Mary's Nineteenth Century

A number "1184" only takes 22 seconds to think.

Mary didn't give any other hints, and only when Mycroft gave the correct answer related to 1184 would she consider the possibility of marriage.

Please note that just thinking about marriage is not agreeing to marry Mycroft.

It's like a person who didn't eat watermelon in the past, but now includes watermelon in his diet, but it doesn't mean that he will eat the melon sent by someone tomorrow.

Of course, Mycroft understands the difference in language details and understands that he must seize the opportunity.

If you miss this time, it is difficult to say when the next opportunity will appear according to Mary's personality.Maybe at breakfast the day after tomorrow, maybe ten years from now.

'Crackling—'

The firewood burning in the fireplace rang, and the snow outside the window seemed to be three-thirds heavier.In the room, two people sat facing each other, and the rose petals scattered all over the table.

At this moment, Boston seemed to suddenly become a little cold.

"Don't you think the question is a bit harsh?"

Mycroft didn't seem to feel nervous at all, and he was still able to argue matter-of-fact.

"A question that has no beginning and no end, and the countdown is limited to 22 seconds. How many people in the world can give you the correct answer."

Mary didn't feel guilty at all, "Mr. Holmes, you should know that if you want me to make an exception and treat you differently, there must be something special. Remind me, after these few sentences, you have five seconds left."

It's time to count down, five, four, three...

""1210". "

Mycroft reported this number almost on time, and he must not let the tragedy of overtime answering without counting happen to him. "Mary, that's the correct answer you think."

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Finally, Mary stopped maintaining her indifferent expression and showed a bright and joyful smile.She leaned forward even more, and stretched out her index finger, as if to provoke Mycroft's chin.

Mycroft grabbed Mary's hand and kept her from any weird drama. "What do you want to do?"

Mary asked innocently, "What can I do? I just want to hold your face and look at it carefully. Who makes you exude wisdom and charming charm."

is it?

Mycroft didn't believe it, but naturally intercepted the second half of his praise.It is more important now to ask for a definite answer in case someone defaults. "Then please answer positively, is "1184" corresponding to "1210" the correct answer you want? "

"Look at you, you are really impatient. Well, I will listen to you and answer directly."

Mary switched to a serious look, "Congratulations, you answered correctly, and I will consider the possibility of marriage. Speaking of which, Mr. Holmes, how did you speculate?"

Mary knew it well, and she posed a conundrum that dates back to BC.

In ancient Greece, Pythagoras discovered a pair of regular numbers. 220 and 284, the sum of all proper divisors of one, is equal to the other.

That is, the proper divisors of 220 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 20, 22, 44, 55, and 110, and the sum of these numbers equals 284.

Conversely, the proper divisors of 284 are 1, 2, 4, 71, and 142, which add up to 220.

A pair of positive integers with this special mathematical relationship is called an affinity number.

Pythagoras was the first to discover this pair of smallest affinities.

Undoubtedly, this pair of numbers is very wonderful. They are clearly two numbers but they can become each other under certain conditions.This feature allows people to endow numbers with the attribute of loving each other.

Since then, for more than a thousand years, mathematicians have been exploring the laws of affinity numbers.

However, no second pair of affinity numbers was found until the 16th century.The mystery about it has been spread more and more, and it has even been used in obscure mysticism.

It was not until Fermat discovered the second pair of affinities in the 17th century that he broke the curse that had been fruitless for more than 2000 years after the discovery of the first affinities.

Later, in the 18th century, Euler even threw a thunderstorm. He not only discovered 60 pairs of affinities, but also gave a calculation method.

Attention, here comes the mystery of mathematics!

Mary has been familiar with the treatises on affinity numbers in this world, and found that there is still a fish that slipped through the net and escaped.

在她前世的19世纪60年代，有人找出了1184与1210这个疏漏。时空更迭，这个世界到1873年还是没人提出发现了这组被遗漏的组亲和数。

Tonight, it is indeed a bit embarrassing to ask for the correct answer within 22 seconds.

At that moment, Mycroft finally let go of his suspense when he heard Mary admit that he answered correctly.

At this moment, I couldn't help but clenched Mary's hand, "You ask me why I speculate on "1210"?The reason is very simple, because I understand your self-evident mind. "

What are your thoughts?

Mycroft has just proposed, hoping that the two can go further and start a new relationship.Being able to belong to each other is exactly the meaning of affinity number.

"If I were to discover a new pair of affinity numbers out of nothing within 22 seconds, I admit that it is almost impossible."

Mycroft looked at Mary with a smile on his face, "However, since you gave one of the pair of affinity numbers "1184", how can I live up to your expectations.Inverting according to the laws of mathematics can still quickly calculate "1210". "

As he spoke, Mycroft's tone became softer, "Actually, I know that you are not willing to embarrass me at all. It is absolutely impossible to let me answer unsolvable problems without leaving a trace of life."

The difficulty and the key to answering the question lies in the implication of the affinity number.

If the author of the question hadn't returned the same love, how could he have given such a riddle.

What nonsense are you talking about!

Mary didn't deny it, she smiled deeper, and said a few more words in a bad mood.

"I'm in a good mood today. I might as well let you know more about the proposal. I don't like flowers, piano music, or diamond rings. If you want me to finally agree to start a marriage with you, you have to think of something interesting. Actually, I don't mind always Keep the relationship underground, after all, I have no intention of reverting to being a woman."

There is only Mr. Minton in the world, and even if Mary marries, it will be done in secret.

It is better to tell some big truths first, so as not to cause unnecessary conflicts in the future.

Mycroft was not surprised to hear this, and he never thought of letting Mr. Minton disappear, but what was the "interesting thing" that Mary was looking forward to?

There are some truths he cannot tell.I always thought that something interesting to Mary Minton, maybe the two of them would jump back and forth on the edge of the law and test it back and forth?

As a law-abiding Sherlock Holmes, how could he come up with such a hundred different proposals?

Snow is still falling.

The two left the restaurant and boarded a carriage to go back to their residence.

In comparison, I felt that this winter night was a bit hotter.Obviously the snow is getting bigger, the night is getting deeper, and the wind is getting colder, but what is uncontrollable is that the heart is getting hotter.

"Aren't you moving to my house these days?"

Mary said casually, "Compared to hotels, I think houses in the Back Bay area are more comfortable and have unique scenery that hotels don't have."

What unique scenery?

Mycroft turned his head, and the most beautiful scenery was undoubtedly in front of him, which was Mary herself.It seemed like a veiled invitation, but he couldn't stay longer in Boston.

"Mr. Minton, I didn't lie to you. I do have official business in the United States. Tomorrow morning, I will leave for New York at dawn. It's fine to just make do with one night in the hotel, and I won't disturb your rest."

Mary also guessed that Mycroft probably made a special trip to Boston in order to find time.

Why come in a hurry?Of course, because she stayed in the United States for more than a month and didn't send a letter back to London, this person deliberately applied for a business trip that she wasn't keen on, and found a fair reason to block her.

Mary also talked about the serious business, "Dr. Jekyll's guest lecture will be until December 12th. To be honest, I tried to observe him for more than a month and found nothing wrong. He is just the integrity we know doctor."

However, two anonymous letters sent to Mary by Watson indicate that there is indeed a person hidden in the dark.

"In a sense, "Dr. Avatar" is not malicious to you. "

Mycroft believed in Mary's judgment, "At the moment, our inferences conflict with the results of our verification, or it's not impossible to go in the wrong direction. Do you want to continue to observe? Or go back to London first?"

Mary expressed that she would continue to stay in Boston. If you come here, then observe to the end.

"I have already attended Dr. Jekyll's class. Maybe I can catch clues if I contact him frequently. Let's use December as the limit. If I can't find more clues before Jekyll returns to London, I will look for more clues." Other possibilities."

As a result, Mary will not return to London until December 12. "Mr. Holmes, what about you? How long will you stay in America? Can you tell me?"

"This trip to the United States will last for more than 12 days. It is not a secret operation. New York-Philadelphia-Washington are the three cities I am going to. It is conservatively estimated that I will be able to return to London from Washington on December 20."

Mycroft thought that he could still stick to some principles of work in front of Mary, at least he hadn't personally admitted that he was Mrs. Roman so far.

Right now, I'm a little sorry.

The two had just decided to join hands to start a new relationship, but each had important matters to stay in different cities for a period of time, and they would not be able to see each other again for more than a month.

Not only that, Mycroft calculated the date of the return trip, and it would take at least a week from the US to the UK.

There is no way to go back to Holmes' old house this Christmas, let alone he can kidnap someone to go back to meet his parents.

Mary saw at once why Mycroft was lost.This person has a beautiful idea, and he can't wait to complete it in one go, and go to the church tomorrow.

"What's the matter? Are you worried? Are you secretly sad that you can't go home for Christmas?"

"You are asking the question knowingly."

But Mycroft readily admitted, "Yes, this year we will spend Christmas on a passenger ship, and we will be alone. We are not going back together, and we will return to London after tonight. We will be separated for a long month and a half. Isn't it?"

So?

Mary did not speak, but waited silently for the next sentence, hoping to hear what Mycroft had to say.

"It's really a pity that I don't have time to play with you when I come to the United States this time."

Mycroft continued calmly, "Sometimes, I dream about weird things, such as Mrs. Roman and Mr. Minton dancing hand in hand in Boston. I really want to remind people of old dreams."

"cough--"

Mary almost couldn't hold back and failed to manage her expression.

listen!What are these excuses?Dear Mr. Holmes is very good at making things up. In order not to be honest about Mrs. Roman's identity, he actually made up the dream story.

Mycroft continued to suggest in a serious manner, "We missed revisiting Boston together, and missed Christmas. Why don't we do something interesting when we get back to London. In winter, the large pool in Regent's Park turns into a large ice rink. Men and women Young and old are welcome. Would you like to join?"

Wait a moment.

Mary keenly grasps the key point, why mention it is suitable for men, women and children?

"If I promise, Mr. Holmes, do you wish to add the second part of the sentence—such as asking for nothing more than Christmas presents this year, but wishing that I could go skating with you in a lady's dress?"

Mary raised her eyebrows: How dare you think!