Chapter 382 The Secret of Hastings

London, Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel District, Mr. Martin's Tavern.

In the evening, Mr. Martin's business was as prosperous as usual.

As a businessman who started out as a counterfeiter, Judd Martin is very satisfied with his current life.

Although the bulk of his current income is still from unserious products such as watered beer, compared to other colleagues in the East District, at least Martin can proudly announce that his wine is definitely not adulterated with green vitriol or other harmful effects. Human stuff.

And this kind of wealth also makes Martin feel at ease. At least now he no longer has to make a long routine confession to God in fear before going to bed every day.

And the reason why he was able to open a shop in the complex Whitechapel was of course inseparable from the noble man in his life, the God of Scotland Yard - Arthur Hastings.

Mr. Martin's niece still clearly remembers that when the news came that Mr. Hastings had been shot in Liverpool, her uncle who was reading the newspaper was so frightened that he fell off his chair.

In order to keep abreast of the progress of the Liverpool shooting and Mr. Hastings's injury, the stingy Mr. Martin did not hesitate to spend two shillings to read all the newspapers on the market that reported the news.

It wasn't until he was very sure that Officer Hastings really didn't burp that the middle-aged, bald man fell asleep uneasily on the bed.

In order to help Arthur recover, Mr. Martin got up early the next day and ran to the confessional in the church to help Mr. Hastings confess his crimes on his behalf.

Perhaps Martin's piety really played a role, or perhaps Mr. Hastings's own toughness. In short, he came back from Liverpool alive and kicking.

Not only that, this admirable young police officer was promoted to Assistant Superintendent, becoming the third-ranking figure in Scotland Yard after Director Rowan and Deputy Director Sir Mayne.

Anne still clearly remembered that when she went to the butcher's shop a few days ago, she saw Mr. Hastings looking high-spirited when he walked out of the Whitechapel Police Station.

He was surrounded by the sergeant of police who was always unsmiling, the somewhat bald workhouse deacon, the local priest holding a book and a cross on his chest, and several elders of the Scotland Yard Presbyterian Church.

These prominent local figures in Whitechapel surrounded him, and everyone had a smile that probably lasted the whole year on their face.

What’s even more dramatic is that the Sheriff had apparently requested that Martin’s Tavern be closed during the cholera control period just a few days ago.

However, after Mr. Hastings visited the police station, the sergeant said nothing about the incident.

And not only that, the Sheriff, who was in his early thirties and had a scar on the corner of his mouth, even went to the tavern to gouge the vicar who advocated prohibition of alcohol, and called the deacon of the workhouse who reported the sale of illegal publications in Martin's Tavern. The police station gave him a scolding.

That night, the police sergeant, who rarely showed a good face to others, personally visited Martin's Tavern and drank and drank with Mr. Martin as brothers. After a heated conversation, the two of them were surprised to discover that it turned out that the niece of Mr. Sheriff's aunt's family had married Mr. Martin's hometown of Kent. In this way, the two of them could be considered half of the same country.

While the two were chatting, Anne, who was serving wine and food, asked about Mr. Hastings out of curiosity.

Although the two gentlemen were in a happy mood, they were quite willing to answer the lady's questions.

Only then did she learn about Mr. Hastings' legendary fortune.

Who would have thought that such a big shot was just a police patrol who had to live on credit with her uncle three years ago?

Perhaps it was Mr. Hastings's history of prosperity that stimulated the police chief, who even recited on the spot a speech Mr. Hastings gave to the police officers when he visited Whitechapel Police Station.

As the saying goes, Shun was raised in the countryside, Fu Shuo was raised in the building, Jiao Ge was raised in the fish and salt, Guan Yiwu was raised in the army, Sun Shuao was raised in the sea, Baili Xi was raised in the city...

Although Anne didn't know what these words meant, and Mr. Sheriff and her uncle might not know what they meant either, these strange accents sounded very knowledgeable.

If we interpret it according to what Mr. Chief Constable said, Mr. Hastings is motivating everyone at the Whitechapel Police Department and using his own experience to teach everyone a truth: In this era, even if you are born with a mud-legged background, It doesn't matter, as long as you have enough talent and a little luck, you can climb up. And he, Arthur Hastings, is the big guy's luck.

And Mr. Hastings's words are not all nonsense.

Because the previous chief of the Whitechapel Police Department, Laidley, who everyone called "Loach", seemed to have left the shit basin of Whitechapel and was transferred to work under Mr. Hastings.

It was only then that Anne realized how much power Mr. Hastings, who occasionally came to the shop for coffee, had.

Of course, she couldn't help but have some thoughts of her own.

She knew that people like Mr. Hastings belonged, after all, to true ladies, young ladies and madams. If it were a few years ago, when he was a poor little police officer, he might still have some opportunities, but now this door has been closed.

However, Anne was not upset because she already had someone she liked.

If possible, the unscrupulous man should be given a job with Mr. Hastings.

I don’t ask that guy to be more motivated, I just ask him not to stay with those bastards who drink and cause trouble at the dock all day long.

Thinking about these things, Annie wiped the table absentmindedly.

Suddenly, the wind chimes hanging in front of the tavern door jingled.

Anne put away the rag, looked up, and suddenly said in surprise: "Mr. Hastings?"

Arthur glanced at the familiar gangsters in the store, took off his hat and said, "Good evening, madam. Where is your uncle? I booked a private room with him."

"My uncle is in the kitchen. He said this is the first time you have come to the store this year, and he must entertain you well and help you get rid of the bad luck he brought back from Liverpool."

"No need to be so polite." Arthur joked: "My requirements are not high, as long as Mr. Martin doesn't add anything extra to my dishes."

"You are the one who thinks too much." Annie replied with a smile: "Although he is stingy and has a poor memory, he remembers everything you asked him to do."

"Okay, I'll go up first."

Arthur was about to go upstairs when suddenly, Anne stopped him with a voice: "Wait a minute, Mr. Hastings!"

"Huh?" Arthur turned around and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"that……"

Anne didn't know how to start this conversation. As a country girl from Kent, she only remembered that her mother would always get something when she asked for help when she was a child.

But what gift could she give to a man like Mr. Hastings?

Mr. Hastings doesn’t seem to be in short supply of agricultural and sideline products like eggs.

Arthur saw Anne's embarrassment and asked, "What? Someone bullied you? Or did your uncle not pay you the normal salary?"

"No, it's not about my uncle. Although he doesn't pay me much, if I want to buy something not too expensive, he will still nod and agree..."

Arthur put one hand on the armrest and joked: "Girl, next time something like this happens, you can come to the London District Prosecutor's Office for help. Although civil cases are not within our jurisdiction, given the newly recruited prosecutors there, Most of the officers are inexperienced, so I believe many of them are still willing to find some small cases to practice their skills on.”

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, he heard a commotion outside the tavern door.

With a bang, the door of the tavern was kicked open.

A beaten man with a bruised nose and face was thrown onto the floor of the tavern, and the thugs filed in, followed by a crisp and disdainful snort.

The high heels clicked on the floor, and Fiona, who was wearing a black and red dress, had a wide-brimmed hat with a fluffy white feather clasped on her head.

She stood next to the man, holding a slender cigarette rod in her hand wearing lace white gloves: "Where's Martin? If you're still alive, come out and answer the question! If you're dead, I'll put your coffin in tonight Lift the lid!"

Martin opened the partition door of the kitchen, rubbed his hands and walked out with a smile: "Miss Ivan, it is not good for girls to be angry all the time. Look, this is simply tarnishing your natural beauty."

Fiona took a puff of her cigarette and slowly blew smoke into Martin's face: "Mr. Martin, I don't want to interfere with your business. You are a businessman, and I am also a businessman. We should be harmonious and make money. But , the man your niece chose came to my territory to have sex for free. If I turn a blind eye to this and pretend that I don't know anything, it will break the rules of the industry. If everyone does what he does, we will. Can the business continue?"

"Ah..." Martin glanced at the half-dead gangster lying on the ground: "You talk about him! You don't need to show any mercy to me, I don't know this kind of bastard at all. You can decide for yourself what you want to do. , sink it into the Thames, or sell it to America as a slave, it’s up to you.”

"uncle!"

When Anne heard this, she rushed out: "How could you do this to John?"

When Martin saw this situation, he just glared at his niece: "What are you doing? You haven't gotten off work today!"

He took out a broom from behind the counter and put it into Annie's hand: "If you feel free, I will give you a new job to sweep this social garbage on the ground outside."

"Huh?!" Fiona stretched out her hand to stop Anne, and said to Martin: "Martin, what do you mean? Our matter is not settled yet. If you don't pay the bill for him, then he can't go out."

"Fiona."

Arthur, who had been leaning on the armrest and watching for a long time, saw this scene and raised his hand to say hello to her: "Don't make trouble. I don't want to go to the police during off-duty hours. I paid for him how much he owed you."

"Um?"

Fiona was about to get angry when she heard someone calling her name, but when she turned her eyes, she saw that it was the black hat on the stairs who was speaking. The curse words on her lips turned around and went back to her stomach.

"Oh! My dear, you are here! You are still as generous and kind as ever. In that case, I agree."

Fiona raised the cigarette pole and kicked the boy on the ground in disgust: "You bastard, you are lucky today to meet the most kind-hearted person in London. But next time you dare to do this again , not so lucky.”

After saying that, Fiona raised her head and glared at Anne, took out a note from her pocket and put it into her hand: "Take him to treat his injuries. Finally, keep an eye on your man. He seems to think he is very attractive. , he has no idea that you have to pay for sleeping with other women besides you.”

When Anne heard this, she just responded with a fierce look, and she helped her sweetheart out of the tavern.

When Fiona saw this, she just said with disdain: "Still too young!"

The diners who were watching the excitement had no fun, so they could only clink their glasses, laugh and toast: "It's really disappointing."

Fiona glanced at the group of diners, turned around and ordered to the thugs: "You guys are here to guard. I'm happy today. You can eat whatever you want. I'm going to discuss business with my dear."

Fiona moved her steps to come to Arthur, raised her hand slightly, raised her chin at Arthur, and motioned for him to hold it.

Arthur just laughed when he saw this: "Where did you learn that? It's pretty classy."

Fiona said indifferently: "Of course, I hired an etiquette teacher. As for you, you have been to so many cocktail parties, haven't you learned any gentlemanly manners?"

"Of course I haven't learned the gentlemanly manners. Miss Ivan, you have to know that I used to be a pig farmer, and now I just changed my job. However, since you have learned so well, I will try my best to cooperate. You imitate.”

Arthur bowed slightly and took Fiona's hand into the private room on the second floor.

As soon as the two sat down, they heard Fiona complaining uncontrollably: "Damn it! You are indeed a pig farmer, and you hold a lady's hand with the same force as a pig."

Arthur responded while pouring tea: "The wild boar can't eat fine chaff, so bear with it, madam."

"Huh?" Fiona knocked on the table very dissatisfied: "It's hard to satisfy creditors with your attitude."

"So? How much does Annie's boyfriend owe you?"

"Not much." Fiona raised a finger: "This is the number."

"One pound?"

Arthur frowned, took out a note from his pocket and placed it on the table: "You are simply robbing. The robbers in London may not be able to rob so much money in one transaction."

“High risk and high reward, high quality services naturally deserve high prices.”

Fiona stretched and said: "If you want to make this money, I can introduce it to you. Aren't there still many young men these days who are thinking about getting rich overnight by marrying the widow of a wealthy businessman? It's just that they What we do is long-term, and what we do is short-term. I don’t think there is any difference between us.”

At this point, Fiona lowered her head and looked at the corner of Arthur's eyes: "Speaking of which, are you healed? The Liverpool case is half-way through, why don't you continue the investigation? If you have any inconvenience, take action Wherever you are, I can help. Of course, my requirement is that you cannot repay kindness with enmity. If I succeed, you cannot throw me into prison again. "

"Thank you for your concern, madam, but please stay out of the Liverpool case and just mind your own business."

"Oh..." Fiona narrowed her eyes and then opened her eyes suddenly: "Okay, dear, since you said so, I believe you. If you don't let me touch it, then I won't touch it."

Arthur took a sip of tea: "I hope you are as well-behaved as you say, but having said that, your answer made me feel a little disappointed, because I thought you would be more rebellious."

Having said this, Arthur took out a document from his bag and threw it on the table. He shook his head with regret and said, "It seems that you may not be able to do this job."

"What's this?"

"You want."

"What do I want?"

Fiona was about to pick up the document when Arthur suddenly reached out and pressed her palm: "Think carefully, if you accept what you want, then out of the principle of fair dealing, you must also Provide me with appropriate compensation.”

Fiona suddenly narrowed her eyes and smiled when she heard this. She replied nonchalantly: "Your reward has been sitting here all this time. If you don't take it yourself, how can you blame me for not giving it to you? Take what you want, just like me Same."

After saying this, Fiona didn't give Arthur a chance to speak. She pulled out the document from Arthur's palm with a whoosh.

As soon as she unfolded the cover of the document, the smile on her face suddenly froze. After a brief pause, she exclaimed: "Oh my God! My dear, how did you get this thing!"