[Sherlock Holmes] The Legend of the Nightingale

(Manuscript by Dr. Watson)

Standing in the middle of the reception room, I finally looked around at the other people present. Although it would be very embarrassing for my friends to say it, but frankly, I was in a very desperate mood at the time.

"None of you here has the right to intervene in the work of Scotland Yard, but you will not sit at home and wait for the judgment of Scotland Yard to decide the fate of our friends. Thanks to Mr. Holmes who is here now for providing the meeting place. I I also want to confirm again: Is this reception room absolutely safe?"

The sudden turn of the last sentence effectively got the other three in the drawing room to laugh.Jack McMurdo laughed a little loudly, but he realized it just in time and kept his mouth shut.Iris Adler turned around to hide her smile.Mycroft, who was slumped in the armchair, just smiled and made a helpless gesture.

"My dear Dr. Watson, I have said many times that the encyclopedias of the Diogenes Club have no interest in the trivialities of the outside world."

"Are you sure there won't be Moriarty undercover?" I asked a little embarrassed.

"It doesn't seem to be a good deal to stay here for many years without speaking or getting any news."

"The club members are naturally not a problem, but the waiters here...?"

"Doctor Watson, do you want to say that Holmes would just watch Moriarty's undercover agents go in and out every day without finding any clues?"

"No, I never mean that, Mr. Holmes, offend."

Mycroft made a "go on" gesture.I sigh.

"If you forget your prepared speech, Dr. Watson, just give it," said McMurdo.It seemed that the unintentional joke just woke up the creature, which was so excited when it got in trouble.

"I have no speech, Mr. McMurdo. Please let me finish."

"Sorry, doctor. Next time Wei has an opinion, I'll whistle like in the House of Commons or something."

Later, I saw a scribbled sentence in the memo of the day: "According to rough calculations, one and a half of the four people present are Americans, and they are very likely to become a powerful couple who will settle in London in the future." legal couple. It's a disaster."

"Although a large part of Professor Moriarty's network in London has been dug out, there is still no news of Holmes. We have reason to believe that the professor intended to catch him with the nightingale as bait, and he succeeded. Holmes said that once he Once gone, went to Mr McMurdo for help—so I contacted the detective."

"Call me Jack, doctor, thanks a lot."

"Then what about the others?" Iris, who was leaning on the back of McMurdo's chair, pushed McMurdo with his slender arm to shut him up.I haven't seen her these days, she is much thinner than before, and I hardly recognize her at first sight.

"I don't trust anyone to take on the professor alone, not even Pinkerton's detective. With Sherlock Holmes in his hands, no one can do better. I think this time we need a few more people to cooperate .”

What I said must have struck Holmes with the utmost contempt.After seeing his expression, I had to make a correction.

"Fighting a group requires a group, don't ask where I learned that. Maybe in the Army, maybe I just made it up myself. Well, we've got enough brains, action and— — if you don’t mind my saying so, ma’am — dirty tricks. We now need a plan, or rather direction, from Mr. Holmes.”

"Oh... so you see me as the leader of us?"

"At least I think that's the only way to go." I made a gesture of resignation.

"I suggest that the person who convened this meeting should take the lead." Mycroft took a sip of tea without much concern, "Otherwise you really have no reason to appear here."

Mycroft Holmes, who seems to be much more generous than Sherlock Holmes, sometimes speaks frighteningly sharply, although his kind tone and expression alone make it difficult to believe what he said.But what I couldn't believe most of all was that he was much calmer than I was when Holmes disappeared.

"I know you are not malicious, just like Sherlock Holmes, so I don't care, Mr. Holmes. Scotland Yard confirmed that Holmes disappeared on the 6th. Today is the 8th, and there is still no news. I think he has been missing since the evening of the 5th." It's in the hands of the professor."

"We don't know what this crazy math teacher wants to do now," McMurdo said. "Kill my colleagues in London?"

"If he wanted to, we would have found our friend somewhere by now. He knew that if he attacked Holmes directly, there would be traces anyway, and Scotland Yard would do anything to get him."

"Aren't they good at destroying traces?" McMurdo interjected. "They got away with the shootings that Scotland Yard found before. Not to mention the ones that Scotland Yard didn't find."

"They get away with it because they find a way for the bullet to go out, not because they have a way to make it disappear out of thin air. Anyone who has been a detective should understand this, whether it is official or amateur, no matter what method will stay Clues. But I think you in Pinkerton are the type to follow up or use violence and blunt or sharp weapons to solve problems more quickly if necessary, right?"

McMurdo looked bad.Iris laughed.

"This joke is mine, doctor, and it's life-threatening for someone to say that. Now boy, don't be mad at the doctor for my sake."

She leaned over and kissed McMurdo, quite openly, in front of Mycroft and me.Even the unflappable Mycroft turned his face away slightly.I put my hand on my forehead helplessly.It just didn't work out, and no one present behaved as they should when their friends were in danger.If Holmes hadn't left a message saying that McMurdo must take action, Mycroft had to plan out all the details that must be guarded against, and Adler had to go to that black shop to show his skills. If I could bring a .[-] and single-handedly snatch Holmes out , I swear I've already done that.

"Okay, doctor, now we can get down to business." Mycroft put down the teacup that had been turning in his hand, "The professor hasn't done anything to Sherlock yet. What are you worried about now?"

"Are you asking because you already knew?" I said, "He never quit cocaine, the professor didn't need to do anything to kill him. I can't believe the speed of Scotland Yard right now .unless you know better than I do, and believe in Holmes' perseverance. But pardon my offense, I know better and believe in medicine."

"I understand, doctor. But let's put it another way. I know you told Scotland Yard the name of the man Sherlock gave you, and told them to act in absolute secrecy, and they still found nothing. No one knew. The name. I don't think Scotland Yard was found. They really don't know the man."

"Yes. I didn't tell you until now to reduce the possibility of leaks. Sorry, I don't believe you, but sometimes leaks are beyond your control. Mr. McMurdo, oh, Jack, that's the name of the man. Holmes said you must go, and when all else failed."

I gave the paper to McMurdo.Pinkerton's detective lazily clamped the paper with a cigarette-pinching gesture, held it in front of his eyes for a look.Just when his eyes fell on the name, Jack McMurdo, who was indifferent to everything, jumped up from his chair.

"My God, I'm not dreaming! 'Master' Jack McGinty! Never thought I'd see this man again in my lifetime, doctor, your detective is just Satan!"

If the only woman present was any woman in London other than Iris Adler, even if she was a courtesan, McMurdo would have to apologize for the remark.But our Miss Adler just put on a wild smile.

"Mr McMurdo, I think we need you to explain who this gentleman who is also helpless at Scotland Yard is."

"Of course, doctor, of course!" McMurdo, with trembling fingers, looked up the name several times from the first letter to the last. The name Jack McGinty was known to few, and none in all London if Jack McMurdo happened to be in London. It is impossible to imagine how Holmes found him, no, and knew of me and his It's just a matter of time. It's a pity that Holmes is not here now, or I would now admit that he is the greatest detective of all!"

"Dear Jack, can you talk about the business first and then express your emotions?"

The words of a beauty are more effective than mine.McMurdo regained his energy, casually placed the piece of paper on the tea table in the living room, and looked a little more serious.As long as he wasn't so high-spirited, the inconvenience caused by his scratched lip when he spoke was less noticeable.

"This Jack McGinty, or 'Master' as we called him back in Chicago, who was photographed with me in the Vermissa Valley, is a hard-boiled, diabolical, but cunningly disguised man if necessary. .I used my identity as an undercover agent in the valley for a period of time to catch all his accomplices and only escaped him. He was just a small boss, and the police didn’t try their best to find out. Since then, this person has disappeared from the United States. If If he shows up again, I'm pretty sure he'll hang. McGinty's name isn't known, but he's best known for the title 'Master', which means he kills without batting an eyelid, just meet him and your His life is his. Later, this reputation was ruined in my hands. He has used countless aliases, and besides me, there are people in the world who know his real name that can be counted on two hands."

"How did you know?"

"Except for Mr. Holmes's variable, only his brothers who have stabbed knives know." Speaking of this, McMurdo smiled a little ruffian on his face, "I don't want to brag, but I think that in Chicago and Vermissa's deadly cool gang is doing pretty well. A man who is not as tough as this can't hold back this baby..."

"Mr. McMurdo, before you decide to take any action against Miss Adler, please consider the feelings of the others present."

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to say that I didn't expect this guy to come to the UK to work for the professor. Scotland Yard didn't find any Americans there. I must have completely changed my accent over the years. I thought I would never have a chance in my life." Seeing this enemy again, it seems that Professor Moriarty and I are destined."

"Can you get him to confess where Holmes is?"

"I have a way to make him understand that a man who should be hanged in America will not be commuted to life imprisonment in England. But it would be better to spend some time talking with him alone. He may not know where Holmes is, but there is It is very likely that he knows where the professor is. At present, it seems that the two are the same thing. Or maybe he only knows who the person connecting with him is and where he came from, but that person must be the core of Moriarty character, now he has all his cronies around him."

McMurdo's grin was half grinning, half of his lips still fixed.

"Excellent, Mr. McMurdo. Let's discuss the details at last. To-morrow you go and get this Mr. McGinty back. If there is any concern that one man will not be able to resist, although I think the possibility of this is very remote, I am ready to reinforce. It will take a little time to track down Holmes after getting his news, and you can notify Scotland Yard to do it. However, in order to prevent the "lord" from fleeing or being caught at the first sight of you - you need to be accompanied by Miss Adler help you?"

The author has something to say: In the original book, Jack McGinty is the one in the uncanny valley, and the "life master" (some versions translate it into "body master") does not mean that. The definition in this chapter is made up by me.McMurdo in the original book is a pseudonym. He was an undercover agent in Vermisa for a long time. It was McGinty who was hanged later. The fish who escaped was Baldwin, who later went to England to hunt down McMurdo.This article has been completely changed.