around, how many people in London can catch a big vault robbery in just one subway ride?

"George, you are overthinking. I am just looking for someone who is good at spotting doubts."

Matthew said, "It's really not a big deal. I just want to ask Mr. Minton, who is good at finding doubts, to investigate a case in my personal capacity."

George didn't let go immediately, "Let's talk about it in detail first."

**

At night, the moon hangs on the branches.

A messenger arrived from Pall Mall with an invitation to afternoon tea for Mary.

"Professor George has an appointment?"

Mary opened the invitation card, on which George described the beauty of flowers in beautiful and moving words, and then sincerely invited them to have afternoon tea and enjoy the flowers in the back garden of his home tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Tuesday.Although Professor George does not go to the research room every day, he seems to never have the habit of viewing flowers, and usually leaves time for reading books.

And looking at the wording on the card, it's hard to imagine that the poetic words came from Professor George. In the past, his narrative habit has always been to present only boring data.

Mary: Is Professor George agitated?

Could it be because she simply told "M" and the vault robbery, which shocked the middle-aged professor and changed his language habits for decades?

Or, the anomaly is because a secret has emerged.