In the Wheatstone Musical Instrument Store, Arthur looks at the two gramophones on the counter and takes off his hat to salute Wheatstone.

"Thank you for your cooperation, good citizen."

Wheatstone just propped one hand on the counter and covered his forehead with the other: "I hope you won't have a chance to pay tribute to me again." ”

Arthur was not annoyed by Wheatstone's faux pas, but replied rather calmly: "I think you should have underthought about this. I think we'll see each other again soon, either at the Royal Society or in the musical instrument shop. ”

"Okay, okay." Wheatstone waved his hand: "So, Mr. Hastings, now that you have the gramophone, what about losing the gun?" ”

"Lost your gun?" Arthur raised his head slightly, as if trying to remember.

Wheatstone's face was full of suspicion: "Could it be that you want to regret it?" ”

Arthur just calmly said, "I don't know where you got the news of the missing gun in Scotland Yard. But with all due respect, Scotland Yard has pretty strict internal regulations, and every one of our officers has a very strict control over their guns. Therefore, there is absolutely no such thing as losing a gun. ”

Wheatstone opened his mouth wide when he heard this, and he didn't close it for a long time: "You...... How the hell did you get there? ”

"What do you mean?"

Wheatstone gestured as he said, "That's it...... The ability to open your eyes and tell nonsense. ”

Arthur said as if he had amnesia, "Mr. Wheatstone, your words don't match the words. I suppose you're sick and need me to drop you off at the Royal Hospital in Berthelem on the way back? You may not know it, but I'm a very enthusiastic person. ”

When Wheatstone heard this, sweat came down his head.

But anyone in London knows what the Royal Hospital of Bertrem does, and there is nothing else to treat the mentally ill.

He waved his hand again and again: "Don't don't, I just didn't sleep well last night, and I'm a little nervous, but there is no big problem other than that." So, I don't bother you with my health. Mr. Hastings, if you go slowly, I won't send you. ”

Arthur nodded, "So, Mr. Wheatstone, pay attention to your body, I think we will need you again in the future." ”

With that, Arthur turned around and was about to go out, but saw a young man with an umbrella standing outside the door.

The young man's appearance still looked a little familiar.

But before Arthur could remember who he was, the other party had already pushed open the door of the instrument shop and rushed in.

"It's you! Finally let me catch you! I knew I would be back! Sigmar, don't you try to escape my palm today! ”

"Sigma?" Arthur stared at the other man's face for a few moments before remembering who he was.

This was William Thackeray, the Cambridge student who had been angered by Elder at the musical instrument shop.

And the so-called Sigma should be Xu Zhimo?

However, the other party can pronounce Xu Zhimo's three syllables like this, and he can't be completely blamed, after all, this pronunciation is still a little difficult for an authentic British gentleman.

If he was not busy, Arthur might have stopped and chatted with the other person, but now he obviously didn't have that leisure.

Arthur spoke, "Sir, you may be mistaken for me, I am neither σ (Sigma) nor α (Alpha), I have nothing to do with the Greek letters, and at the same time I have no interest in averaging σ or calculating angles with α. So now, excuse me, I still have some urgent matters to deal with. ”

But Thackeray was clearly not persuaded, and the arrogant young man stared at Arthur with a hint of unwillingness on his arrogant face.

"You...... Do you think I'm looking for you? Damn it! What should I tell you about this! Fuck, maybe I shouldn't have believed you and that rude friend in the first place. When I got back to school, I searched all the literary clubs, but none of them were named Sigma, and I couldn't even find one with such a strange name on the roster of previous students. ”

Arthur comforted: "It's okay, it's normal to not be able to find it, it's not your fault." If you find out, then I'm going to start doubting the reality of the world. ”

When Thackeray heard this, he just clenched his fists, and he held it for a long time, before he blushed and asked, "So, you lied to me from the beginning?" That poem is your work at all? ”

"No, no, no." Arthur has always been honest in this regard: "I just borrowed, or you can convict me of plagiarism, or plagiarism, anyway, whatever you decide, you can just be happy." Mr. Thackeray, I know you hate that friend of mine, so you hate me too. It's not a big deal, I can understand, it's just human nature. But since I've already admitted plagiarism to you, you should be satisfied by now, right? If you are satisfied, please let me go, I am really anxious. ”

Who knew that when Thackeray heard this, not only did he not lose his temper, but felt that Arthur was despising him.

This young man with strong self-esteem pursed his lips and trembled: "You are despising me!" Do you think I'm going to steal the honor that is rightfully yours? Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Sigma, I'm afraid you're wrong. Although I want to be famous, I will never achieve myself in such a way that tarnishes my own honor! ”

Arthur was confused by his brainless words.

Even Wheatstone, who was standing behind the counter, couldn't help but complain: "Mr. Hastings, it seems that there is a patient here who should be taken to the Royal Hospital of Bertrem more than me." ”

Arthur was puzzled, "Mr. Thackeray, what the hell are you talking about?" ”

"Say what?"

Thackeray realized his gaffe, he took a deep breath, and tried his best to calm his emotions: "Mr. Sigma, I must first apologize to you, because I want to compete with you, I have submitted your poem "Farewell to Cambridge" to this year's Cambridge University poetry competition without your permission.

But at the same time, I would like to congratulate you for winning the first place in the school competition and winning the Principal's Gold Medal. Although I don't know why that poem is better than mine, you win is winning, and your poetry is indeed better than mine.

Perhaps your friend was right, but I am not a lover for a career in literature. I can't catch up with Alfred, I can't catch up with you. ”

When Arthur heard this, he only felt his scalp tingle, he scratched his head and asked, "Wait, you said that "Farewell to Cambridge" won the gold medal?" Although I think that poem is very good, if you compare it with Mr. Tennyson, especially with the poem "Timbuktu", there is still a certain gap. ”

Thackeray became more and more aggrieved the more he listened: "I'm glad you recognize Alfred's talent, but his Timbuktu was last year's gold medal. As for this year, Alfred didn't compete, so your gold medal is well deserved.

Truth be told, the reason I've come to you in such a hurry is to invite you to the awards ceremony in Cambridge next month. After all, I can't take the stage to claim your honor. ”

"Going to Cambridge to claim the award?" Arthur raised his forehead and said, "Then you might as well kill me directly." If I let my classmates know about this, I'm afraid I won't have to mingle in the alumni circle in the future. ”

When Thackeray heard this, he was surprised and asked, "Are you a graduate of Oxford?" ”

Arthur frowned when he heard this: "Mr. Thackeray, although I respect you very much, I still have to strongly ask you to retract the attack on my life!" ”

"Ah...... It turns out that you have nothing to do with Oxford. Thackeray was also relieved to hear this, and he clutched his chest and said, "That's easy...... Luckily, you didn't graduate from Oxford, and if the school knew that I had let an Oxford person win the first prize in a poetry competition, even if I wasn't expelled from school, I would have to be squeezed by my classmates for a while. ”

"That's right, I don't have anything to do with Oxford." Arthur said categorically: "That friend of mine is the real old Oxford." ”

Thackeray was stunned for a moment, he thought back to what happened that day, and suddenly felt a sense of relief, he muttered: "Then it's no wonder, I'll just say it...... There was indeed a strong, stubborn Oxford air about him. ”

He was recalling Arthur's words, and when he came back to his senses, he suddenly found that Arthur, who was still standing in front of him, had disappeared without a trace.

He hurriedly searched privately, but there was no trace of Arthur anywhere in the store.

"This ......"

Thackeray hurriedly asked the shopkeeper, "Sir, where is the gentleman who was standing here just now?" ”

Wheatstone pouted and replied, "He left through the back door." ”

"Huh?!"

Thackeray hurried to chase after him, but before he could go out, he saw a black public carriage passing outside the window, and Arthur was sitting in the car and took off his hat to him through the window: "Goodbye, Mr. Thackeray." Remember to say hello to your friend Alfred Tennyson for me. ”

The carriage galloped past, wheels carrying up circles of muddy water, and disappeared at the end of Central Avenue as Thackeray watched.

When Thackeray saw this, he knew he would not be able to catch up.

He stood in a hurry in the shop, and suddenly, as if he remembered something, he rushed to Wheatstone.

"Do you know the name of that gentleman? He must have come here to order a musical instrument from you, right? Do you have his home address here, or a work address? ”

Wheatstone thought about what Arthur had just done to him, then looked at the young man in front of him who seemed to be more innocent than himself, and replied maliciously: "This gentleman, don't listen to the nonsense of the gentleman just now, his name is Sigma." Mr. Arthur Sigmar, whose home address is Bertlem Royal Hospital, Liverpool Street, the City of the City. ”

Although Thackeray could not be called Old London, he still knew a little about the name.

He asked suspiciously, "The Royal Hospital of Bertlem?" Isn't that the place for the mentally ill? ”

Wheatstone stared earnestly into Thackeray's eyes and patted him lightly on the shoulder with one hand: "Sir, I just heard you mention in conversation that you are a Cambridge student who likes literature. Then you should know that poets, it is normal to have a little mental illness. Mr. Sigma could have written a gold medal-winning poem, and if he wasn't a little mentally ill, I don't think it would be possible. ”

(End of chapter)