[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

Mary knew that the workers would have news, but the news didn't come so fast, and the person who brought the clues turned out to be Butcher who almost killed Mr. Thornton's entire factory workers.

Knowing that he made mistakes first, and knowing that Mary is the one who really fights for the interests of the workers, Butcher looks a little afraid of Mary, and his attitude is both eager and nervous.

He first explained why he was in the Hamp factory: After leaving the Marlborough factory in Thornton, almost no factory was willing to have a worker who smoked illegally.When many factory owners imitated Thornton's replacement of machines, Hamp, who was the tightest and most cautious, was regarded as the most lagging boss.

As a result, not many workers were willing to go to work in his factory. In this case, Butcher was able to find a job.

Although Butcher didn't quite know why Mary wanted someone to keep an eye on Hamp—the union just said he was playing tricks again.Among all the factory owners in Milton, Hamp is the most cunning. Everyone knows his nature well, and they are not surprised, so they didn't ask much.

But when the workers have been entrapped and exploited by the capitalists all year round, no matter what the "little tricks" of the factory owners are, it must not be a good thing.So everyone joined the same hatred as the strike, and no one leaked the news.

Butcher was eager to commit crimes and meritorious deeds, and because of being fired by Thornton, he was unpopular and became a fringe person in the Hamp Factory.On the contrary, it was convenient for him, no one paid attention to him, and naturally no one noticed that he went to follow Hamp when he had nothing to do.

And the tracking really paid off.

"Hampton, he sends out a secret letter every Monday morning," Butcher said hastily, "it doesn't go to the post office, but someone sends it back and forth from London."

"How do you know it's from London?" Mary frowned.

"I followed suit this Monday."

As he spoke, Butcher took out a crumpled piece of paper from his worn coat pocket.

"I stole it out of his pocket at the train station," Butcher rubbed his hands, and said rather embarrassedly, "I can't help it at this very moment, Miss Mary, please forgive me."

Mary showed it to see that it was a ticket from Milton to London.

"I squatted at the ticket office for a while, and I heard the conductor call him Mr. Buckle, and he said that he could just call him Jason," Butcher added, "and judging by his clothes, he should also be a factory lord."

"Dress well?"

"Yes."

"Is there any physical feature?"

"Uh," Butcher showed a worried expression, "I, I didn't notice any features except the clothes."

...Alright, we don't expect everyone to be as observant as the detective himself, right?

Strictly speaking, Mr. Sherlock Holmes also used unethical methods in the process of tracing clues.In view of the key clues, Mary decided not to pursue this matter for the time being.

"Just don't do this on weekdays," she nodded to Butcher, "The clues you provided are very useful."

"Really?!"

Butcher's eyes lit up, and his posture seemed to be the same as that of an elementary school being praised by the teacher.

An adult man, the father of six children, was so happy that he smiled: "That's good, that's good, I'm afraid that I have done so...so much, it will be of no use at all."

His cheerful appearance made Mary a little sad.

She still didn't know what a noble reputation she had won among Milton's workers by her deeds.All Mary sees is a poor worker who is willing to steal in order to gain half of his dignity.

Fortunately, it was the bad guys who stole.Butcher would still be a great contributor if he could really delay the communication between Hamp and Professor Moriarty.

"you……"

Mary didn't know how to respond to his excitement: "You don't want to smoke from the factory anymore. Cigarettes are bad for your health. It's better to save the extra money to buy some useful daily necessities for the children, isn't it?"

Butcher nodded desperately: "I know, I know! Mr. Hale's worker class taught about the dangers of smoking, and I will work hard to quit!"

Mary: "..."

Dr. Watson himself is a smoker, he is ashamed to write it.

While Mary couldn't laugh or cry, she also realized that Mr. Hale's workers' class had initially achieved results.

Great, everything is becoming clearer.

"What should I do, Miss Mary?" Mr. Thornton's attitude was more realistic. "At this time, I can't get away and go to London to confirm the information."

"Go for someone else."

Mary thought for a while: "It's best to be a victim of interests, and someone you and I can trust, so that there will be no accidents."

Thornton thought for a moment: "Mr. Bingley can."

Mary: "No!"

Jane and Mr. Bingley had only been married so long, and it was just the time when the newlyweds were inseparable.You must know that Mr. Bingley rushed back to Netherfield Manor a few days before the wedding, which is enough to prove that he has been busy with the property and this matter for more than half a year.

Now you want him to work again?Although Mary was sure that her eldest brother-in-law and dear Jane would not complain at all, she felt that it was better not to bother Mr. Bingley for the time being when it was necessary.

"Leave this to me."

Mary vowed: "I know who is more suitable."

So early the next morning, Mary knocked on Dr. Brayton's door directly.

After hearing Mary's account, Dr. John Watson was taken aback: "I'm going to investigate the case?!"

Mary corrected: "It is to ask you to go to London to inquire about information, but it is indeed part of the investigation of the case."

Watson showed a faint look of expectation.

Obviously, the best friend and right-hand man of Mr. Holmes in the future has full interest and curiosity in the cases that Mary pursues.Watson was very happy to hear that Mary was willing to trust him and entrust him with important tasks.

But before he could laugh out loud, he frowned: "No, I still have teaching tasks in Milton."

Since Mr. Hare's workers' classroom changed the direction of teaching, Watson has done a lot.

It is very easy for a military doctor returning from the battlefield to write health and hygiene knowledge - he copied a lot of military regulations, explained and corrected them a little, and described them with his own excellent writing.Even Mr. Hale, who has only been educated by the southern country gentry, can tell the knowledge vividly and interestingly.

However, with the original intention of being responsible, when Mary was "playing" with the children on the street, Watson assisted Mr. Hale in teaching the workers' classroom, for fear that he might not find out some omissions in time and mislead the workers.

Mary agrees with Watson's sense of responsibility, but it's been more than half a month!Any omissions are enough to be corrected, okay?

"You've done a good job," said Mary, "and Doctor, you won't be content with merely improving the hygiene of the workers in Milton?"

Watson's expression changed: "You mean...?"

Mary smiled brightly: "My brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Bingley, also has investments in London. Milton is just a small town, which can be used as a preliminary pilot area for workers' classrooms. Big cities like London and Birmingham are the ultimate goal!"

Watson: "You are so clever, Miss Mary, that you dare to say anything nice in order to 'trick' me into London."

Mary, who was exposed, was not guilty, but smiled and said: "Aren't you tempted?"

She knew that when it came to mentioning the case, she didn't need Marie to mention it, Watson was already eager to try it.But his sense of responsibility made him hesitate. Although Mary let go of her rhetoric and drew a pretty cake—even the children on the street know that it takes a lot of time to really promote the curriculum.

But whoever calls Dr. Watson just eats this set.

"Step by step, it will come true one day." Mary knows the future history. "Maybe in the future, children of workers and children of factory owners will be able to study in the same classroom. It is not impossible."

"If only everyone thought like you do."

Watson nodded with emotion: "I will go to London and ask me to track down this Jason Buckle. Is there any clue?"

Knowing that he is rich, he should be a gentleman.As for Butcher's deduction that it might be the factory owner... Mary thinks it's unlikely.

Why are the factory owners so idle, they come to the north from London every Monday? Do the factories need to turn around work?

But what is certain is that the person who sent the message should not be too low in status.

This kind of judgment is enough to narrow the scope, but London is so big, looking for it alone is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack.

"You go to the editor-in-chief of "Beach Magazine", Fred Hall," Mary said after a moment of pondering, "I will write you a hand letter. He knows who to turn to for help and guide you."

To whom?Of course it was the "government official".

This also saves the time for Mary to write to Mr. Holmes again. The letters have to be turned around anyway, so the detective himself can be notified directly.

"Well."

Watson agreed very simply: "If you write a good hand letter, I will leave as soon as possible."

Mary: "Please be careful too, doctor."

Watson smiled, and traces of admiration appeared on his handsome face: "You are such a rare lady. It is my honor to meet you, Miss Mary. I hope we can meet again one day."

"Of course there is."

Mary replied with a very determined smile.

"Believe me, not only will we meet again," she said, "but we'll be best friends from time to time."

— After all, your future wife is my current good friend.Mary thought with immense pride in her heart.

After sending away Dr. Watson, everything in Milton seemed to return to normal.

Mary was still busy with the other ladies, and Dr. Watson went to London. During this period, Margaret had to ask Dr. Brayton to consult Bessie, but it was basically useless.

In fact, not only Bessie, but even Margaret herself accepted the cruel fact.But she didn't give up, she went in and out of the Higgins family's mansion more and more frequently, trying to do something, at least to make Bessie feel better, and no longer suffer from dyspnea.

Mr. Thornton saw all this.

Two weeks later, Dr. Watson sent a letter from London.

He gave a further answer, identifying this Jason Buckle as another of Hamp's contacts - even before Captain Carter knew him, this Jason Buckle did not contact anyone overseas. power, but win over all the factory owners in the country.

As well as being active in London, he will also be in Birmingham.A "financial advisor" on the surface, Mary thought, he might be responsible for establishing a domestic network for Professor James Moriarty.

From this point of view, in London, together with Captain Carter, there should be at least two confidantes of Professor Moriarty... no, three.

She would not forget the shot that killed Captain Carter.Mary felt that Professor Moriarty would not put the power to kill at will and the power to build a network in the same hands.

Out of this consideration, Mary quickly wrote back to Watson: "Stand still."

Now that Moriarty's men could shoot Captain Carter straight up in London, he could also hurt Watson.Mary can't take that risk.

Although she knew that Dr. John Watson was fearless, in the original book, Sherlock Holmes chose to protect his friend until "The Last Case", and Mary could not rashly send him to the gun.

Moreover, it is easy to break the clue now.

After replying to Watson, Mary sent a telegram directly to the address Mr. Holmes sent the letter without saying a word.

It's okay to write long letters on weekdays and send them slowly, after all, there is no emergency.But for the clues related to the case, Mary had no time to love her children, so she reported the information concisely by telegram.

This had to be brought to the detectives very quickly.

But after the telegram was sent, Mary did not receive a reply for a long time.

Another ten days passed.

Watson has written from London stating that Jason Buckle will be leaving London next month.

Mary immediately panicked when she heard this.

How does this work? !

"Mr. Holmes has not replied?"

After Mr. Thornton learned of this, he showed a confused expression.

Unlike the uneasy Mary, although he was also very concerned about this matter, the factory owner who dealt with investment risks all day long seemed much calmer.

He paced back and forth in the office a few times, and then said: "I don't think Holmes is a procrastination person. He cares so much about the case, why he hasn't responded for so long."

Mary: "I'm worried about..."

Mr. Thornton shook his head: "Please don't think about it, Miss Mary."

Also.

At critical moments, she couldn't get herself into trouble.

Watson was not alone in London following the matter.Mary didn't know the relationship between editor-in-chief Fred Hall and the "government personnel" that Sherlock Holmes called, but since he could act as a bridge between herself and the detective, he was naturally a trusted person of the so-called "personnel".

Realizing this, Mary quickly calmed down.

The telegram was sent directly to the detective himself, so London should not have known that Holmes hadn't heard back.

"This matter has to be communicated to another client of Mr. Holmes," said Mary.

"I don't know that gentleman well." Thornton frowned.

"Editor Hall knows it," said Mary. "I'll go to London to explain the situation myself."

"you alone?!"

Thornton obviously didn't agree with this proposal: "It's not appropriate, Miss Mary. You are in Milton now, and the Hales are responsible for taking care of you. If something happens to London, who will take care of you?"

"Margaret has also been to London alone. I can contact Editor-in-Chief Hall in advance, please rest assured."

"Let's send a telegram first," Thornton decided, "to hear what Editor-in-Chief Hall thinks about this matter. If necessary, I will ask someone to take you to London."

This is currently the best solution.

Mary wished she could go to London tonight, but she couldn't just do it when her head got hot.At a loss, she had to bid farewell to Mr. Thornton temporarily.

It's getting late, and Margaret will be worried if she doesn't go back.

When Mary walked out of the Marlborough factory, the sun was setting. Mary only heard a bright bell ringing inside the factory, and then bustling voices sounded from inside the factory.

The workers are off work.

She stopped when she heard the sound of the bell, and turned around on the high steps.

The dim yellow color enveloped the entire sky, and also added a bit of warmth to the gray Milton.During this short period of time, standing on a high place and looking at the Marlborough factory, Mary felt that it looked so warm.

Countless workers in shabby clothes came out of the factory. Mary looked at them with a slightly relaxed expression, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

But she soon stopped laughing.

Mary noticed an old woman in shabby clothes sitting in the middle of the intersection under the steps, she was carrying a basket full of flowers of various colors, as if she had been selling flowers in the shopping district for a day and had lost her strength, Sitting directly on the street.

And the workers walked so fast that they obviously didn't notice that there was a woman above the steps.

"you!"

Mary didn't even think about it, she hurriedly walked down the steps with her skirt in her hands, and blocked the old lady before the crowd of workers came.

Fortunately, most of the workers in the Marlborough factory knew Mary, and they were very polite to this single lady who helped the union make suggestions.The workers at the head immediately slowed down and nodded their caps to Mary respectfully: "Miss Mary, what are you going to teach us today?"

The words of a young man fell, in exchange for the laughter of others.

"Teach you to walk and watch the road." Mary knew that they were not malicious, and she was not angry. "I know everyone is in a hurry to go home, but you have to slow down. There is an old lady who can't walk anymore."

"Ouch."

It was only at this point that the workers noticed that there was an elderly florist sitting on the ground behind Mary.

Several frizzy youths hurriedly apologized, and then greeted Mary before leaving.

Numerous workers squeezed through the narrow road. Mary was afraid that the people behind would not notice the old woman, and there would be a stampede, so she simply stood in front of the flower woman and abruptly accepted the greetings from all the workers.

Mary breathed a sigh of relief when the narrow streets outside the Marlborough factory were completely empty.

"Are you all right, ma'am?" Mary turned around and asked with concern, "The workers didn't hit you, did they? Do you need me to take you home?"

"Thank you, thank you, I will go back by myself."

The old woman's voice was hoarse, and she was dressed too badly. The worn-out hat blocked most of her face, and what Mary could see was only the lower half of her thin cheeks.

The florist stretched out her hand tremblingly, took a delicate rose from the basket, and handed it to Mary: "You are so kind, miss."

Mary shook her head.

She didn't take the woman's flowers, but pushed her palm instead: "The remaining flowers are soaked in water, and they can be sold tomorrow. I just do it with a little effort, and I don't need anything in return from you. Come home now, lady."

After speaking, seeing that the old woman could go home by herself, Mary straightened up, turned around, and stepped up the steps again.

But she didn't have a chance to go far.

The moment she just raised her leg, a deep and steady voice sounded from behind Mary.

"According to reasoning, it seems to me that our highest faith in the goodness of God is placed in flowers, because everything else: our faculties, our desires, our food, are first of all for survival This flower is very different," said the voice, "and its fragrance and its color are the ornament of life, not the condition of existence. Only kindness can produce these extraordinary characters*."

At that moment Mary's heart almost stopped beating.

She held her breath and turned her head in disbelief.The old woman who had just been sitting on the edge of the steps disappeared, and the person in front of her took off her ragged and huge hat, put down the flower basket, and took off her wig.

There are still incongruous makeup and mud on his face, but his upright posture and tall figure are enough to prove that he is not a woman, nor is he poor.

And what Mary would never, never admit to being mistaken was those sharp and clear eyes like a falcon.

Sherlock Holmes raised his hand and handed the rose in front of Mary: "So I repeat, human beings place great hopes in flowers*--take it, Miss Mary, it will never accompany me tomorrow out into the street."

The author has something to say: update 5600 today, I am awesome!

The dialogue with * in this chapter comes from the original Sherlock Holmes "Naval Agreement". The scene of old Fuman breaking the rose in fgo is from the scene of jb Fu holding the rose in the 84 version of Sherlock Holmes' "Naval Agreement". Come on, groundhog sisters, Lao Fu came out to harvest your screams!