Disraeli led Arthur into the second floor, and although the shelves on the second floor were not as dense as those on the first floor, the decoration here was obviously much more luxurious.

Four or five bright glass chandeliers, the wooden façade frame is slightly mottled, but fortunately, the paintings hanging on the walls hide its obsolescence well, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that greedily absorb the few rays of sunlight in London, and the Persian carpet composed of intricate golden-red ornaments that fill the venue make it a classical highlight.

Perhaps because of the high value of the goods here, the shopkeeper specially arranged two men to guard the entrance on the second floor.

Arthur had barely walked up to the second floor when his eyes were drawn to the dazzling array of merchandise.

Intricately decorated ivory pipes, Ceylon black tea sold in gold-painted jars, beautiful mechanical pocket watches lying in containers with hour hands and gears turning, but what made Arthur most concerned was the gentleman's umbrella that leaned against the corner in pure black but claimed to be the same style as Sir Isaac Newton.

Arthur would normally think of this as self-marketing by the merchant, but given that Sir Newton's former home was next door, and the shop was more than 100 years old, the shopkeeper patted his chest and emphasized to him that his grandfather's grandfather had been friends with Sir Newton for eight years. Arthur could only believe his words for the time being.

But Arthur's trust didn't last long, for after a cursory walk around the second floor, he found that there were too many things in the store that were linked to Newton.

These include, but are not limited to, the wigs Newton wrew, the spinning tops Newton drawn, the manuscripts written by Newton, and of course, the things are so complete that the legendary apple that hit Newton's head is indispensable.

Arthur crouched in front of the glass window and stared at the apple marked as not for sale for a long time, when suddenly he saw the skin of the apple move, and a hole was opened in it, and a small green worm with a fat belly came out of it.

Arthur pinched his chin and pondered for a while, then suddenly nodded at the little green worm: "You can live until now, you are much more powerful than gravity." ”

Speaking of this, he did not forget to shout at the shopkeeper who was snoring at the counter on the second floor: "Sir, come and meet your grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's friend." ”

With that, he walked out of the counter, which was called Newton's Selection, with his cane in hand.

On the other side, Disraeli was holding a brownish-yellow cigar to his nose and sniffing it gently.

He saw Arthur coming, and hurriedly beckoned to him: "Arthur, you should be tired of smoking ordinary cigarettes." How about ordering a Havana cigar on the hour today? ”

"Cigars?" Arthur took the humidor from Disraeli's hand, just took a sip of it, then nodded, "It's okay, some smoke is better than nothing." ”

"Oh, Arthur, what are you talking about?"

Disraeli said disdainfully: "Smoking a cigar is a delicate job, a fashion, don't treat this thing as ordinary tobacco." To smoke a cigar well, you have to learn a little. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, do you have a cigar tong at home? If you don't have one, buy one today. ”

"Cigar tongs? What is that for? ”

"It's the cigar butt, do you have it at home?"

Arthur just shook his head: "No, but I have Alexandre, a French tenant at home, so I don't think I need to buy something specifically for cutting cigar heads." ”

Disraeli wondered, "Why?" Is Alexander good at cigar biting? This thing bites down, but it's quite astringent! ”

Arthur said: "No, it's because the French have always been good at making machines for cutting heads, and I know that there is a big one in Paris, and whoever has used it, he doesn't say that it is bad." I begged Alexander to help me do the same for the sake of his friend. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes: "Wouldn't it be overkill to cut a cigar with a guillotine?" But well, since you said you didn't need it, then we won't buy it. Shall we go to see cologne next? ”

Arthur took out his pocket watch from his chest and glanced at it, "Calculate the time, the perfumer should also go to work, let's go to the backyard for a walk." ”

Disraeli casually called the young man to take them to the perfume room in the backyard, and asked as he went, "Why did you suddenly remember to buy cologne?" I remember you don't usually have any smell on you, and even if you do, you shouldn't be so bad that you need to use cologne to smell it, right? Arthur, tell me the truth, which chick do you have a crush on? ”

Arthur heard Disraeli laugh at himself, and replied indifferently: "Benjamin, I still have a lot of chicks." I'm not like you, I'm not as loving as Elder is, but on the whole, I've always been a good friend of beautiful ladies. But you're different, I really don't understand, why do you always prefer ladies who are a lot older than you? ”

When Disraeli heard this, it was as if he had been struck by lightning, and he shuddered and said, "Damn, Arthur, how do you know?" ”

Arthur wouldn't tell him that Benjamin Disraeli's file was number 001 in the archives of the London Police Intelligence Service.

He just came up with the reasonable, foolish reason: "I said, Benjamin, I'm a detective, and it's normal for me, as the most brilliant detective in Scotland Yard, to have a keen insight." When you look at the eyes of the lady in the upper department, it is obviously different. ”

Disraeli had a ghostly expression: "Thank God, I have only been such a detective friend as you in my life." If there were a few more, I guess I could see what color underwear I was wearing today. ”

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly remembered the Disraeli file that had just been updated a while ago.

The social atmosphere in these years is still relatively conservative on the surface, so except for some upper-class ladies who will have the need to buy lace underwear, most people's choice of intimate clothing is to buy fabrics and go home to make their own.

Not long ago, the detectives of the Police Intelligence Bureau happened to bump into Disraeli and bought a small piece of dark green fabric in the fabric store, such a small piece of material, I can't think of anything to do except sew pants.

Therefore, Arthur replied casually, "Dark green." ”

As soon as Arthur said this, Disraeli was directly shocked, he stopped in place, and stared at the avenue with two eyes: "How do you know this?" ”

Arthur shook his finger: "Don't be nervous, Benjamin, it's just my guess, and I just guessed it." ”

"Of course I know you guessed! You can't stand on my windowsill every day and watch me change my underwear, can you? Disraeli asked, "I'm talking about how did you guess it?" ”

Arthur glanced at his extremely sassy outfit and said lightly: "Like you said, Benjamin, you are a fashionista in the London social circle, and your style of dressing has always been very sophisticated. For example, today, you wore a Byzantine purple tuxedo and a pair of burgundy pants, so in terms of color matching, I tend to think that you would wear a big dark green pair of pants. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he couldn't help but applaud and exclaimed, "Arthur, I really didn't expect that your observation skills would be so meticulous. Although I used to think that detectives were not ordinary people, it was necessary to understand chemistry, naturalism and even criminal psychology. I didn't expect you to be so concerned about fashion trends and color matching. It's not for nothing that you've become a police celebrity admired by Londoners. ”

Arthur just smiled and took off his hat in return: "Benjamin, you really won the award, my observation of London fashion is far inferior to yours after all." ”

Disraeli asked again, "But you haven't told me yet, what are you suddenly thinking about buying cologne for?" You don't really smell like anything about you. ”

In response to Disraeli's questioning, Arthur still chose to change the subject, after all, this case involved a councilor, and he still didn't plan to reveal too much until he figured out the situation.

He just interrupted: "I don't have body odor because I take a bath often, Benjamin, you are okay and don't listen to those scientific magazines, taking a bath less will not reduce the probability of you getting sick." Just wiping your body with a damp towel every night won't solve your hygiene problems. As for cologne, I plan to use it as a deodorant, and I plan to ask a dung digger to clean up the toilet landfill at home after a while, and then it is indispensable to use cologne to freshen the air. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he couldn't help but ask, "Speaking of which, my toilet should also be cleaned." By the way, is the clearance price still two shillings now? ”

Arthur replied: "It's gone up a little, and the economic situation has been good lately, so the wages for all kinds of jobs have risen, but it's also appropriate to give a few pennies for this dirty and tiring work." ”

The two chatted all the way, and it didn't take long for them to come to a hut in the backyard.

Before they even entered the door, they felt all kinds of fragrant aromas in the air.

They sniffed lightly and felt refreshed, which is rare in places like London these days.

As soon as they stepped inside, they saw a middle-aged man wearing a white shirt with a medicine spoon in his left hand and a perfume bottle in his right hand in front of a long table full of colorful bottles and cans.

"The Mediterranean zest of the Marquese of Londonderry, 8 drops bergamot, 1 drop grapefruit, 5 drops orange, 1 drop cardamom...... Bordeaux Pastoral by the Count of Winchelsea, 4 drops lavender, 4 drops of happy rattail, 2 drops of orange blossom, 2 drops of rosemary......"

Seeing this, the young man stepped forward and shouted softly: "Mr. Rui Ri, another guest has come to you to configure a customized special cologne." ”

Riddle?

When Arthur heard the name, he instantly remembered the book of Perfume that came from Fiona's hand, and the French perfumer Rui Riri, who had recently been in London for a long time, was the gentleman in front of him?

When Rui Ri heard the young man's voice, he just rubbed his hair irritably.

"Alright, I got it. You leave the list, and I'll match it later. Now I have to concentrate on finishing a few big lists, and the perfume is a delicate job, and every drop of essential oils is a drop less, and the aroma will show a completely different effect. I'll have to figure out how to make these ladies and gentlemen exude a special smell at the banquet, so that people can think of the person who concocts their perfume with just a sip. ”

When the young man saw this, he wanted to say a few more words to Rui Riddle, but he couldn't say anything.

Because he knew that the perfumer in front of him had been hired by the boss for a lot of money, and if he was angry and didn't do it, he couldn't afford this responsibility.

Seeing this, Arthur just patted the young man on the shoulder, signaling that he could go and do his job, and there was no need to worry here.

The young man breathed a sigh of relief, then took off his hat and gave Arthur a slightly apologetic smile before withdrawing.

When Arthur saw that he was far away, he paced behind him with his hands behind his back and walked behind Riri.

He watched as Rui Wei trembled as she put the spoon into the tank of essential oil, and then carefully added it to the concoction cup drop by drop.

Arthur suddenly asked, "I heard that there is cologne used by Sir Isaac Newton here?" ”

Arthur didn't say anything, but his voice made Rui Rima's hand tremble, and he almost pushed the concoction jar to the ground.

He turned his head suddenly, and the half-long hair on his forehead also shook off with the movement of turning back, and turned his back to the back of his head.

Rui Wei said angrily, "What are you doing? This is my private space, and you can't enter it without permission, didn't Mr. Baxter tell you? ”

Baxter in Rui's mouth is the owner of this shop, and looking at him like this, he probably thinks Arthur is a new man.

However, for Arthur, it doesn't matter who Riddle thinks of him.

Relying on his previous encounters with Vidocq, he had a good grasp of how to deal with a Frenchman.

Arthur just took out his police ID card from his pocket and put it in front of Rui Riri: "Arthur Hastings, Superintendent of Criminal Investigation of the Metropolitan Police Department, can I come in now?" ”

"Police?!"

When Rui Mi heard this identity, she was so shocked that she hurriedly leaned back and protected her perfume jar.

"You...... What are you here for? I did my duty in business, and I didn't do anything illegal or criminal, why did you arrest me? ”

Arthur put away his police ID and smiled, "Mr. Riddle, you're right. The French police don't need a reason to arrest someone, but the British police still need a reason. So, I'm not here to arrest you today, but to ask you to make some cologne that suits me. What kind of fragrance do you think I need to get a criminal to come close to me and feel the danger in me with just one sniff? ”

When Rui Ri heard this, his heart finally let go of half of it, and he swallowed and spitted: "Please forgive me, you are dangerous enough now, perfume or something, you really don't need it." ”

There will be a little later

(End of chapter)