Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

The two refused to admit that there were authors they admired, and they also denied that they only bought the works of the same person on a regular basis.

"It's just a coincidence."

Sherlock waved the booklet easily, "I'll buy others besides Apep."

Kelsey agrees, "It's true that we have a lot of options, and it's not like there's a new author recently, 'The Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses.Uncover the secrets of the bones, and the lingering love flows in the blood.

What a characterful author, if he stopped writing cheap horror novels and was capable enough to rewrite love stories, it would be even hotter than it is now. "

The penny-horror genre demands a lot of monthly throwaway stories, and "The Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses" is a newcomer to the line.

According to the words of editor-in-chief Mike, this man obviously chose the wrong subject.

The emotional line of his story takes the lead, which is not suitable for horror novels that sell violent killings, cruelty, and capriciousness.

While "The Sharpshooter Who Loved a Rose" also attracted some female readers, they weren't the mainstream audience for cheap horror.If you are willing to cross the line, "The Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses" is obviously easier to become famous than it is now.

"Yes, I have also read this story."

Sherlock wanted to find some compliments, but the plot design of "The Sharpshooter Who Loved Roses" was so simple that he saw through the ending at a glance.Can't he be sure that the emotional description in it is very delicate?

Sherlock still found a bright spot, "Although I don't know if "The Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses" is a sharpshooter, but he has some medical knowledge.At the very least, I don’t agree with randomly opening the brain hole and digging out a spoonful of brain tissue. It is said that this kind of operation can treat mental patients. "

Brain hole is wide open, that is, craniotomy.Its history is so long that it can even be pushed back to the Mesolithic Age.

The wonder of the brain has always attracted human exploration. During the Renaissance, there was a theory - there is a stone in the brain, which causes people to be crazy or dementia.

Want to get back to normal?

After cutting off a piece of hair and exposing the scalp so bald, you can drill a hole with the brain hole and take out the stone that is in the way.

This is not an absurd rumor.

Even with the advancement of medicine, more and more medical workers are calling for the abolition of such tragic operations, but there are still many supporters of brain cutting in the Victorian era.They also plausibly argue that today's technology is much more mature than it was hundreds of years ago.

Kelsey had grown accustomed to the chaos of the nineteenth century, and she had encountered craniotomy supporters in college.Those believed that removing the cerebral cortex of agitated patients would calm them down.

In this era when anesthesia techniques are not in place and disinfection and sterilization are too simple, whether the disease can be treated or not is another matter. I don’t know how many people died of postoperative infection.

Kelsey could not affirm the benefits of this craniotomy—it has indeed contributed to the advancement of medicine, such as helping to study the structure of the brain, but at the tragic cost of many patients.

"The sharpshooter who loves roses" criticizes this kind of cranial drilling in the novel, so it can be seen that he is at least an author with some medical knowledge.

"Not only craniotomy, he also denied cranial phrenology in the latest issue."

Speaking of the head, Kelsey thought of something that had been popular in the European criminal investigation circle for decades——each part of the skull corresponds to different functional responses, and a person's psychological quality can be judged only by the appearance of the skull.

Touch the other person's head, if his skull is raised, you have to be careful with your wallet.

Because that is the characteristic of a pickpocket, the part of the skull is facing people's desire for money, and the bulge is greed.

——This is the famous phrenology.

"'The Sharpshooter Who Loved Roses' denies the wisdom of phrenology. "

Sherlock sneered. "I once went to a phrenology society to hear a lecture. They want everyone's head to be as smooth and round as a ball, so that there will be good people all over the world-because this kind of head shape is considered to be kind and self-loving."

If you can solve the case by touching the head, what else do you need a detective to do?

There is no need to learn all kinds of different knowledge, no logical reasoning and deductive analysis, just rely on the feel.

At that time, you must not be cowardly, directly challenge the most difficult person, and do some analysis.

The two thought sarcastically, their eyes falling on each other's hats.

Suppose you can figure out the other person's mental state by touching the head under the hat, it really is...

Both Kelsey and Sherlock looked away, kicking the mess of pseudoscience out of their minds.

How did it go from denying liking "Chocolate Cake"/"Apep" to using "Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses" as a shield, and finally evolved into assuming that touching the head can have dire consequences?

It must be that the strange aura has appeared again, and some weird phenomena will occur when the two meet.

"It's getting late, it's time to go back for afternoon tea."

"It's getting late, it's time to go back for afternoon tea."

Both of them wanted to leave quickly, but unexpectedly they spoke in unison.

I could only give the other party a polite farewell smile, then left at the intersection without looking back, and hurriedly walked to the rented house.

Neither will admit it, and the rest of the afternoon teatime will be dedicated to the new Apep/Chocolate Cake story.

**

There are more than one or two people who like "Apep"/"Chocolate Cake".

Another weekend.

The editor-in-chief Mike stopped Kelsey who left after submitting the manuscript, "Andy, do you have any plans for Christmas? Do you want to go back to your hometown in Scotland?"

During the Christmas season in December, some people working in London had already set off and arrived home just before Christmas Eve, and the family reunited for Christmas dinner.

Kelsey did not have a hometown to return to, "No, I stay in London. The editor-in-chief can rest assured that I can deliver the manuscript on time."

"No, it's not a manuscript issue."

Mike waved his hand, "You have submitted more manuscripts than others, and there are no shortage of those weeks. Besides, we have been working together happily. I will pay the manuscript fee in advance, and you can mail it to me directly."

Kelsey couldn't tell that Mike had other things to do, but with the bearded Andy Adair character on her face, she could only ask doubtfully, "It's not the manuscript, what's the problem?"

"It's not a question, it's an invitation."

Mike carefully took out an invitation from the drawer.

The black background of the envelope is sprinkled with gold.

Gold powder outlines a pair of goat horns, without a single superfluous letter.

"Count B. Klimt's invitation, I hope that "Apep" can come to this dark gathering. "

Mike saw Kelsey's blank face. In fact, he didn't understand the details, but he still had to act like he understood. "Relax, it's just a winter party. Look, what's out the window?"

What's outside the window?

Sometimes, Kelsey would rather guess Sherlock than Mike's leaps and bounds.

"Haha, there is a cold winter wind outside the window."

Mike tried to guide, "Does the cold winter wind remind you of anything?"

Kelsey replied bluntly, "The warm quilt makes me not want to get up."

"Uh, that's right."

Mike was almost speechless, he shouldn't be going around with the upright Scottish guy. "Well, I'm going to say that there is Christmas in the winter wind, but there are other festivals in northern Europe."

For example, the Yule festival celebrated by the Germans.

It can be traced back to before Christianity prevailed in northern Europe.On cold and dark winter nights, people light bonfires, sit around, sing and dance to warm their bodies and minds.

"Of course, the festival is not only about celebrating, there are also rumors of demons haunting those winter nights.

The most common is the monster yule goat.A demon with goat horns walked through the doors of one family after another, and suddenly a goat face was stuck to the window, frightening and teasing the children in the house. "

Mike pointed to the golden ram horn on the black envelope, "This is the dark party that evolved from the legend. Christmas doesn't have to be celebrated in December, Count B. Klimt of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the person he admired Go to the Alps Mountain Manor and spend a different kind of winter together."

Kelsey looked at the invitation with dim eyes. It was indeed the chaotic nineteenth century, and all kinds of strange gatherings would happen.

"If you want to attend this party, does it mean that you have to take a boat from London to France first, and then drive all the way to the Alps in the Austro-Hungarian Empire?"

Kelsey and the current bad road conditions, and the two-way back and forth torture, almost refused, "Editor-in-Chief, I..."

"Don't be too quick to say no! It's an honor."

Mike immediately persuaded, "Although Count B. Klimt has not shown much in recent years, he is quite prestigious in Prussia. There have been such gatherings in the past, and tickets are hard to find."

Kelsey looked shocked, but there was no wave in his heart.

What about the Earl?Now can he send a private jet to pick him up?Obviously impossible, he can't invent and manufacture safe means of passage more than a hundred years later.

However, the more Mike talked, the more excited he was, "This time the theme is darkness, and he invited the best of them.

As far as I know, the whole dime-horror business has only hired three, "Apep," "Chocolate Cake," and for some reason he likes "The Sharpshooter Who Loves Roses." "

"The editor-in-chief means that "chocolate cake" may also go? "

Kelsey swept away the previous lack of interest, "In this case, the two major horror novel publishing houses in London have got a place. If I go, it will be considered as going on your behalf?"

Mike patted Kelsey on the shoulder twice, and the young man finally understood his intentions. "That's right, you finally understand. Earl B invited "Apep" to make the publishing house look good!

Although this is a career that needs to be kept low-key, everyone in the industry is well-informed. Who wouldn't want to be appreciated by an Earl?Cheap horror novels spread across the Continent and needed connections like that. "

Mike said earnestly, "So, I hope you can go to the party. Andy, I don't need your help in socializing, as long as you are yourself.

I think this is actually a gay party. Earl B is rich and famous, and he wants to meet the people he likes.If you do a good job of "Apep", you will promote the reputation of the horror publishing house. "

Kelsey seemed to suddenly realize that when he accepted the invitation, he also accepted Mike's expectation.

The Christmas atmosphere is getting stronger and stronger.

In the port of Dunkirk, France, more than half of the horse-drawn carriages traveling to the inland of Europe are heading home.

20 days later, on December 12th, the Alps, dark gathering.

Temporary reservations during the Christmas season are difficult, and there are only four carriages left for cross-border travel.

Kelsey was in a hurry and couldn't wait for the next batch of one-person carriages. He wanted to reserve the other seats in the four-person carriage, but was told that two people had reserved seats.

Simply do not pick.

Kelsey plays Andy Adair, with a beard and a peaked cap, revealing short brown-red hair.With her luggage, she found the carriage numbered AA97, and there was already a passenger in the carriage.

A man in his late 50s, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez.Although his temples have turned gray, he still sits with his back straight.

It seemed that someone was coming. He took out his pocket watch and looked at it, as if to say that this fellow traveler was spot on.

"Good afternoon, sir."

Kelsey smiled and got into the carriage and sat opposite the man.

The man nodded slightly as a greeting.There are still 5 minutes until the departure time, he can't help frowning and looking out the window, why is the other passenger so late?

4 minute, 3 minutes...

With 2 minutes left before the departure, I suddenly heard the sound of running footsteps.

The young man rushed over at a trot, opened the door and said apologetically, "Sorry, the ship was delayed, and I almost missed this carriage. I kept you waiting for a long time."

During the Christmas season, there are not many drivers who are willing to travel long distances. If you miss a car, you may be delayed for more than ten days.

"It's okay, it's only three o'clock in the afternoon."

Kelsey is very friendly with a full beard, and said in a Scottish accent, "There are so many people on the road during the Christmas season, it is inevitable that there will be delays."

The man with gold-rimmed glasses snorted coldly, with a German accent, "Since the risk of congestion in the Christmas season is foreseen, it is even more important to leave enough time for departure in advance. Punctuality is a virtue, I hope you can have it."

The young man was slightly embarrassed when he heard this.Just looking at the fat bearded man opposite, I wanted him to have more space to sit alone, so I sat next to the man with gold-rimmed glasses.

Unexpectedly, this neighbor did not disappoint the rigor of the Germans at all, and he was so serious about strangers.

"Okay, I won't trouble you two for the rest of the journey."

The young man then changed the subject and introduced himself, "John Watson, I'm glad to be traveling with you. What's your name?"

Kelsey announced the name bluntly, "Andy Adair."

"Please call me Mr. Sigson."

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he closed his eyes, obviously not interested in chatting.

The carriage headed east all the way, and the destination was Austria.

A few days later, when we crossed the Rhine and entered Germany, there was sleet in the sky, accompanied by thunder from time to time.

The three of them and the coachman didn't pay much attention to food, so they found a shop at random and had a meal of beer and bread. After lunch, they had to continue on their way.

Who would have thought that as soon as he left the shop, a thunderbolt struck the parked carriage.

Fortunately, the two horses pulling the cart were still grazing in the stables. Unfortunately, the carriage was made a big hole by thunder.

The coachman was dumbfounded, "God, I have been driving for seven years, and I have never encountered such a situation."

The middle-aged man pushed the glasses frame on the bridge of his nose, looked around, and walked to the carriage to see what happened.

At this time, he still secretly said, it's really strange.

He has already disguised himself as a middle-aged German Siegsen, he has already left London, and he has left Kelsey, who might cause a strange aura when he meets him, how could he still see the lightning strike the carriage? !

Sherlock was suspicious again.

Turning around, on the left is a bearded man with a carefree and shocked face, and on the right is Watson, who is good-natured and comforting the driver.Could it be that he is overly sensitive?