A Weird Theater That Started In London

Numerous times, doctors tied him tightly like an animal, while several nurses grabbed his limbs and performed corrective operations without anesthesia.

The pain is comparable to forced castration.

The reason for this is that Sickert suffers from hereditary physical deformities and must go through many surgeries before he can recover some of his functions.

At this moment, Sickert, who was narrating his childhood experience, looked desolate and haggard. His eyes were lowered, and he did not want to look at others, because he was afraid of seeing ridicule and contempt.

When he was young, many playmates who knew about this problem insulted him, and even his father couldn't help laughing at him when he was drunk.

Sir, that's not our intention...

Lu Li felt absurd, and now he felt that he was extorting a confession by torture, wielding a knife like a weakling.

On the way here, who would have thought that a handsome young painter who entered and exited the upper class would have such a misfortune.

Perhaps, Murder in a Nameless Town is his expression of his own experience, but with some artistic processing.

Besides, everyone has a dark side. It would be too arbitrary to judge Sickert as a murderer based on a few paintings.

And Mr. Lasker, who has been putting on a bad face, was also unhappy, and apologized: I'm sorry, I reminded you of those past events, make an appointment, we will visit later...

However, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Lu Li.

Mr. Sickert, can you show us the studio upstairs?

Sympathy is sympathy, and there must be no less steps in the process that should be followed.

If the identity of the murderer is misjudged because of the flood of the Virgin Mary's heart, then not only will he go to some inferior class, but he will also be unlucky with Duke.

Don't be too nervous, it's just a personal request.

After speaking, Lu Li stared closely at Sigel, hoping to see some clues from his face. However, apart from pursing the corners of his mouth and nodding helplessly, the painter did not do anything else.

A moment later, with the support of Mr. Lasker, Sickert got up and walked ahead to lead the way, pleading in his tone: Please help keep the secret, don't let that lady know.

Of course.

Lu Li immediately made a promise, but he had already made a judgment in his heart: this man has a problem!

Judging from the current situation, the suspect seems to be deliberately setting up a personality, such as: an unfortunate childhood, a weak personality, and a body that has collapsed to the point where it is difficult to act.

This is not a subjective conjecture. According to the information provided by the informant, it is not difficult to find that the old lady next door dislikes Sickert, saying that he lives indiscreetly and has a contemptuous attitude towards him.

Between the two, it is very contradictory.

click.

The door to the studio on the second floor opened.

Behind the door, the thin female model's smile began to disappear, and her disappointment could not be concealed: Sir, have you finished talking?

not yet.

Lu Li shook his head at her, and at the same time glanced nonchalantly at the studio.

Um……

It's weird, there's no dark stuff, but they're weird.

And George Lasker, who has been working as a tool, was shocked by the painting in front of him.

Nearly half of the dozens of works are self-portraits of Mr. Sickert, either in a ruffled skirt or a fitted dress with hip pads.

God closes a door and opens a window.

For Mr. Siegel, the only luck is that God gave him a face that women are jealous of, with a perfect nose bridge and chin, a head of blond hair, and especially those blue eyes without a trace of variegation.

Women's clothing boss?

Lu Li quickly suppressed this terrifying thought, and continued to look at other paintings.

Madonna and Child (religious themes)

Body Painting (Renaissance Style)

Although the woman in the painting is dressed coolly, it is still acceptable compared to women's clothing.

Mr. Siegel, two last questions.

Lu Li calmed down and said in a deep voice, You said you haven't gone out these few days, so what should you eat to fill your stomach?

The female model has been waiting for a long time since entering the door, feeling a little impatient, and she has already seen that Lu Li and others are not friendly, so she muttered dissatisfiedly: Of course it is bread.

Three days ago, I bought some food at the bakery on the corner of the street. Some of them were not finished. Would you like to see them? Put them all in this studio.

Saying that, Sigel pointed to the corner of the wall.

A piece of oiled paper cloth, with a few pieces of white bread inside, and an empty water glass.

Hearing what Sig said, Mr. Lasker felt a little complicated: This poor painter should not be the murderer, but Mr. Lu Li still insisted on picking up those stale bread and carefully observing it. Could it be that he found something?

Okay, mind if I ask one more question? Unfortunately, Lu Li didn't seem to be asking for opinions, and immediately asked, What new work have you made these two days?

Sickert recalled, pointing to the two drawing boards placed in the middle of the studio and said: I was in good health yesterday afternoon, so I drew an impromptu sketch.

I got inspiration this morning, and I'm going to paint an oil painting, so I'll get up later in the afternoon, lay the base color on the drawing paper, and adjust the tone. Shall I lift the curtain and show you?

No, is there any waste during the period?

Lu Li was still asking irrelevant questions.

However, the female model who wholeheartedly defended Sickert couldn't bear it, and warned directly: What are you trying to do, Mr. Sickert is a decent person with a lot of energy.

Her shallow knowledge made her think that Lu Li and the others were plainclothes, deliberately blackmailing Sickert——

Plainclothes often appear in the slums, and they extort money under the guise of investigating cases.

Ma'am, frankly, I have energy too.

Mr. Lasker was suspicious, but his stand was firm. It's just that his words made Lu Li play a little bit, and he always felt like a villain.

There are no scraps.

On the side, the mild-tempered Sigel was not angry, held his temper, and explained to a few laymen: Mr. Lu Li, you may not know that stale bread can not only be used to feed your hunger, but can also be used as an eraser to remove pencils. print.

I can testify.

Mr. Siegel demonstrated in this studio two weeks ago, and he said the breadcrumbs softened the tone...

It is really not easy for a wandering warbler to remember these things. She stuttered for a long time, and finally fell silent.

Click!

The sound of the hands advancing is clearly audible.

At ten o'clock in the evening, the progress of the investigation seemed to be hindered and stagnated.

Mr. Detective, it's getting late, why don't you go to the other suspects first, and I will send Linnai to watch him outside.

At this time, Mr. Lasker leaned closer and whispered in Lu Li's ear, Besides, Professor Duke will be here soon, and it will take time to check the cause of the disease. Staggering actions can improve efficiency.

Everyone's eyes turned to Lu Li, either confused, disgusted, or indifferent.

Sir, hurry up and ask the last question. If possible, I want to finish the painting sooner.

Sickert has always maintained an attitude of being willing to communicate and cooperate, which made Mr. Lasker feel complicated. He couldn't help but want to withdraw his previous evaluation on the carriage.

No need, Mr. Siegel, you're lying.

Lu Li's tone was firm.

What?

Mr. Lasker raised his head in surprise, he felt that his IQ was not enough.

And this understatement made the studio quiet again.

Actually, I have never learned to paint. If I hadn't just heard a story, I'm afraid I wouldn't have known you were lying.

After the words fell, Sickert shrugged and replied in a very low tone: What story, don't be joking...

The Story of Bread and Painting.

With that said, Lu Li pulled out the revolver and handed it to Mr. Lasker, signaling him to take precautions.

Miss Meacham runs a small bakery on the corner of the street. She is in good condition and longs for love. Coincidentally, recently there is a middle-aged customer who often visits her bakery. polite.

Gradually, the passionate heart of the female boss began to throb, and she secretly paid attention to this customer. Once Miss Meacham noticed a reddish-brown smudge on his finger, and immediately concluded in her mind that the customer was an artist as yet unknown, living in poverty--buying the cheapest stale bread each time instead of fresh bread. .

She decided to add some nourishment to the artist.

One day at noon, the customer came to buy stale bread as usual. The passionate female boss secretly stuffed a large piece of butter into the stale bread, pressed the bread tightly, wrapped it in paper, and handed it back.

Having said that, Lu Li lifted up the white bread in his hand, grabbed it hard, and the butter and fruit fragments caught in it splashed out.

Seeing this, Siegel's already slumped face became a little more relaxed, and he leaned on the sofa as if resigned to his fate.

As for Mr. Lasker, he sensed something was wrong from the suspect's expression and movements, so he immediately became vigilant and directly overwhelmed the hammer of the revolver.

After getting the bread, the customer didn't become suspicious. He picked up the food and left with a smile. The female boss couldn't help smiling, but she couldn't help feeling a little flustered, for fear that this move would hurt the fragile self-esteem of the artist.

All afternoon her mind was occupied with this matter. I often think that when the artist picks up bread and water for lunch and bites into sweet butter, can he understand it? Thinking of this, Miss Meacham blushed.

At this moment, the artist rushed in with his companions, his face was flushed, and he clenched his fists, he shook hard at Miss Meacham, and shouted angrily: You have ruined me! Why put something in stale bread! Damn old woman!

Later, Ms. Meacham found out the truth. It turned out that the man was not an artist, but an architectural designer who was busy drawing a floor plan recently. As for drawing, you need to use a pencil to draw a rough draft first, and then wipe off the pencil marks with stale bread after the ink is finished. However, after adding butter to it, everything is ruined...

Sickert felt his heart sinking suddenly, and his whole face collapsed.

(Story excerpt from O. Henry's The Witch's Bread)

ps, I was suddenly notified to practice subject three, and I was a little tired. This chapter is 3k, and I will continue to double update tomorrow.

In addition, if any book friends are willing to interact, you can guess what role the painter played in the murder case.