[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

According to the original "Pride and Prejudice", Mr. Bingley has an income of four or five thousand pounds a year.

In the 21st century when Mary lived, four or five thousand pounds was nothing more than two to three months' rent in London.But in the Victorian period, if the average family had an annual income of about fifty pounds, they could live comfortably.

Mr. Bingley is indeed rich, although not as rich as Mr. Darcy, the hero in the original book, but he is also a promising and wealthy unmarried gentleman.

Moreover, he is not as wealthy as Darcy, who has somewhat invested and operated.

It is not stated in the novel what Mr. Bingley's business is, and it may be that Mary has forgotten.But at least Mary is sure that although he is not an "upstart" that the upper class despises, Mr. Bingley is considered a half-capitalist, which is different from Mr. Darcy.

Therefore, when Mr. Holmes said that the stranger who instigated little Jeffrey to steal wanted "a contract", Mary responded immediately—it was either a factory contract, a commercial trade contract, or a financial bond contract.

But she didn't expect Mr. Bingley to allow her to participate in it.

Firstly, things like contracts have always been business secrets; secondly... Sherlock Holmes personally persuaded Mr. Bingley, personally!

God, she must be in a dream.

Happiness came too fast, and Mary was dizzy until she followed Mr. Holmes into the study and saw Mr. Bingley with a worried face and Mr. Darcy with a disapproving face. The slightly dignified atmosphere finally made Mary Calm down.

"I still don't think Miss Bennet should be involved in this matter." Seeing her enter the door, Mr. Darcy said calmly.

Just knew he would say that.

Mary was not discouraged either: "I have no intention of meddling in Mr. Bingley's business, sir, I just want to give little Jeffrey's mother an explanation."

Darcy: "This is not something that a young lady can interfere with, Sherlock. I hope you will reconsider."

Mr. Holmes smiled.

"The young lady has more clues than you do, William," he said. "I don't think sex is a determinant of intelligence."

"..."

Still not friends anymore!

Sherlock Holmes, who never puts anyone in the eyes of anyone, actually helped a young girl who behaved impudently, which made Darcy choke. He didn't say that women are less intelligent than men, he It was clearly because she was afraid that something would happen to Miss Mary Bennet following the adventure, okay?

Seeing that Darcy was speechless, Mr. Bingley laughed out loud: "It's okay, I believe in Miss Mary's character, besides, besides her, I'm afraid it would be difficult to find another lady who is interested in the factory industry."

Mary's eyes lit up when she heard that.

This good-tempered brother-in-law is still likable, Charles Bingley is easy-going and gentle, and has a sincere heart.Where can I find such a good man? Jane and Jane are a natural match.

Had it not been for the presence of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Holmes, Mary would have been obliged to tease him with some more wisecracks.

"Thank you for taking care of Jane, sir," Mary said with a smile, "I am indeed interested in the factory, and I haven't seen a real commercial contract yet."

When it comes to business, Bentley's smile fades.

"Mr. Holmes said that the thief who instigated little Jeffrey wanted an unsigned contract in your hand," continued Mary. What contract?"

"I wonder how much you know about the factory, Miss Mary?" Bingley asked.

"Not too much," but relying on the knowledge of the 21st century, it must be more than today's unmarried ladies, "I will try to understand as much as possible."

"It's an investment contract."

"Invest in what?"

"Cotton mill."

Mary was surprised.

The Victorian period was a period when various industries developed and prospered. Mary has been learning this part of knowledge from history and political books since junior high school.

But it was the first time she realized that she was so close to the second industrial revolution.

"I see," Mary nodded quickly. "Actually, when Mr. Holmes said that it might be a contract, I always wondered. What's the use of stealing a contract? A contract without a signature has no legal significance. What's the use?"

Seeing Mary's confused expression, Mr. Bingley didn't explain, but went straight to the drawer in the study and took out a contract.

With the approval of Mr. Bingley, Mary stepped forward consciously and picked up the contract.

She read very fast, and understood the content in just a few glances, but when she saw another name on the contract, Mary's eyes suddenly widened.

"Miss Mary?" said Mr. Bingley, perplexed.

"No, nothing."

Mary looked away.

"You intend to give up the cotton supplier in Liverpool and contract with the cotton supplier in the Caribbean," she said, looking up. "Without a signature, are you still hesitating, sir?"

"No, my partner disagrees."

"Your partner?"

"I'm only in charge of investment, Miss Mary. The real operation of the factory depends on the other gentleman in the contract. And he thinks that the cotton in South America is cheap, but the supply is not stable enough, so it's not worth the risk."

Mary turned her eyes to the contract: "Mr. John Thornton, Milton."

"Yes," said Mr. Bingley, laughing again, "it's a pity that Milton is far away in the north, otherwise John would be surprised if he knew which lady was so interested in the factory."

Really, Mary raised an eyebrow.

For Mary in Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bingley is introducing strangers, but not for the time-traveled Mary.

John Thornton is a British female writer whose status is no less than that of Jane Austen, and the hero in Mrs. Gaskell's novel "The South and the North".

It seems that in this world of fan fiction, although there is no magic or ghosts, there are not only Mr. Sherlock Holmes, but also characters from other famous works.

"Since Thornton does not agree to change the supplier," Darcy said at this time, "could it be him?"

"how is this possible!"

Bingley showed a look of surprise: "I will not go beyond my partner and act without authorization. John Thornton is a real man, William. He is frank by nature and speaks straight. He will never engage in such shady methods."

Mary thought so too.

John Thornton did not know her, but she knew Mr. Thornton--just as Mary knew Bingley and Mr. Darcy before her time.The boss who runs a factory in the north is straightforward and taciturn by nature, and he is very similar to Mr. Darcy.

The male protagonists in your British romance novels are all carved out of the same mold, Mary complained from the bottom of her heart.

But then again, the friend is Darcy, and the partner is Thornton, who has a similar personality to Mr. Darcy, so only the good-tempered Mr. Bingley can bear it!

Sure enough, only people with complementary personalities can have friendship.

"In that case," Darcy said, "doesn't that break the clue? The stranger who came to Meryton speaks with a northern accent, and he will certainly not stay here long, so as not to be exposed."

"You can go to Milton to see."

Mary thought for a while, and then suggested: "Mr. Thornton is not optimistic about the cheap cotton in South America. Naturally, some people are optimistic about it. Ask if there are any competitors in the factory, and maybe there will be a breakthrough."

Mr. Bingley nodded: "I will write to John."

Mary: "Mr. Holmes, what do you think?"

Holmes: "I must go and meet that little Geoffrey."

In fact, Mary thought so too.

There was no evidence from Jeffrey Jr.'s mother, so it was logical to go to Jeffrey Jr. himself.But Little Jeffrey was no longer in Meryton, and there were all witnesses and evidence, and he pleaded guilty on the spot, and the magistrate directly sentenced him to repair the railway, and Mary never saw anyone.

As an unmarried lady, it is impossible for her to go to the railway repair site to find someone.

But Mary can't go, Mr Holmes can.

It also meant... Mr. Sherlock Holmes was going to act alone, and Mary couldn't follow.

Her heart is about to break!

Facts have proved that people are greedy. Before seeing Sherlock Holmes himself, Mary still thought that as long as she took a look, she would be satisfied even if she wrote a letter.But now seeing him in person, and realizing that he was going to solve the case alone, Mary was both excited and sad.

I really wish I could go with the detective and solve the case together.

But no, after Jane's illness, Mary deeply realized that she could no longer ignore her relatives because her mind was full of messy fantasies.Jane and Elizabeth are no longer characters in the novel, but real people, Mary's relatives.

What's more, taking a step back, even if Mary wanted to go, Mr. Holmes might not necessarily take her with her—why!If it's so easy to talk, is the male god still a male god!

Thinking of it this way, Mary felt a lot more relaxed.

After following Mr. Holmes out of the study, Mary, who is optimistic by nature, figured this out and took a long breath.

"Sir," her tone became relaxed again, "You didn't answer my question yesterday."

"what is the problem?"

Holmes stopped and turned around.

The detective was tall, and Mary was a little shorter than a lady of the same age.She had to raise her head to look directly into his pair of clear and sharp eyes.

"I don't think burglary is too difficult for you, maybe even boring."

Just following the clues, Mary felt that even she, with the help of the two gentlemen Darcy and Bingley, could find the real culprit with a little time.

"So, Mr. Holmes," Mary asked, "do you accept this commission because there is a bigger case behind it?"

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Holmes said calmly.

"There's no reasoning," Mary replied honestly, "I just think that you can give the answer sitting in a chair at home."

"You flatter me too much, ma'am."

Mary smiled. She didn't continue to be polite with Mr. Holmes, and said directly: "I've thought about it, and it may be the cotton in South America and the Caribbean that caught your attention. Is it a supplier, or is there a problem with other links?"

Holmes did not answer at once.

His examining gaze never left, as if he wanted to see through Mary's soul.After a while, the detective broke the silence unhurriedly: "You are indeed a wise man, Miss Bennet."

"..."

What did Sherlock Holmes say about her, smart?

Since she was a child, countless people have praised Mary for being smart, clever or talented.Mary knew it was just because she was plain-looking and socially unsocial, so she really had nothing to boast about.

But Holmes is absolutely not polite.

And, my God, Sherlock Holmes praised her for being clever? !

Mary's first reaction was to reach out and squeeze her face.

Mr. Detective raised his eyebrows: "What?"

Mary blinked: "It's nothing, I just want to see if I'm dreaming."

Holmes: "..."

Detective, who looked down at Mary from a high position, hooked the corners of his mouth, revealing a barely detectable smile.