mud buddha

The carriage stopped at the intersection, Benoit moved the wheelchair down first, and Nibel put on his hat and got out of the carriage.

It was noon at this time, but the weather was gloomy, the sky was shrouded in dense clouds, and the light fell on the ground miserly.

On the street, there are a few vendors pushing small carts selling burritos or ice cream, some guys are cleaning the glass windows with rags and kegs, and some gentlemen in high hats are sitting in the gazebo outside the coffee shop, with A slice of freshly baked bread spread with jam, and a handbag beside her.

There were not many people on the street at this time, but compared with Psyche, it seemed extremely prosperous.Everyone's footsteps, conversations, and shouts emanate a kind of pyrotechnic atmosphere, lingering in Benoit's heart.He was still immersed in the ambiguous atmosphere in the carriage, his heart was pounding at this moment, the lively and vague voices of the people around him fluctuated, and his eyes fell back and forth and then fell back on Nibel.

When the two walked into the Heinz jewelry store, a man jumped off the horse.Upon closer inspection, it was Charlie.Blonde hair, pockmarked face, thin and tall.

He looked around, took off the rough coat of the groom on his body, and threw it to the real groom sitting on the horse, revealing the gray-blue coat from last time.After smoothing his hair, he whistled a little and walked away.

When Nibel entered the jewelry store, Henry was instructing a female worker to lie on the counter and wipe the glass.The woman had blond hair with white roots that seemed to be bald, blending into her scalp.She wore gray sleeves and a whitewashed apron.Hearing someone coming in, she raised her head: "Welcome."

Henry stepped forward and helped his coat: "Mr. Roswell, what you want is ready."

The woman behind was still cleaning the glass with her hands, but her eyes were fixed on Nibel.Her gaze was like a stray dog ​​abandoned by its owner on the street, aggrieved and afraid to go forward, showing a daze of not knowing where to go.

Nibel couldn't see clearly, but Benoit noticed.He never saw this kind of scene, and felt that the woman looked familiar, so he asked, "Boss, who is the lady behind you cleaning the table?"

"Oh, she came to the door yesterday and said she was looking for a job. I just happened to be in need of a helper, so I recruited her because of her quick hands and feet."

"So, she..." Benoit said halfway, the woman shook her head towards him. "Ah, it's nothing, I'm taking the liberty."

Nibel looked up, squinting at the woman.He felt that the woman was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't see clearly from too far away.When he thought about it again, the woman had already turned her head away.

"She is not young, and she has worked hard." Nibel said casually.

"In these days, it's hard work for everyone to dig their heads for a meal." Henry sighed, and Benoit nodded, his eyes were red as if he had been touched by something.

Nibel followed Henry into the inner room, and asked Benoit to wait outside: "Keep a little sense of surprise."

So only Benoit and the woman were left outside.The woman stopped what she was doing and looked at Benoit.

"Mr. Guy, long time no see."

Her face was divided into several areas by deep wrinkles, and her eyes were swollen and pressed into triangles by the eyelids.

"Where have I seen you, lady?"

"Mr. Guy, I'm Anne. I used to be the master's housekeeper. You may have an impression."

"Niebel's housekeeper?" Benoit's eyes widened, and he looked Anne up and down carefully: "I remember you, you—why are you here? I haven't seen you for a while, and you've aged so much?"

"I am not young. People of my age rely on one breath to live. With this breath, you can straighten your waist. When you wake up one morning, if this breath is sent out, it will be like a tire. Just shrunk down."

"What are you talking about!" Benoit sighed: "Why are you here?"

"It's a long story. Master doesn't know yet, does he?"

"what do you know?"

Annie shook her head, put away the rag, turned around and entered a small room, letting Benoit call her in a low voice.

Soon Henry pushed Nibel out, and Nibel was holding two boxes in his arms.

"A total of 27 pounds." Henry said to Benoit.

"I'll pay the bill." Nibel ordered the table.

"Mr. Roswell, you..." Henry had a troubled expression.

"what happened?"

"Mr. Roswell, it's like this. Usually we keep the accounts first, and then I come to collect the money at the end of the month, right?"

"It's always been like this."

"Yes, but sir, we cannot take your money now."

"what are you saying?"

"Don't you know?" Henry looked at Nibel in surprise, and then at Benoit next to him.

"what do you know?"

"After you were hurt, everyone knew about it. Then you disappeared and Mrs. Robinson took over your affairs."

"I guessed, she is a capable woman."

"That's true. She got used to handling the business very quickly and did a good job. But unfortunately, she also fell ill very quickly."

"what?"

"Mrs. Robinson just had a headache, and then went to Dr. Mill to prescribe some medicine—do you know anything about the Mill family?"

Nibel nodded, and when Henry saw it, he went on to say: "At that time, everyone didn't know that Dr. Mill had a superficial appearance, but a straw bag inside. Mrs. Robinson didn't get better after taking the medicine, and soon her headache became more and more serious, so she closed her eyes." Can't get out."

"and then?"

"Either you go back to your own place, sir, and you will find out."

Nibel took a deep look at Henry and fell silent.Benoit put his hand on his shoulder: "It's okay, Nibel, let's go and have a look first."

"Then do you still want this one?" Henry asked.

"Leave it alone." Nibel reached out to stop Benoit's hand, signaling him not to pay the bill.

"It's okay to talk about this necklace, but this one is custom-made by you, and it cannot be returned."

"Leave it alone, I'll come back to get it." Nibel clenched his fists and frowned.

"Then you'd better hurry up." Henry also sat down: "I don't want to drop this in my hand."

Benoit stomped on the wooden floor of the store, pushed Nibel out, and slammed the door hard.

After getting into the carriage, Benoit told the coachman to go to Roswell Manor.The carriage was still moving, and Benoit hammered the carriage and shouted for him to leave quickly.

Nibel sighed, stretched out his hand to hold Benoit's hand that hit the wall, and blew.

"Nibel, that man just now, look at his face!" He imitated Henry and said eccentrically, "I don't want to drop this in my hand."

Seeing Benoit blowing his beard and staring in anger, Nibel actually laughed out loud: "It's really annoying."

"Are you still laughing?" Benoit slapped him on the shoulder: "I'm so mad, I really wanted to take off my coat just now and give him a punch!"

His woolen coat was indeed too thick. At this time, Benoit's forehead was sweating, his cheeks were flushed, and he was hot even when he was angry.

"Business, it's just like that."

"That can't be too disrespectful." Benoit said angrily. While trying to take off his coat, he remembered that he said before going out that he was not hot in such a dress, so he touched the button and put it down.

Charlie was unaware that the carriage had gone, for he was intoxicated in the next-door salon.

After going back last time, he chatted about this salon with the servants who made the fire together.The servant was in the city before, and was brought back by Benoit this time, so he has more knowledge than him.

When Charlie talked about his haircut, he couldn't help laughing out loud: "For a country bumpkin like you, it's an eye-opener to get a haircut, but what's inside is what's called enjoyment."

When Charlie heard it, he didn't care about being called a bumpkin, so he pestered his friends to tell him how to enjoy it.

This time, he came prepared.Before he came, he had advanced one month's wages with Benoit, and put it in the small purse.Along the way, he counted and counted the money, sitting on the horse as if he was burning his butt, twisting left and right.

However, because he came on horseback, his inner thighs were worn out, and he still felt trembling when he walked to the door of Liang Ye.

After entering the door, he followed what the man taught him and said, "Check in."

It was the fat woman who pushed the door out. She took a look at Charlie and asked him how many days he was staying.

"One night." Here, one night is the cheapest grade.

"Come in." She opened the door and motioned Charlie to go inside.

After walking in, there is a narrow corridor first, and there are several corridors on the left and right. I don't know where they lead.

At the end, Charlie realized how big it was.It is fragrant inside, full of the smell of women's powder.As soon as he walked in, his legs stopped shaking, his waist was straightened, and he followed the boss with the money in his hands.

The boss took out the key from his waist and opened the door inside.

There were quite a few women in the room, some were standing, chatting with their arms on their waists, some were sitting at the table to touch up their makeup, and some even found a place to lie down, with their eyes closed, wondering if they were asleep or not.It is very warm inside, the stove is crackling, and there are a few small windows that are not as big as the face at the bottom for ventilation.

On the right is a simple staircase leading upstairs.A little girl sat on the steps, dozing off against the railing.

"Which one do you want?" the proprietress asked him.

Charlie felt that his body was surrounded by the atmosphere of the incense powder, and his head was smudged. He pointed to one at random, and it was the one sitting on the steps.

"Julie." The proprietress raised her hand and picked up a brush on the table and was about to throw it at the little girl. The woman closest to her hurriedly pushed the little girl awake.

"Fifteen." The proprietress opened five fingers to Charlie.