I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

On the second day after Pei Xiang and Elinor returned home, George Messina visited Dashwood's house as predicted by Pei Xiang.

Of course, with Mr. Messina came his cousin Aldrich de Vere.

Elinor was overjoyed by the arrival of Mr. Messina, and a little sweetness surged in her heart, but she did not ignore the black-haired gentleman who was traveling with her.

While discussing with George Messina the topics they hadn't finished talking about before they separated last time, she watched her sister Marianne and Aldridge get along with her from the corner of her eye.

Aldridge is keenly aware of the observations of others, and when he finds that his sweetheart's sister occasionally examines him with a probing look, his heart moves slightly.

"Did you tell Miss Dashwood about our relationship?" The man's eyes were focused and his affection was hidden.

"I just tentatively mentioned something in front of my family, and I didn't say it clearly, but it was enough for Elinor to notice some clues."

A touch of joy flashed across Aldrich's stern eyebrows, and it was fleeting.

He still looked calm and confident, but his posture was more upright and upright. His left hand hanging by his side was clenched into a fist, and then slowly opened, and then he repeated this small movement.

"Did Mrs. Dashwood know, too?"

"I guess," Pei Xiang frowned, deliberately slowed down her speech, and smiled shrewdly, "She—"

"Huh?" Aldrich held his breath and concentrated.

"She probably didn't hear my hint." Pei Xiang blinked and quickly explained the facts.

Aldridge's breathing was undetectably off by a beat, he lowered his gaze, and stared at his sweetheart helplessly, with three-point expectation brewing in his deep eyes and seven-point tolerance.

Surrounded by such gentle and quiet eyes, Pei Xiang suddenly felt a little bit guilty of bullying an honest person.

She took a sip of her tea with her head bent, and resolved to describe Mrs. Dashwood's first reaction as gently as possible.

"When I tried to talk about the possibility of us being together, my mother was very surprised and thought I was joking, because she had never thought of it before. However, for my mother, a loyal gentleman with a congenial tongue is very good. You are a good partner, so you don't need to worry too much."

"Verbal speculation?" Aldrich immediately grasped a key word.

Pei Xiang nodded nonchalantly, his bright eyes were black and white, and Gu Pan looked extremely clear and pure:

"That's right, a man and a woman who agree in words, agree in views, and love each other. She won't object to their marriage. Aldrich, don't we talk too much when we're together? So, you don't have to Worrying too much."

These words sounded extremely reasonable, and the person who spoke was frank and straightforward.

However, the black-haired colonel not only understood the innocent tone of his sweetheart when he was fooling others, but also knew very well the indifference impression he left on others.So it occurred to him almost at once that Mrs. Dashwood would prefer a son-in-law who was warm, intelligent, and full of life.

He tried hard to think about it, if he behaved in front of Mrs. Dashwood as eloquent and enthusiastic as Lester, would it increase his impression points?

Pei Xiang puffed her cheeks, as if she knew what Aldrich was thinking, she immediately poked the black-haired man lightly while others were not paying attention.

"You are not allowed to think about it! You are just right now, and I like it. If you become weird, don't let me smile at you."

"You like?" The man's eyes glowed brightly.

"That's right, if I don't like it, why should I agree to you?" Pei Xiang's attitude was straightforward, without twitching.

Aldridge smiled.

Pei Xiang deliberately "threatened" him fiercely:

"But don't be too proud. Maybe I will change my aesthetic taste one day. Aldridge, you must have a sense of crisis."

Aldrich nodded with a smile: "Okay, I will try my best to get Mrs. Dashwood's approval, and I will keep the appearance you like."

"Similarly, if you have any new expectations and requirements for me, you must tell them frankly, Aldrich."

"Everything is just right for me."

Pei Xiang and Aldridge talked in a low voice together, and got close without knowing it.

Elinor, who was not far away, looked up and saw this scene, and couldn't help but look surprised.Even though she had made some psychological preparations, she did not expect that Marianne and Mr. Deville would get along so comfortably and harmoniously.

"Miss Dashwood?" Messina whispered to Elinor who was distracted.

"Oh, Mr. Messina, sorry, just thought of something else."

Messina shook his head with a smile, and whispered about his trip to the Lake District...

One morning after half a month, Pei Xiang had just walked into the breakfast room when he heard Mrs. Dashwood complaining loudly:

"This is nonsense! This, this man named Edmond must be talking nonsense. Oh, my God, don't the editors of this paper review manuscripts, why are all the crooked melons published? ah?"

"What's the matter, Mom?" Pei Xiang sat down in his seat and looked curiously at the angry Mrs. Dashwood.

The good-tempered woman who rarely gets angry handed the newspaper in front of Pei Xiang:

"Look at it, here... oh, what a shameful statement!"

Pei Xiang raised his eyebrows, took today's morning newspaper and quickly browsed through it, and soon understood the reason for Mrs. Dashwood's anger.

It turned out that a critic named Edmund claimed that he suspected that the famous painter Brown Paddington had no real talent, and that he himself was only a second-rate guy.

Most likely, he was able to paint great art because he did some despicable things.

For example, he secretly imprisoned an unknown foreign painter with extraordinary painting skills, and forced him to create works for him, and then signed Brown Paddington's name.

"This despicable thief, he is robbing other people's hearts and minds!"

"He enjoys the glory that shouldn't belong to him, and the money, status, and people's respect and love brought by this glory. At the same time, the real creator is unknown, and he has to face the bullying and abuse of predators." laugh at……"

"Why doesn't Brown Paddington dare to walk in the sun, because the light will make his sins invisible."

Pei Xiang read with relish the critic Edmund's slander and "trial" of "Brown Paddington", thinking that this person is still very talented in terms of writing alone.Some words are used just right, and the emotions between the lines are also rendered very well.

"Mum, are you offended by this article defaming Mr Paddington?"

"Of course, Marianne, aren't you angry? Mr. Paddington is our friend and benefactor. We all know how generous and grateful he is. But this guy named Edmond has no proof It’s outrageous to slander Mr. Paddington. What’s even more outrageous is that this newspaper even published it, which is simply the most ridiculous scandal in the world.”

While thanking Mrs. Dashwood in his heart for maintaining "Brown Paddington", Pei Xiang handed the newspaper to Elinor who came in later.

"Mom, as you said, this is nonsense and a despicable lie. Why are you angry at such a villain? Who would take it seriously?"

"However, there will always be people who don't know the truth and be bewitched by such articles. Look at how cunning this person is. He only lightly mentioned the sentence 'I suspect' at the beginning of the article, and after that, it is full of doubts. Oh If I didn't trust and understand Mr. Paddington, I would have been convinced by this Edmund."

Elinor also finished reading the article in the morning paper at this time. After calmly thinking for a moment, she speculated not too optimistically:

"Since it has been published, it means that Edmond's article is supported by some evidence, um, or his point of view has been affirmed by some people. Mom, Marianne, I think Mr. Paddington is going to be in trouble gone."

"Oh, God bless Mr. Paddington!" sighed Mrs. Dashwood, resting her forehead.

Elinor thought for a while, and suggested: "Mom, why don't you write a letter to Mr. Paddington to remind him. If Mr. Paddington needs our help, we are willing to define it."

"You are right, Elinor, and I will write now."

Mrs. Dashwood put down her unfinished breakfast at once, and hurried to the drawing-room.

Pei Xiang read the article criticizing "Brown Paddington" again, and analyzed:

"Actually, as long as Mr. Paddington can appear in front of everyone during the day and complete a work in public. In this case, all the accusations here will be invalid."

Elinor frowned: "This is indeed a good way to solve the problem, but Mr. Paddington has always insisted not to show up during the day, not to communicate face-to-face with colleagues, not to open private studios, and only participate in various discussions through articles and drawings... He must have a reason. I'm worried that this Edmund...or the people behind Edmund have mastered Mr. Paddington's weakness, so they dare to criticize him so much."

Pei Xiang fully agreed with Elinor's analysis, and also expressed his concerns about Mr. Paddington.But what can the two unmarried girls do, even if they are extremely anxious, they can only pray sincerely at home.

Things really started to ferment.

Starting from the first article doubting whether the painter Paddington had real talents, some tabloids also successively published articles questioning Paddington.

Of course, many reports use exaggerated headlines to attract people's attention. If you read two lines carefully, you will find that the content of the text cannot withstand any scrutiny.Even the absurd remarks that Brown Paddington is actually a descendant of vampires are also mixed in, and some weird data arguments are also given.

Some people believed it, and they criticized Paddington who has not come forward to clarify.

Some people don't believe it, and they ask the critics to come up with tangible evidence, not to slander a gentleman's reputation at will.

——A clean reputation can easily be tarnished maliciously, perhaps, it only takes three short days.But to wipe off the stains on the white cloth, three days is far from enough, and it may take 30 years, or even a lifetime.

Gradually, under the control of a pair of invisible hands, the two voices formed a confrontation, and their respective supporters published articles one after another. They debated generously and attacked each other.

I don't know when.The content of these articles has shifted, and the focus of the discussion is not the question of Paddington's outstanding artistic talent, but about slander, rumour, reputation and justice.

The people behind the scenes probably didn't expect things to go this way, but anyway, they thought their original goal had been achieved.

While the streets were talking about Brown Paddington, in a hidden room, several people were having a heated discussion.

Smith Cotter, one of the persons in charge of the dark thread, was walking back and forth in the narrow room. He had just rushed back to London from Ireland last night and learned about Brown Paddington as soon as he got off the carriage.

"I don't understand, ladies, I don't understand, why do you have to plot against this Brown Paddington? You even exposed Edmond! You know, we were able to insert companions in several newspaper offices, is it It took a lot of effort and paid a lot of money, Edmond should use it at a critical moment, not to slander a small painter."

"This is not slander," Anna retorted with a sullen face sitting in the shadows, "We found some evidence in a room where Paddington once stayed, which can indirectly prove our judgment. It is that Paddington has no A true talent, his paintings are the achievement of another man."

The tall and thin man who accused Anna scratched his hair and growled angrily:

"I know that you have evidence, I know that you have worked so hard to finally catch Paddington's horse's feet, and I know that you plan to make those evidence public when the attention is the highest. But, but, these are not the point! The point Yes, why are we dealing with a painter? Huh? Just because he's getting close to that Dwyer? Just because he's secretive?"

"Kott, calm down," Rebecca's lithe and soft voice was remembered in the room, "you have been questioning Anna and me since you entered this room, but you refused to sit down and listen to our analysis quietly. .”

"Okay, let me listen. I want to hear how you can persuade me."

Rebecca and Anna glanced at each other, and began to describe their previous analyzes to their companion Kurt.

When Rebecca finally explained the reason, Kurt asked suspiciously:

"You mean, this Paddington is Deville's capable subordinate? As long as Paddington is hit, Deville can be in a hurry? What about the evidence? Also, since the real identity of this Paddington is Deville's So, my subordinate, so what if we ruin his reputation as an artist? Doesn't it stop him from doing work for Dwyer?"

"Why not delay?" Anna sneered.

"Can't you take a long-term view? Why did Deville want to promote this Paddington and make him famous? He just wanted Brown Paddington to make contacts for him and handle some inconvenient areas for him. Since the appearance of this Paddington, how many people has he imprisoned for Deville, have you counted? For example, the Baron Defoe, who was just acquainted with Aldrich Deville before, and he didn't like to talk to Lester. Sissel, but since Paddington came forward to deal with it, the relationship between the two parties has obviously been drawn closer. Such examples are not isolated, do I need to point them out to you one by one? What's more, Paddington has also obtained some The sincere approval of the gang members is absolutely impossible for Deville, who is born as an aristocrat."

Kurt stroked his mustache, and didn't ask any more questions for a while.

Anna sneered and continued:

"Since we asked Edmond to write that article, many people have questioned Paddington's character and talent. According to our informant report at the Bartley Card Club, Paddington appeared in the After the club, many people stopped saying hello to him. Some people even questioned him face to face and asked the club to revoke Paddington's membership. Even Baron Defoe was skeptical. Kurt, tell me, once Brown Paddington His name has been set on the pillar of shame by us, have all the things he did for Deville before been in vain?"

Rebecca nodded and added: "Not only that, so far, Aldrich Deville has always insisted that he believes in Paddington, and firmly believes in Paddington's character and ability. He maintains a liar like this, when the truth is true. The day he is exposed, his reputation and prestige will be damaged."

Hearing this, Kurt narrowed his eyes:

"Destroying the prestige of that cold-blooded Deville? That's a good idea. I hope he's full of scandals, so we can kick him out of his current position and replace him with a mediocre and arrogant nobleman. "

Anna squinted at Kurt: "This is also one of Rebecca and I's plans. So, do you still think it's a big deal for us to move a few hidden lines in the newspaper this time?"

Kurt didn't care about Anna's ambiguity, he pondered for a moment, and went through the cause and effect in his mind:

"I have two questions. First, is this Brown Paddington really working for Deville? Second, this Brown Paddington really won't suddenly announce that he wants to paint in public to prove his painting technology?"

Rebecca held down Anna, who had a bad temper, and answered Kurt's question softly:

"Your two questions...are actually one. To be honest, Kurt, at the beginning, these were indeed speculations by Rebecca and I. Because there was no evidence, we never dared to act rashly. But, in your In the time since we were away from London, our investigations have made new progress. Kurt, my friend, we have finally found evidence that someone painted Paddington."

"Evidence? Is there really such a person?" Kurt's eyes showed a trace of excitement.

"Yes, the real painter... was brought back by Deville from abroad. He hid him for several years and was under his control all the time. It can be seen that Deville and Paddington belonged together, and Paddington himself has no artistic talent, so it is impossible for him to prove himself by painting in public."

The frown gradually loosened, and Kurt nodded gently towards Rebecca:

"Hearing your explanation, I feel at ease. By the way, have you found that poor foreign painter? Have you communicated with him? Is he willing to testify and prove his talent?"

Rebecca showed a regretful expression:

"Kurt, we have communicated with him, but we failed to take him away. Paddington and Dwyer watched him very closely. We were afraid of making mistakes, so we didn't rush to snatch him. This is why Dwyer The reason why Weir still publicly supports Paddington, heh, he thinks everything is under his control. So, we have to find a way to bring him out completely."

Kurt asked Rebecca a few more questions, and found that every link was very thorough and reasonable, and the benefits obtained after the success of the plan were not small, so he did not raise any objections.He began to assist Rebecca and Anna calmly.

While these people were busy planning to rescue the "true painter", Pei Xiang and Aldrich were also studying their coping strategies afterwards.