[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

Mr. Thornton's remuneration of [-] pounds and the manuscript fee of [-] pounds for one issue really gave Mary a lot of confidence.

It can be said that Mary has been thinking about financial independence since time travel.But as a country girl, she has no contacts or channels, and she is a little bit unsure, so she has been slow to act.

It was thanks to Mr. Holmes who directly pointed out Mary's thoughts that she had the courage to take the first step.

And now, Mary has her own start-up capital.

Two hundred pounds is enough for everything she arranges in London. Editor-in-chief Hall promised a base fee of ten pounds, which is between one hundred and one hundred and fifty pounds a year. Even in London, where prices are high, it is enough for a The single lady lived alone.

Plus... Mary felt that she could still take on some other cases.

Especially those cases that Mr. Sherlock Holmes dismissed - helping the noble lady to find the lost jewelry, looking for the elopement girl, etc., are much easier than those complicated cases, and the people involved are also simple.But if there are two to three commissions a year, fifty pounds is no problem, right?

After taking the first step, it is not difficult to feel financially independent and live on your own.

Especially after she came to London, Mary discovered that it was not impossible to live alone in London during the Victorian period.

The original timeline of "Pride and Prejudice" is in the era of William IV, about a hundred years behind the Victorian era.In the era of Jane Austen's life, it was still a rare thing for a single lady to live alone, which caused Mary, who had never stepped out of the country, to think about things extraordinarily complicated.

Because she is now at the end of the nineteenth century, with the emergence of more new inventions and new ideas, some girls, especially girls in London, choose to go out to work.

For example, the secretary of Mr. Fred Hall, the editor-in-chief of "Beach Magazine", or the fiancée of the client in Sherlock Holmes's original book "Navy Agreement" is a female nurse, not to mention the female workers who go out to work in poor families .

Although it is still inappropriate for the daughter of a squire to go out to work and live alone, Mary does not work for others. She is a newcomer writer, so she has some confidence to speak like this.

And, long before leaving Longbourn, Pa had been frank with Mary about his attitude to her desire to move to London.After thinking about it, Mary felt that it was a good time to settle in London. Firstly, Miss Bennet's uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had been doing business in London, and secondly, their eldest brother-in-law, Mr. Bingley, and soon to be second Mr. Darcy, brother-in-law, has property in London.They are all their relatives and can "take care" of her in name.

If it doesn't work, Mary doesn't mind handing over the rent to her father and asking him to rent an apartment in London.

In this way, she can better obtain writer resources and materials in London, and she can also live in London with Catherine and Lydia.

Her father supports her creation, and she has said before that she has seen through Mary's small thoughts, so she should not refuse; staying in London for a long time to see the world and expand her social circle will never be a disadvantage, and Mary feels that her mother's test is also easy.

After all, according to Mrs. Bennet's thinking, the future son-in-law must be richer and more decent. It is hard to find a big landlord like Mr. Darcy, but there are many young talents in London.

With this in mind, Mary decided to settle the matter first, and to finalize the apartment in London before going to Pemberley Manor with Jane and Mr. Bingley as guests.

This matter cannot be told to relatives for the time being, especially the Gardners. Mary is afraid that her uncle and aunt will stab her parents directly in a responsible way.

After thinking about it, she decided to ask the first friend she made in London—the red-haired Irish girl and future Mrs. Watson, Miss Mary Morstan.

But what Mary didn't expect was that she was not the first person to ask Miss Morstan for help.

The next day.

In Sherlock Holmes' apartment, Miss Mary Morstan rolled her eyes when she heard her friend's request: "My God, please forgive me. One or two are looking for a place suddenly, and I'll be a real estate agent." never mind!"

Mary: "Who else?"

Miss Morstan flicked her red hair and pointed to the messy living room: "Of course it's Mr. Detective."

Hearing this, Sherlock Holmes popped up from behind the sofa and looked at Mary: "Are you looking for a house too?"

Mary: "..."

"Of course." Without waiting for Mary to respond, Holmes continued on his own. "You have received a commission fee of [-] pounds. After reading the feedback on the serialization of the novel, in order to keep you from being poached by other magazines, the "Beach Magazine" The editor-in-chief will definitely promise you a stable remuneration. For a single lady, your future economic situation is very good, and it is a good time to complete your independent plan and move to London."

"Two hundred pounds?!"

Miss Morstan turned to Mary in shock after hearing what Holmes said: "Is it true?"

Mary: "Well, it's true, I didn't want so much—"

Miss Morstan: "Too little?!"

Mary: "Uh."

The red-haired Irish girl was full of disbelief: "You not only saved Hamp's factory, but also his life! It's okay to be mean to the workers, but you are his savior, and you actually used a mere two Sending a man who saved his life for a hundred pounds? I'd say it's not too much to blackmail him for two thousand pounds."

You also know that two thousand pounds is extortion!

Mary couldn't laugh or cry: "I'm just a helper, the real hero is Mr. Holmes."

Holmes said coldly: "Hamp didn't pay me much, presumably in his heart, life is not more important than money."

As he spoke, the detective got up from behind the sofa full of bottles, cans, and various experimental equipment, strode to the door and picked up his black coat, halfway through his clothes, he suddenly turned his head: "Miss Morstan, did you see me hat?"

Morstan: "..."

The Irish girl folded her arms ferociously: "Let me be blunt, Mr. Detective, it's your choice to live in a kennel, but I'm not your maid! The janitor of this apartment has warned you many times, How about taking care of other people's emotions?!"

It's a pity that Holmes didn't take it to heart at all.

The thin and tall detective put on his coat smartly, and while fastening his tie, he dug out his hat from the messy pile of equipment.

"That's why," he began, putting on his hat, "I need your help in finding me a suitable house—thank you very much for coming, Miss Morstan, and Miss Mary, but allow me to leave sometimes."

As he said that, Mr. Holmes went straight to the door of the apartment, regardless of the customers. The moment he opened the door, he still turned his head and said: "Remember to lock the door when you leave."

As he spoke, he stepped out of the apartment and yelled downstairs: "Dodgson? Dodgson! Did you send my telegram?!"

Gatekeeper: "Freak, get out!"

Mary: "..."

Miss Morstan: "..."

There was a knock at the door, and Sherlock Holmes, the owner of the apartment, left first, leaving the two female guests staring at each other.

"Mr. Holmes has another case?" asked Mary.

"Ghost knows."

Miss Morstan supported her forehead: "I was called over by a newsboy on the street early in the morning. I thought there was something urgent, but I didn't expect that I was asked to help find a new apartment. I also have a job, okay? Why didn't you find Henry?!"

Well, the last time I visited Holmes' house, the porter was very unhappy with him.Now he even called it a "freak", fearing that he would really offend the gatekeeper.

However, Sherlock Holmes is usually informal and indifferent to insignificant things.But he is still a gentleman with a bottom line. It is not normal to leave without paying attention to the guests like today.

There must be a really urgent case that needs him to run around.Mary thought that, when he was done, he might find time to ask.

But right now...it's still important for me to do my own business.

"Because you are more reliable than those men," Mary said honestly. "You are familiar with the things on the street, and you can do things neatly. If you also know Henry Deckard, but you need help, you will be the first thing that comes to mind."

Miss Morstan raised the corners of her mouth: "Well, I like to hear that."

At the very beginning, Mary explained her reason for coming, and the red-haired Irish girl stopped talking nonsense. She thought for a while and then said, "But it's easy for you to find an apartment, and I believe you are not a difficult tenant. As long as the neighborhood is safe and orderly , the environment is beautiful.”

The implication is: finding an apartment for Sherlock Holmes is a tricky business, the price should be moderate, the tenants should be few or able to tolerate him, and the most important thing is that the landlord must be able to accept a person who conducts experiments directly in the residence .

Seeing her sad face, Mary couldn't help but ask, "Do you have any opinions?"

"Let me go to Serpentine Street and ask the newsboys and coachmen over there," Miss Morstan said, "There are quite a few women's apartments on Serpentine Street, most of which are typists or female secretaries. There are many single ladies and artists who have money and no family, and they must welcome a decent lady very much."

"Thank you then!"

"Don't thank me first," Morstan still folded his arms, "Abode is only one aspect, have you found the handyman maid?"

"I...don't have any ideas yet."

It wasn't that Mary Morstan looked down on her friend. The red-haired girl looked Mary up and down.One of the two Miss Marys wore a light-colored dress. Although she was dressed plainly, she could tell at a glance that her family was barely wealthy; It is the workers.

Even if Miss Morstan knew that this single lady who dared to run into the slums was open-minded and independent, she didn't think Mary could take care of herself.

"Cooking, washing clothes, and helping you send messages and arrange social life," Morstan said after thinking for a while, "It's better to be able to read a few words, help you sort out letters, etc., when you are richer , even as your half-secretary. Such a maid is hard to find, and the price may not be cheap."

right……

If Mary has her own self-confidence in creating and solving crimes, given her more than a hundred years of knowledge than ordinary people, it is not impossible to rack her brains to reform the factory.But in life, she really didn't think so much.

"For the maid," Mary thought hard, "you can read a lot."

"Don't even think about it." Miss Morstan sneered.

"why?"

"Do you think I can't be a maid," Miss Morstan asked, "and now I choose to work in a factory."

Mary suddenly understood what Miss Morstan meant.

What she did consider was that since she lacked a maid, and she was her half-secretary, would it not be the best choice to employ Miss Mary Morstan.In this way, Miss Morstan doesn't have to go to the factory to work hard, but can also provide help. If Mary can solve the case by herself and improve her creation to a higher level in the future, she can still count some points for her.

But the reality is that there is no easy and pleasant job in the world. If maids are easier and more profitable than workers, wouldn’t all the poor girls in London want to be maids, and no one would be willing to work in factories.

"I can give you more salary." Mary persuaded.

"Do the same job," Miss Morstan said frankly, "why should I get paid more than other maids? Forgive me for my own insistence, Mary, you get paid as much as you do, I don't need me My friends give me alms and work in the factory, and I feel at ease with my own salary."

Mary was left speechless.

She thought well, but she forgot the most fundamental fact: if it weren't for Mary Morstan, a red-haired Irish girl with personality and boundaries, how could they become friends.

What I said was undoubtedly an insult to Miss Morstan's personality, and she was already too tolerant if she didn't care.

"I took it for granted," Mary said apologetically, "I apologize to you, but don't take it to heart."

"fine."

The red-haired girl smiled generously: "You helped the detectives catch that so-and-so colonel. In this matter, I forgive you."

Mary was slightly taken aback: "Even you know?"

Miss Morstan: "I don't know the details very well, but I heard from other workers that our wages will soon be raised back to their original level."

It seems that the "government personnel" moved faster than she expected.

Mary thought that it would take a year or so before the cotton spinning market returned to normal, but she didn't expect the government to take action immediately.

Thinking about it, the problem has been going on for a long time, and industry was a pillar industry in the Victorian era. In order to stabilize the social environment, it had to intervene behind the scenes.

So... Mary felt that Sherlock Holmes was probably also dealing with the follow-up issues of this economic case when he left the house in such a hurry.

The rest of the matter has nothing to do with Mary, but she is still a little curious about the situation.

When I get stronger, maybe I can go deeper.

Thinking of this, she nodded to Miss Morstan: "I'll leave the matter to you!"

"I'll try my best," Miss Morstan promised, "The apartment is easy, and you may not find a maid that you are satisfied with right away. Maybe a younger girl is more suitable. Even if you are not satisfied, you can take her with you."

"Don't worry."

Mary did the math. She would go to Pemberley Manor as a guest first, and then there would be the wedding of Elizabeth and Darcy. She would not need any maids for a while: "It is enough to move in within three months. Is three months enough?"

"Don't move right away."

Miss Morstan breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good! I'll take care of the big trouble of the detective first."

And Miss Mary Morstan, who has a sharp personality, complains non-stop, but her actions are very fast.

Within three days, out of politeness, Mr. Holmes, who was busy with the affairs at hand, visited Mr. Bingley's house and announced quite freely: "I have found a new residence. It just so happens that my friend Miss Morstan found a Landlady, I'm going to rent out my spare room."

Before Mary could reply, Mr. Bingley nodded first: "Congratulations, detective, where is the new residence?"

Holmes: "It was thanks to Miss Mary that I woke up. I specially asked my friend to go to Baker Street to have a look. As expected, there are houses for rent. The new apartment is at 221b Baker Street."

Baker Street!

Mary had waited so long for this day.

She regained her spirits immediately and raised her head excitedly: "You must be missing a roommate, right sir?"

Holmes: "..."

Mary: "That's great, I knew you were in need. It just so happens that a friend of mine is worrying about the high rent in London and has to find someone to share with him. I'll tell Dr. Watson right away!"

Holmes:? ? ?

The author has something to say: Lao Fu:? ?Have you learned to rush to answer? ?

Mary: The arrangement is clear and clear.jpg

Jiang Hua is not at home today, this chapter will be posted in the manuscript box, so please thank Bawang Ticket and Nutrient Solution together tomorrow, okay? !

Fixed a bug, the Jane Austen era was earlier than the Victorian era, so it is very rare for single women to move out by themselves, but in the era of Lao Fu, there were already female typists and female secretaries, so it is not a big deal for single women to move out It's a particularly shocking thing. After all, Irene lives alone. I didn't think about it when I set the outline and foreshadowing. Here I have changed the previous article and supplemented the content of this chapter.The Bennet family is still a squire, and Mary has been living in the country, so she misjudged the characteristics of the times, thinking that women can't do any work..._(:3∠)_

And, Mary's place, did any girl see it? It's funny.