Mary's Nineteenth Century

On March 1873, 3, the sky in London was as clear as a mirror.

In the past week, the strong wind has passed through the country, and the street lamps and awnings have fallen apart.

On the street, you can even see shivering lone fat geese wandering into the carriageway. I don’t know whether they ran away from home on their own initiative, or if the strong wind first moved it out of the farmer’s market.

The day before April Fool's Day, the wind and the sun rose.

The gray fog that shrouded the foggy city dissipated, and clusters of primroses were budding at the street corners.

Inadvertently, it has been more than a year since I left Berlin.

In late March, Mycroft moved into Pall Mall Street.

This time it is not a rented house, but a new house purchased.If there is no accident, he will live here until his retirement, because it is very close to Whitehall, where he works, and it only takes about 10 minutes to walk.

Sherlock arrives at the Mycroffes' house in late March with a sweet treat set as a housewarming gift, but asks confrontational questions about savory.

"Happy moving, dear brother, and may you begin a happy new life. But with all due respect, with Pall Mall so close to Whitehall, will you be able to maintain your current figure?"

There are always surprises in life.

For Sherlock, the chances of the inference turning out to be wrong were low, but it happened nonetheless.

According to what he knew about Mycroft, this man should gain weight day by day after returning to London, because his lifestyle cannot be separated from three elements: sedentary, more sugar, and less movement.

Unless you have a physique that does not eat fat, you will only become richer as you age.

The Sherlock Holmes family didn't have the physique to eat a lot and not get fat. Why is it that Mycroft didn't put on weight like the inferences in the past?

Sherlock was very surprised. Could it be that some kind of magical medicine appeared?As long as you take it on time, there is no side effect, and you can easily control your weight?

Or there was another possibility, which was even more bizarre than the magic drug, that his dear brother actually changed some living habits.If this is the case, I want to sigh, "God! The overseas job is too weird, and it can change a Sherlock Holmes."

Mycroft looked at Sherlock, and smirked.

Although his younger brother didn't say a word, the exaggerated expression showed the slander without any concealment.

"It's really touching. My dear brother, you care so much about my health, how can I have the heart to make you worry."

Mycroft said it with sincerity, "You have repeatedly suggested that being fat is not good for you.

For health, controlling the body within the normal range will lead to a more pleasant life.I took your advice, isn't that bad?I thought you should be glad, Sherlock, that your brother is a man of kindness. "

Sherlock: Who is good?Who is earnest?

Yes, he did advise his brother to eat less sweets, but it was not to the extent of persuasion, and Mycroft hadn't always ignored it.

May I ask how far this person has cultivated his sophistry language art, how can he just open his mouth?

"Your words are frightening. I never thought that you would listen to your brother so much."

When Sherlock spoke, he didn't show any fear at all, but instead looked inquiring. "Didn't you read some strange book and just give me the credit?"

"Ah."

Mycroft snorted coldly, "Didn't you just drop by to borrow books today, have you seen any strange books?"

At this time, the two were sitting in the study.

On the large bookshelf on the entire wall, various books are placed in different categories.

Looking around, at first glance, there are no books and periodicals that are contrary to Mycroft's style of painting, such as "The Dangers of Obesity to Relationships" and "The Invisible Deadly Killer of Sweets".

Among the esoteric tomes, there are indeed incompatible books, such as "Desserts", "100 Innovations in Cake Mounting", "Illustrated Desserts from Around the World" and so on.

Sherlock was not surprised to see traces of such publications.

It is not surprising, just as it is not surprising to see dessert books placed next to mathematical research treatises.This is very Mycroft, it is his routine operation, which shows the importance of sweets.

"You also purchased related research papers on π."

Sherlock glanced casually, and saw the book next to the "Sweet Food Book" written by "Big Red Riding Hood".

""π is a Transcendental Number", that was written by Mr. Minton at the beginning of this year. After the French first demonstrated the existence of transcendental numbers in the 19s, Mr. Minton demonstrated for the first time that pi is a transcendental number. Proving the impossibility of squaring a circle. This is a major event in mathematics."

Speaking of this, Sherlock smiled at Mycroft, "Brother, your classification of books is really interesting. If the original author of the mathematics paper knew that he was classified with sweets, I don't know how he would feel."

What do you think, does Mr. Minton care about these details?

Mycroft thinks of the ocean

The man on the other side.The embarrassing incident of the fryer in Berlin seems to be still yesterday, but the two have not seen each other again for 310 seven days.

When we parted, I said that there was an important telegram to contact, but I didn't expect to get in touch so quickly.

In April last year, before the Marquis T agreed to cooperate in recalling the past incidents of the shipwreck, he died unexpectedly.

At the spring ball of the London social season, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Marquis T had a sudden convulsion and rolled down the stairs on the second floor of the old castle.

He suffered a massive brain hemorrhage on the spot, fell into a coma for a day and could not be rescued, and died in the hospital.

This matter once became the shadow of last year's social season.

In the social season that started in April, the Marquis T’s estate hosted the first high-profile ball last year. Who would have thought that the owner would die.Is this accidental misfortune, or man-made murder?

Mycroft was responsible for a thorough investigation of the matter, and also sent a timely telegram to Mr. Minton in Berlin.

The final findings have nothing to do with human.

Comparing all known toxin varieties one by one, Marquis T was not poisoned.Half a month before he fell down the stairs, he had already developed symptoms such as unsteady walking, staggering gait, and tremors in his fingers.

Marquis T is 66 years old, and dementia is normal at this age.

At that time, no one was alerted. Marquis T cooperated with the doctor to take maintenance medicines. Who would have thought that when the attack happened again, he would lose his footing and fall to his death.

Is that all?

Marquis T's family members did not agree with the autopsy at first, thinking that this step was enough.But in the end, an in-depth autopsy was agreed to completely rule out the possibility of man-made murder.

There were basically no other special findings in the autopsy results, and there was no artificial poisoning or hidden injuries caused by external forces.The only thing that can be called a little weird is that Marquis T's brain tissue has shrunk significantly, but due to technical equipment, it is impossible to further observe the nerve cell tissue.

Brain shrinkage, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

In this way, it was confirmed in reverse that the Marquis T was indeed killed accidentally due to a spontaneous disease.

However, there is one little-known fact.

According to Moody's encrypted notes, on the islands on the side of Australia, kuru patients also have brain atrophy and show symptoms of convulsions and tremors.

No. 11 days after the death, Mycroft waited for Mr. Minton.

Both of them were unable to give a conclusion in the face of the autopsy results.Even if the Marquis T suffered from a disease and caused his accidental death, it is still doubtful which disease it was.

Maybe it's kuru, showing that Marquis T once actually ate humans.Pity

What's more, the existing medical technical means can't give more inspection data.

Regarding the follow-up of the shipwreck amnestics and the nursery rhyme of the red shoes, those clues were completely broken with the sudden death of Marquis T.

Later, Mycroft reported the results of the investigation into the death of Marquis T, and the people concerned had no dissatisfaction with it.

Everything seems to stop here.He never saw Mr. Minton again, and the two had only one transoceanic gift exchange at Christmas.

Mr. Minton returned to New York from his exchange studies in Berlin with a pair of lapis lazuli and silver cufflinks.As the gift was wrapped with only one seemingly ceremonial greeting card, a few popular greetings such as Merry Christmas were written.

The cufflinks are exquisite, and purely for the price, it's an absolute gem.

But Mycroft knew very well that whether Mr. Minton valued a person had nothing to do with the price of the gift.

Recalling the first time they met each other, Mr. Minton gave the old lady he pretended to be an expensive umbrella, which shows that she doesn't care much about money.

There is a very likely scenario where Mr. Minton chooses a luxury store at random, picks out a bunch of Christmas gifts in just 5 minutes, and sends them out.

It can't be said that doing that is careless, willing to spend money is also a kind of intention, but it is true that there is no special treatment for someone.

In the study, Sherlock carefully checked the books on the bookshelf again.Judging only from the title of the book on the spine, it is certain that no strange books and periodicals were found that made Mycroft choose to maintain a healthy body.

Since it is not knowledge that changes living habits, is it the power of another person?It made Mycroft understand the laws of nature, such as peacocks need beautiful feathers for courtship.

"Oh! my dear brother..."

Sherlock was on the verge of asking if Mycroft was trying to peacock.

"What do you want to say?"

Mycroft watched his silly brother's expression change again and again, from hesitant to speak to extremely surprised, and then quickly denied himself.

"Sherlock, is your brain all right? Didn't it burst from your imagination?"

"Of course, I'm fine."

Sherlock quickly dismissed speculation that Mycroft had a sweetheart.

No way, his brother doesn't have much sensuality and doesn't bother to start a relationship that would completely disrupt his routine.More importantly, the actual evidence speaks for itself. There are no women of the right age around Mycroft.

Sherlock felt that his brain had just twitched, why did he

to make such ridiculous speculations.

Yes, it must have been the great power of knowledge that changed Mycroft's habits of life.He almost missed a possibility. There was no strange book in the study here, maybe it was a collection of books in another place.

- Club of Diogenes.

Mycroft, as the promoter, started planning to build this London's weirdest club last year.

The main rule of the Diogenes Club is that, except for the stranger's room, no talking is allowed in other rooms.The main purpose is to allow club members to read and rest quietly without restraint.It was sited very close together, on Pall Mall Street.

"I'm not thinking wildly, I'm just thinking about the Diogenes Club."

Sherlock resorted to the great method of diverting the topic, completely exposing the outrageous inference of the peacock opening the screen. "The club will officially open tomorrow. It's a pity that I can't go back to school. It's worth mentioning that you chose a good date, and it's April Fool's Day."

"April 4st, simple and easy to remember, nothing more."

Mycroft seemed to believe Sherlock's words, and didn't delve into what he had thought of before.

As for Sherlock's so-called not being able to show up tomorrow, that doesn't matter at all.The purpose of the establishment of the club is to read quietly, and there is no fancy opening ceremony in the first place.One more person and one less person, who would care.

**

August 4, 1:04 pm.

Mycroft went straight to the Diogenes Club after get off work.

10 minutes away, facing the setting sun, opened the door of the club.

The hall was very quiet, only the footsteps of members walking, but the force of the leather shoes falling on the marble floor was deliberately lightened.

At this time, the doorman saw Mycroft and immediately made a gesture to show that a visitor was looking for him.

He handed out a note, "16:26, a new customer applied for membership, indicating that you are his recommender. 』

The Diogenes Club, like many clubs in London, has chosen a recommendation system for membership.

Mycroft was so sure, he hadn't committed to recommending anyone to the club lately.

His gaze was fixed on the second half of the note. "This is Mr. Mark Minton. He is waiting for you in the stranger's room." 』

Who?

This is impossible!Mr. Minton should go to school in New York.

Mycroft squeezed the note in disbelief, and almost broke the quiet code set by himself on the first day of the club's official opening, asking who was making a bad April Fool's joke.

Fortunately, reason controlled emotions in time.He didn't question, just took three steps and took two steps to quickly walk to the only stranger's room where he could talk.

The door is not locked.

Unscrewing the handle, he was about to open the door, but his movements paused again.Isn't this an April Fool's Day joke?Will the house be empty?

The next moment, Mycroft took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Inside the house, Mary heard the sound, stood up and turned to look at the gate, showing a smile to the person who came.

"Mr. Holmes, long time no see. Your club is officially open today. I hope you don't mind my sudden visit. Just drop by to say congratulations."

"By the way, I will give you flowers for the opening, and talk about your feelings. I will choose one that is easy to support."

Mary turned sideways, and there was a pot of cactus on the long table behind her, with a very simple appearance.

The setting sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

At this moment, Mycroft could see a person surrounded by the sun, and the pot of cactus that didn't suit his aesthetics became gentle and amiable.

"Minton..."

Mycroft was about to say something when he saw the other person stretch out his finger and make a 'shh' gesture.

"Mr. Holmes, you have not stepped over the gate, and you are technically outside the stranger's room."

Mary walked quickly to the door and looked at Mycroft who was a step away.

"Speaking outside the house, do you want to break the principles you set? That's not good. Hey, why are you standing outside all the time? Do you need me to give you a hand?"

Delusion?

Mycroft looked at the polite Mr. Minton, why did he seem to mean something else.