[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

Facing Sir Blackwood's invitation, Mary found it extremely difficult.If she said no, she couldn't refuse Jazz's proposal at all; if she wanted to say it, she felt that she was being led by the nose by her opponent.

However, there is no way to do this. The enemy is in the dark, but they are looking for it under the sun.No matter what kind of organization the Illuminati is, at least Sir Blackwood knows what Holmes and Mary have done. For them, there are almost no clues about the Illuminati. Even Sherlock Holmes can only confirm that this organization is real. Existence rather than urban legend, what exactly it does, what purpose it has, and how it relates to the hallucinated residents of Whitechapel District has not yet been developed.

She could not keep a distance from Sir Blackwood, even for the purpose of probing.

Fortunately, although she didn't know what purpose Sir Blackwood had approached her, after reading "Oliver Twist", Mary could be sure that Mr. Brownlow and little Oliver were not bad people.

If Mary guessed correctly that Sir Blackwood, who has almost no flaws on the surface, is a big villain boss, then for the purpose of protecting little Oliver, Mary also has to figure out his relationship with Mr. Brownlow and others.

Mary thought about it, sent a message to someone, and made an appointment with him on the morning of the weekend.

Mr. Brownlow's residence is located on a boulevard in Pendongville, not too close to the street where Mary lives.She originally thought about getting up early, ordering a carriage in advance, and paying a little more money for the driver to follow her directly for a day.But on the morning of the weekend, Mary asked Aunt Blow to go out and call the coachman, and she came back within 2 minutes.

"There's a carriage waiting for you at the door, Miss Mary," said Mrs. Blow with a smile, "and Sir Blackwood has hired him."

Mary: "..."

"This Sir is indeed a decent man," Aunt Blow couldn't help praising, "It's the difference between having a knighthood and not having a knighthood. You said that the old men who run factories near the Thames are also rich, but they are not like Sir Blackwood is so refined."

"I think," Mary laughed, "you'll be very fond of any decent person who shows affection to me and my sister."

"Of course."

Not only was Aunt Blow not angry, but she looked rather complacent: "Which maid doesn't want the threshold of her unmarried master's house to be broken by suitors? Let me see, Miss Mary, you are too low-key, you should wear that kind of dress more often." It’s better to go to the banquet in a beautiful dress.”

Or not!

Not to mention that Mary really doesn't like social life, and even if she did, it's absolutely impossible to dance every night with her two hundred pounds a year in savings.The banquet held by Sir Blackwood is actually far beyond Mary's financial capacity. It's okay to gain knowledge occasionally, but go every day?Marie didn't want to be Madame Bovary (*see note).

But I have to say that Sir Blackwood is really likable, if it is not considered that the light will shine on the first floor.With his careful care, even if Mary doesn't think much of him, she feels like she can be a friend.

Now, the more he flattered Mary, the more Mary felt that he was plotting something.

But he invited a carriage to pick up Mary on Serpentine Avenue, and Mary couldn't refuse directly.I had to board the carriage that had been waiting for a long time and go to Mr. Brownlow's residence.

At the end of "Oliver Twist", Mr. Brownlow recognizes little Oliver as his son. At Sir Blackwood's banquet, Mary is full of the case, but she just meets Mr. Brownlow in a hurry without much conversation.

But when she stepped out of the carriage, Mr. Brownlow still took Sir Blackwood out to greet her very enthusiastically.

"Miss Mary."

The middle-aged gentleman spoke eagerly: "I should have thanked you for everything you have done for Edward as early as at the banquet, but the banquet was too lively at that time, and I have not found a suitable opportunity."

Mary was taken aback: "Edward?"

Mr. Brownlow laughed: "It's Oliver. Edward is the name his mother gave him early in the morning."

Ah yes.

Little Oliver's real name seems to be mentioned in the original "Oliver Twist".But not many times, when it was mentioned suddenly, Mary didn't think of it all at once.

"It was Sir Blackwood and you who have been looking for him, sir," said Mary, looking at Sir behind Mr. Brownlow. There are very few things, far less than your credit."

"Okay, don't let us be humble in front of the door, please follow me."

Mr. Brownlow led Mary into the mansion, and at the door he called to the servants to ask Mrs. Bedwin, the housekeeper, to bring Oliver downstairs.

At the same time, he did not forget to greet Mary and Sir Blackwood to sit down.

"Blackwood and I have been trying to find traces of our old friend's orphan since he was a vagrant," Mr. Brownlow explained. Naturally, we have no way of finding Oliver. So please don’t underestimate yourself, Miss Mary, you help a poor woman get justice for free, and find an identity for an orphan who lost her parents. This kindness Oliver will never forget in his life Can't change it."

It turned out to be the case.

So in this world, Nancy didn't die because of the informant. Mr. Brownlow and the others didn't receive her signal at all, and naturally they didn't connect little Oliver with the orphan they were looking for.

Perhaps Nancy had already been discovered by Sykes when she had the idea of ​​telling the truth, which led to her not committing a betrayal, but being brutally murdered.

Thinking of this possibility, Mary suddenly felt a little sad.

"That lady..."

She said heavily: "According to the testimony of the old Jew Fagan, Nancy is the best person in the whole gang of thieves for Oliver. She likes Oliver very much and has always been very opposed to the old Jew taking money to frame him."

Mr. Brownlow fell silent on hearing this.

After a long time, he regretfully said, "We are one step late, otherwise, we would definitely be able to do something for Miss Nancy."

Mary smiled wryly.

Miss Nancy in the original book bluntly rejected the helping hands extended by Miss Luzi and Mr. Brownlow. She made the decision to "betray" with the consciousness of exchanging her own life for Oliver's future life.

"I'll see little Oliver shortly," asked Mary. "Shouldn't I mention it to him?"

"This……"

Mr. Brownlow was now Oliver's guardian, and Mary should ask his consent in all circumstances.But her problem also made Mr. Brownlow suffer: Oliver was only ten years old, and it was too cruel for a ten-year-old child who had suffered a lot to face the death of his friend.

"Speak, Miss Mary."

In the end it was Sir Blackwood who took the decision instead of Mr Brownlow.

Jazz was calm and determined in his tone: "No matter what, he is entitled to know the result. Although the reality is cruel, things happen as they happen. Oliver has gone through ups and downs. He should be tougher and stronger than ordinary children. Blindly protecting him will not make him He grew up."

"It has to be like this."

Mr. Brownlow sighed: "But please be tactful, Miss Mary, Oliver is a good boy, almost as good as an angel, and you don't want to see him sad."

Of course Mary didn't want to.

If she had a choice, she didn't want to be the bad guy who announced the bad news.Especially when Mrs. Bedwin brought little Oliver to the drawing room, Mary couldn't bear to see the little protagonist with her own eyes.

As Mr. Brownlow said, little Oliver looks as clean and handsome as an angel. He followed Mrs. Bedwin obediently, looking timid.The boy glanced at Mary and smiled shyly.

"Oliver."

Sir Blackwood greeted: "Come and say hello to Miss Mary."

Oliver said obediently: "Hello, Miss Mary."

Mary: "Hi, Mr. Little. Should I call you Edward, or Oliver?"

Oliver's eyes lit up when he heard Mary's inquiry: "You can call me whatever you want, Miss Mary. Mr. Brownlow said that these two are my names, and Edward is the name given to me by my parents, but I shouldn't either. Forget what he's been through, so he decided to keep my right to be called Oliver."

so good.

He looked to be about ten years old, and he hadn't received much education, but he spoke very clearly.Not to mention that Oliver is good-looking, no one will still be soft-hearted under the gaze of these clear eyes.

"I'll call you Oliver," said Mary softly. "Little Mr. Oliver, do you know why I've come?"

"Mr. Brownlow says you are a friend of Sir Blackwood," replied Oliver, "and of Mr. Brownlow."

"Then, do you know why I am Mr. Brownlow's friend?"

"I……"

Oliver's expression suddenly became very disappointed.

"Say, Mr. Brownlow," he replied, stumbling, "you're a private eye who caught Sykes and Fagan who were trying to do something bad. I was able to find me. Strictly speaking, you are my benefactor."

Mary smiled and shook her head.

She beckoned to Oliver, until the little boy walked in front of her, Mary took his hand: "I am not your benefactor, it is Mr. Brownlow and Sir Blackwood who have been running around looking for you. I am just investigating the case By chance, I found out the truth."

"The case, the case of the old Jew?" Oliver asked.

"Yes."

"Then he...was he caught?"

"Yes."

Oliver showed a hesitant look.

"If you have anything to say, just say it," Mary saw Oliver's hesitation, and said directly, "I promise I won't reprimand you, and I won't let the two gentlemen reprimand you."

Hearing Mary's promise, Oliver mustered up his courage: "Will Fagan die?"

Stealing, abducting and forcing street orphans to steal for him, coupled with Nancy's death, and his failed plot to repay Sykes - if it weren't for the fact that there was only one life, the crimes committed by the old Jew Fagan would be recognized by the British legal system. Fary could have been hanged several times.

Mary didn't answer, but her silence had already given Oliver the answer.

"I, I don't want you to think I'm an ungrateful person, Miss Mary, but, but," Oliver said eagerly, "May I see Fagan before he dies? He's a bad man, but bad men are entitled to pray and repent, He's going to die, and I want to confess with him."

Even if Mary didn't believe in God, she couldn't help being moved by it.

If it weren't for Fagan, Oliver would have known his aunt and Mr. Brownlow long ago.But even so, he still maintained a kind heart.

Comparing her heart to her heart, if she were Mary, she would definitely resent the old Jew.

Mary looked up at Mr. Brownlow. The guardian closed his eyes and promised, "In that case, Oliver, you can see Fagan."

"thank you, sir!"

Oliver blushed with excitement: "Thank you too, thank you, Miss Mary. Also, there are others—"

Mary patted Oliver on the back: "Talk slowly, I won't run away."

Oliver: "Where's Charlie Baker?"

Mary: "The police didn't catch evidence of his theft. Charlie swore to me that he would change his ways from now on. I recommended him to do farm work in my hometown. As long as he doesn't do bad things anymore, even though life in the countryside is monotonous and poor, he won't be hungry anymore. .”

Oliver: "Great, great!"

A bright smile appeared on his face: "And Nancy, Nancy! Where's Nancy, Miss Mary?"

Mary: "..."

She took a deep breath: "I'm sorry, Oliver, Miss Nancy... had an accident and has gone to heaven."

Oliver's reaction was like a thunderbolt.

The little boy froze in place, and Mary clenched his palm: "I'm sorry, but I assure you, Oliver, those who hurt Nancy have also been punished. I can't save her life, but I can avenge her. .”

"Oliver," interrupted Sir Blackwood in a deep voice, "it was Miss Mary who found Nancy's murderer."

"what……"

Oliver's eyes were red.

But he didn't cry. The little boy held back his tears firmly, sniffed his nose and said reluctantly, "Thank you, Miss Mary."

His expression of suppressing his crying made Mary's nose sore.

"It's okay," Mary reassured, "you can cry if you want."

"No, no!"

Oliver choked with sobs: "Sir Blackwood said that a true gentleman cannot shed tears easily. I have to be a strong boy."

"Just because you don't cry easily doesn't mean you can't cry."

Mary said softly, "If we can't mourn when a friend dies, that's not being strong, Oliver, it's being hard-hearted."

"yes……"

Oliver looked at Mary with tears in his eyes, and when he met her sad gaze, he finally couldn't help it, and cried out with a "wow".

The little boy threw himself into Mary's arms: "Nancy, Nancy, she..."

Mary was taken aback, but still frantically touched Oliver's soft hair: "The murderer has been punished, Oliver, and her soul will rest in peace knowing that you have found your family."

Oliver cried for a while, but the boy still chose to be a strong gentleman. After being sad, he resolutely wiped away his tears and thanked Mary again: "You are such a kind lady, Miss Mary, from now on From now on, I will pray for you every night and ask God to bless you in good health."

Well, who can refuse a child's heartfelt blessing?

"It's the same for you," Mary encouraged. "Grow up well, stay true to your original aspirations, and become a responsible man. Don't let Nancy down, okay?"

"I will!"

Oliver nodded seriously: "I will also pray for you and Sir Blackwood, I hope you can be happy."

Mary: "...wait a minute."

Can you stop being so vulgar!Although she knew the child's words were innocent, Mary also understood the reason for Oliver's misunderstanding—she was a lady invited by Sir Blackwood, so it's not surprising to think so.But isn't it unreasonable that a random single man and a single woman should be misunderstood as a couple?

She quickly glanced at Sir Blackwood, feeling very helpless: "Sir and I are very good friends, Oliver, just like you and Sir."

"what……"

Oliver looked a little disappointed.

"You are all very nice people," he said, "why are you not together? Miss Mary, please be together, so that I can see you often in the future."

"Not every man and woman should be together."

That is to say, because Mary came from the 21st century, her skin is much thicker than the ordinary ladies of this era!Mary felt that if this was a native-born single lady in the nineteenth century, she might not have been so ashamed by Oliver's innocent words that she couldn't speak.

"And even if we're not together," she said, "if you miss me, you can ask Mr. Brownlow to visit me in Serpentine Street."

"But," Oliver scratched his face, "I also want to see Sir Blackwood often. Wouldn't you save a lot of time by being together?"

Mary: "..."

Well, Mary finally understood why Sir Blackwood had to bring him to visit Oliver!

Using a child as a shield, what kind of ancient routine is this!However, Mary had to admit that this was indeed useful. Sir Blackwood was not stupid, and obviously he did not regard Mary as a stupid girl.After Oliver's childish remark, he changed the subject aloud, with a natural attitude as if nothing had happened. Until today's visit ended, when the two got up to say goodbye to Mr. Brownlow, Sir Blackwood politely greeted Mary. An invitation for a walk together was made.

"London seldom has such fine weather as it does today," said Sir Blackwood. "Let's walk the avenues, Miss Mary."

When Oliver said those words, you already assumed the attitude of not being able to say something publicly. Can Mary still say no?

She had no choice but to bite the bullet and nod: "Please, Sir."

Knowing what was about to happen, the walk became a bit awkward.

Although Mary doesn't like socializing, it doesn't mean she's not good at it.Unless it was intentional coldness, Mary would rarely encounter such a long time without talking to each other—especially with Sir Blackwood, he and Mary didn't spend much time alone, but every time they talked, they were pleasant and Not without words.

But now, Mary really didn't know what topic to start the conversation with.

The two walked in silence for a while, the tall Sir still kept a polite but familiar distance from Mary, until they reached the middle of the boulevard.

The rare and warm sunlight fell on the ground along the gaps in the lush forest, and also fell on the shoulders and clothes of the two people.Sir Blackwood stopped. He turned and looked down at Mary: "Miss."

Mary followed and stopped.

She looked up at Jazz's deep eyebrows.Compared with Mary, Jazz was really tall, so he took a small half step back specially to avoid adding too much oppressive feeling to Mary.

When their eyes met, Sir Blackwood pursed his lips imperceptibly.

He stared at Mary quietly for a moment, her figure reflected in his pupils.After confirming that Mary would not take the initiative to speak, he said: "I know this is presumptuous and will scare you—maybe you have already been frightened. But I must confess to you that Oliver's childish words really gave me Rare courage and opportunity, I thought—”

"—no, sir," said Mary with difficulty.

"..."

Blackwood seemed not expecting Mary to interrupt him at this juncture, Jazz's expression was blank: "What?"

"I say," replied Mary, "please don't say anything else."

God, it's been twenty years since she crossed into this world of fan fiction and became Mary Bennet.However, after An Ran lived a peaceful life for so long, Mary finally realized what the heroine of a love story is really like.

Just like the heroine in "Pride and Prejudice", her sister Elizabeth was suddenly confessed by Mr. Darcy for the first time, more like Margaret in "South and North" was suddenly mentioned by two gentlemen to marry .

— Do you British bachelors like to make surprise attacks!Mary finally understood what it was like to be confessed to by a gentleman without warning!

On the premise that she knew what the other party was going to say, it was impossible for Mary to agree to him, but categorically refusing would undoubtedly hurt the man who spoke.Even if Mary still felt that as a member of the Illuminati, Sir Blackwood definitely did not take the initiative to approach her because of feelings, but this time he was about to say something. Even if he really had evil intentions, Mary could not treat him perfunctorily. It is the basic principle of being a human being.

and so……

She was very urgent to make a decision and interrupted him with a word.

If I don't finish this sentence, at least there can be some face between the two of them.Seeing Blackwood's furrowed brows, Mary took a deep breath.

"I know what you want to say, sir," Mary confessed her point of view helplessly, "but I don't want you to be embarrassed by my refusal, and I don't want it to damage our friendship, so I implore you to That's the end of the topic, don't go any further, okay?"

Apparently, Sir Blackwood didn't expect that he would be cut off from the topic before confessing. His expression froze, and he suddenly became very complicated.

The author has something to say: [Mary doesn’t want to be Madame Bovary]: Flaubert’s Madame Bovary tells the story of a petty bourgeois woman’s excessive pursuit of unrealistic and extravagant love and life, which eventually leads to tragedy. story.

Is it a surprise, is it a surprise?Confessions in the face of a straight man!The most annoying thing in your life, Jiang Hua, must be experienced by Mary too hahahahahaha

Mary: That's amazing!no hi!

Little Mary's reaction comes from the reaction of the heroine Margaret in "South and North" when she was proposed by two gentlemen. I think it's really funny. Thornton) before the confession, Margaret could instantly sense the emergency step and call to stop, the picture feels hhhhhh!

And today is the manuscript box distribution!Jiang Hua and her friends went to watch "Creed" to provoke them. The nutrient solution and Overlord tickets will come back tomorrow to thank you. Thank you everyone! ! !