Mary's Nineteenth Century

A vacation invitation to the Kasbah with a list of possible guests attached.Instead of Mark Minton, it says "Little Gray Wolf."Invitees who intend to go to the island should write back to the publisher one week in advance to confirm the itinerary.

Last week, Atlantic Press confirmed that Little Gray Wolf would participate in the gala.From the time point of view, it was just when Hubbard and his partner mentioned to meet Mr. Minton, but how did he know the identity of the little gray wolf?

Mary was puzzled, and went to Shipley to confirm whether the publishing house had leaked her true identity.

If you get an affirmative answer, it is actually normal.Minton and Hubbard are both partners of the Atlantic Press, and no one should be offended.

The publishing house quietly revealed that the former was Little Gray Wolf, and when the two parties met, Hubbard would not be so stupid as to point out the publishing house's approach, and would just excuse it as a coincidence.

The key is what is Hubbard looking for?

Then contact the owner of Page Island and ask her to test and determine the cause of Hubbard's death. Is there a connection between the two?

Interesting.

Mary almost concluded that the holiday life in the island castle would not be peaceful.

"Mr. Minton, the preliminary examination of the body has been completed."

Mycroft came into the living room and broke the eerie silence. "The conclusion is that there are no scars, not even pinhole-sized marks."

While speaking, Mycroft observed the expressions of the three servants and found nothing unusual.

"One more question, is Mr. Hubbard feeling unwell recently? Or is he taking any medicines, health care products, tobacco and alcohol?"

All three servants shook their heads.

"Except for entertainment, the host does not drink or smoke, nor does he take health care products."

Servant A said that there is no such thing in Hubbard's personal belongings, "Recently, the master's body is as healthy as before."

How could a healthy man die suddenly at the age of 35 without any bad habits?

Considering Hubbard's hectic work schedule, it's not without the possibility of sudden death from overwork.

How to explain the smile on the face of the deceased?

Mycroft was unable to give a definite answer, and the speculation needed to be discussed privately. "Mr. Minton, do you have any other questions?"

"Not for now."

Mary knew that Mycroft wanted to take a step to speak, "It's not early, we should let the owner of Page Island find a place to store the corpse."

The clock pointed to 23:25.

Midnight is approaching, but the island castle cannot sleep peacefully tonight.

At this moment, everyone in the castle was notified of Hubbard's death.The hilarious atmosphere in the auditorium on the second floor suddenly disappeared, and after a dead silence, bursts of discussion erupted.

Why does death come suddenly?

Some people want to find out why, while others just want to end the castle vacation immediately.It would be nice to get off the island, to get rid of the bad luck of the dead, and not have to live with a dead body under the same roof.

However, leaving is not easy.

The cruise ship will return on July 7.The owner of Page Island has his own boat, but he will go out to the island in the first five days of each month to buy daily necessities, and to carry out hull maintenance.

In other words, the two ships will not come until the 5th at the earliest.

Everyone, unless they swim ashore, will continue to stay on the island for three nights or two days.

Corridor on the third floor.

The owner of Page Island couldn't support himself and went back to the fifth floor, while the housekeeper of the castle and Shipley, the head of the publishing house, were waiting for the results of the autopsy.

"how is the situation?"

Seeing that Hubbard's door was opened, the castle steward immediately asked, "Is it an accidental death?"

"To date, there is no evidence to suggest that Mr Hubbard's death was murder."

Mycroft's words were strict, and he did not deny the possibility of homicide.

"There are no scars on the surface of the corpse, and some injuries will not appear until some time after death. I guess there is no chemical laboratory on the island, and there is also a lack of various equipment for basic toxicological testing, right?"

"Yes, the owner of Page Island is not interested in the experiment."

The castle steward does not think that all kinds of reagents are common household items, "However, if you want to find written documents, there are a lot of books in the castle. Most of them were left by the previous owner of the island, Marquis Steve. .”

"Thank you, if necessary."

Mary thought of the Bible that Hubbard had read before he died, and it would be all right to investigate the island collection.

At that moment, she looked at Shipley beside her, and asked straight to the point.

"Just now, I heard something. Mr. Hubbard agreed to come on vacation to see me. I'm curious about this. What did the publisher say to him?"

"what?!"

Shipley was unabashedly surprised, "Oh no! Mr. Minton, please believe that I have always kept my mouth shut. That is the industry standard for media people."

is it?

Mary saw that Shipley's expression did not seem to be fake, "What about your assistant, Leo? Has he also fully implemented your work principles?"

"Forehead……"

Shipley didn't dare to guarantee it, "I'll go to Leo now to find out."

"Let's go together. Maybe we can find out some of the reasons why Mr. Hubbard is looking for me."

Mary does not think it is a business cooperation in the general sense. If she is looking for advice on investment projects, why not use the usual channels?

After returning to London, she participated in the field investigation project of slums and left contact information, which was able to directly contact the British Museum.

The four went to the second-floor auditorium together to briefly explain the circumstances of Hubbard's death to the others.

When the auditorium heard that Hubbard was not injured, and that he had not eaten any island food or drink after landing on the island, everyone was relieved.

No trauma, basically no violent murder.Without eating food and water on the island, the possibility of acute poisoning on the island can be ruled out.

"Poor man, must be overworked, may there be no pain in heaven."

Mrs. Barbie said a symbolic word of sympathy, then waving her fan and throwing a wink at another partner representative. "Mr. Colin, you can't be so tired. It's almost midnight, why don't you go to rest."

During this trip to Derby Island, representatives of the four partners of the publishing house came.

The dead Hubbard had a cleanliness, and Mary did not disclose her identity to the public and used the name of "Little Bad Wolf".The other two were Mrs. Barbie with three male companions, and Mr. Colin with two female companions.

Obviously, Hubbard's death brought any sadness to Barbie and Colin.

Colin, who is in his 40s, readily accepted the suggestion of "rest" and went upstairs with Mrs. Barbie, but I am afraid that the definition of rest for the two is another kind of exercise.

In the auditorium, most of the rest of the people went back to their rooms after saying a few casual words.

Wendy, a writer of detective novels, stood there blankly, and when she regained her senses, she went straight to the "Big Red Riding Hood" who had chatted on the boat. "Old Mrs. Fay, I've suffered another occupational disease. I have a premonition. Can you take a step to speak?"

"No need to borrow a step."

Mycroft motioned for Wendy to come here if she had something to say, and said, "The others are almost gone."

In the auditorium, there are still five people left.

Mary was in the corner with Shipley asking Leo, his assistant, if he had said anything out loud.

The conversation of the three was not loud.

With a glance, Mycroft noticed the subconscious footsteps of Assistant Leo, the forefoot of his left foot shifting outward.

That is enough to explain the problem.Leo's body movements are unnatural, and he has a tendency to flee and avoid, which is a manifestation of guilty conscience.He probably leaked Little Gray Wolf's identity.

Turning his head, Mycroft looked at Wendy, "Tell me, what kind of ominous premonition?"

"On board, I made up a story about Far Cry."

Wendy said in an uneasy tone, "Crow's mouth, Mr. Hubbard's death is just the beginning, isn't it? My book "Ten Days and Ten Nights in Snowstorm Mountain House" has a similar storyline, and the murderer will be between us .”

Mycroft didn't think Wendy was a bother. "As a detective novelist, your professional acuity is very high. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Wendy came to find supporters. He told a story with "Big Red Riding Hood" on the boat, and he felt that this person would support him.

"I admit that I am a wise man who makes up stories, and a fool when it comes to actual actions. It is better to follow the 36 plan that the Orientals say. While the weather is still good, find a way to leave the island tomorrow?"

Mycroft didn't say anything wrong either, and vaguely felt that someone wanted to do something to Mr. Minton during this vacation. The problem was how to leave? "Do you have a plan?"

Wendy said uncertainly, "Maybe there is a lifeboat or something in the old castle? Or, we managed to make one."

"I don't want to beat you, but I have to be blunt. If you want to go back to land, whether it's going west to England, or east to Holland, it's very difficult to make a boat strong enough to withstand wind and waves in two days."

Mycroft even threw out the contradictions that are likely to be caused, "Assuming that there is such an emergency ship, it must not be able to carry 38 people. Who should leave first?"

"Forehead……"

Wendy was questioned.He realized that he had taken it for granted, but he had an intuition that he had to escape, otherwise he would really die on the island.

The development of the situation will worsen, just like the plots he wrote in the past, most people don't care about the appearance of the first dead at the beginning, until the god of death cruelly swings the sickle again and again.

Mycroft did not completely blow people to autism, "Nevertheless, I support you. Wait until dawn, why don't you ask the owner of Page Island if there are any storage rooms, utility rooms, etc. There is a way to make escape equipment. It is not realistic to build a ship in two days, but if the materials are complete, a hot air balloon can be made.”

"Yes."

Wendy's spirit was shaken, and she turned around and cast an expectant look at Mr. Minton in the corner. "We have Mr. Minton! Mr. Minton has piloted a hot air balloon, so he can go back to the UK to deliver news first."

Mycroft: Be careful with your words, who and you are we?Who actually owns Mr. Minton?

In addition, gossip reports are not enough for reference. It was Mrs. Roman who flew the hot air balloon.

In the corner, Mary finished her questioning of Leo.

As expected, it was the assistant who revealed the identity of the little gray wolf to Hubbard, and took some benefits from the other party.

As for what is the purpose of Hubbard looking for Mr. Minton?

Leo didn't know much, all he knew was that Hubbard wanted to take a closer look before deciding whether to discuss cooperation with Mr. Minton.

At the moment, Mary heard Wendy's excited voice and smiled politely back at the other party, but she didn't think that there were just enough materials for making hot air balloons in the castle.

Just as the equipment for toxicological testing is not a common household item, the raw materials for making hot air balloons are also not a common item.

The night is already deep.

I won't hit Wendy again today, I will discuss some things until I check the storage room tomorrow.

Lights out in the auditorium, everyone went back to their rooms.

Arriving at the fourth floor, Mycroft made sure no one else was present before saying, "Mr. Minton, do you mind if I interrupt for a few minutes?"

"Of course I don't mind, you will never bother me."

Mary opened the door and took out a pen and paper, "If you have anything to say, just speak up."

At midnight, what can lonely men, widows, and women talk about?

Naturally, there were some doubts about the cause of the death of the corpse just now.

Mycroft took the pen and paper, and the conversation with the pen prevented the walls from having ears.

"The smile on Hubbard's face caught my attention a little bit.At first, I thought it might be a giggle of chemical poisoning.You may have heard that after chlorinated poisoning, the victim's breathing became irregular and the body convulsed and convulsed, causing the victim to lose control and drown. 』

Mary knows iderictus (qinghua horrified laughter), which is the distorted smile that cannot be controlled by facial muscles after poisoning, and is usually accompanied by painful cries. ①

"Though it's all smiles, Hubbard smiles before he dies.He didn't make a sound, which can be explained by his body sinking into the pool. 』

"I checked Hubbard's mouth, there was no bitter almond smell, and no other typical symptoms of chlorinated poisoning, only one not serious gum congestion. 』

Mycroft took Hubbard's toothpaste and toothbrush, but unfortunately no more detailed examination was possible on the isolated island. "If Hubbard was poisoned, he probably got poisoned before he got on the cruise ship. 』

There are many poisons that paralyze breathing and cause weakness of limbs, and some of them will not be poisoned until more than ten hours after being poisoned.

『During the day today, Hubbard has been in the cabin. The three servants only said that he was working in the cubicle, but no one else knew the details. 』

Mycroft reasonably speculated that a man like Hubbard would not easily show his vulnerability, let alone leave if he came to see Mr. Minton. "Maybe in the afternoon, Hubbard felt unwell, but he didn't show it. 』

Mary nodded, and then wrote about Hubbard reading the Bible before he died.

"I have lived with Hubbard all my life, and I have no way of guessing why he came here for the time being.The situation was not urgent enough, and any attempt to examine Hubbard's luggage was bound to meet with objections. 』

indeed so.

If Hubbard had been massacred, it would be easy to ask for a thorough search of his belongings and the luggage of the three servants in order to find the murderer.

But Mary didn't think it would be calm all the time, "Do you have any guesses about the possible poisons?" 』

"Perhaps, you have heard of Death Smile Poison? 』

Mycroft also didn't know the formula, "A poison in ancient legends, which originated in Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea." 』

Mary had heard the name, and it was a poison in a text, said to have been invented by the Phoenicians.

As the name suggests, taking this poison will die with a smile on your face.Later scholars studied it, and some people argued that it was a mixed plant poison, and the main toxin was saffron cress.Sardinia is also where the plants grow.

The 19th century deserves to be the golden age of poisonous killings.

Science is developing rapidly, but imperfect regulations make dark experiments everywhere, and it is not surprising that strange poisons are derived.

Mycroft continued to write, "This is just my guess. It may be poison in other products. The specific situation can only be confirmed after precise testing. 』

Precise detection is something that cannot be done tonight.

The two could only give up, say good night to each other, and go to rest separately.

Two 10 minutes later.

Mary checked every corner of the guest room. After the master bedroom, side bedroom, living room, and study room were all in order, she took out the towels and changed clothes to go to the bathroom.

At this moment, a loud heavy object fell to the ground.

'Kangdang——'

It was the movement from Mycroft's room next door, something thumping hard on the floor.Not the weight of the suitcase, heavier than that.

Mary put away her clothes immediately, went to the corridor and knocked on the door next door. "Old Mrs. Fay, are you all right?"

"Hold on."

Mycroft heard who it was, and quickly opened the door.But he saw half of his clothes were wet, and more than half of the camouflaged wrinkles on his face had been lost.

"There was a little bit of an accident where parts of the cistern came loose in the bathroom and the cistern fell from above. I had good luck and it fell while I was checking the cistern ahead of time. It didn't get hit on the head, it just got wet."

what?

Mary saw Mycroft calmly explaining the unexpected accident. It wasn't his luck at all, but his prudence.

If the water tank is dropped during the bath, the bathtub will be very slippery after being filled with water. Not only will it be difficult to avoid the water tank in time, but it will also increase the risk of falling.

At this moment, there were several doors opening on the fourth floor, as well as footsteps on the stairs, and other people also heard the sound.

"If you don't mind, share a room with me on the island these few days. They are all suites anyway, so I can share a room with you."

Mary pointed to her guest room, the door was not closed, "Why don't you lie down on your side and tidy up, and I'll help you get your clothes and towels there."

Mycroft was dressed as an old woman, and the makeup wasn't exactly waterproof.What's more, the water tank didn't have a cover, and a tank of water fell on his head.At this moment, it is indeed not suitable for him to meet outsiders, otherwise the true face of the "Big Red Riding Hood" will be exposed.

"Thank you, thank you."

Mycroft trotted straight into the side bathroom of the adjoining guest room, and closed the wooden door.

Facing the mirror to deal with a mess, the hands that wiped his face paused, and he grasped the point with hindsight.Did Mr. Minton just propose that the two live together for the next few days?

His associative brain suddenly started running at high speed, and there seemed to be two villains confronting each other abruptly in his mind.

Rational Mike with a serious face: Don't think too much!

You know, there are no accidents one after another in the world, and the drop of the water tank is likely to be a death trap for you.Mr. Minton asked you to move in with us for security reasons, hoping to prevent the death raid.

Emotional · Mike · hate iron but not steel: Why can't you think too much!

In the same suite!You and Mr. Minton are breathing the air in the same room, rounded up, what do you mean?