East End, Tauer Hamletz, Whitechapel.

Business at Martin's Tavern is thriving today.

Perhaps because business was so prosperous, the owner, Mr. Martin, had recently taken down the grocery store next door and carefully renovated the tavern.

Now, the former counterfeiter can proudly pat his chest and proclaim that Martin's Tavern is the most beautiful landmark in Brick Lane.

Unfortunately, the guests who come to Martin's Tavern don't care about the interior of the restaurant, they only know that Martin's beer is not only large but also cheap.

And those who care about the decoration will not deign to run to the slum taverns filled with brickyard dust and slaughterhouse sewage to pour a few sips of horse urine.

But as the saying goes, when the forest is bigger, there are all kinds of birds, and Martin's Tavern attracts not only warblers, but also the occasional owl that is originally a bird of prey but is actually very herbivorous.

In the evening, Mr. Owl pushed open the door of the tavern and brought the wind chimes hanging in front of it.

Hearing only a pleasant crunch of jingling bells, Mr. Owl gently lifted the brim of his hat with his fingers and said softly: "Mr. Martin, I always thought you were a rough English tough guy. Didn't you expect to be interested in these small objects? ”

When Martin saw Arthur coming, he hurriedly greeted him with a smile on his face: "Mr. Hastings, where do I have the heart to fiddle with these gadgets?" Just settling accounts every day is enough for me to worry about. This wind chime is Anne clamoring to buy, I think the price of this thing is not expensive, and the guests can also give us a wake-up call when they enter the door, so I bought it. ”

Arthur took off his hat and fanned the wind, he looked at the noisy drinkers and the two busy guys, he leaned against an empty table and chatted with Martin casually: "Why didn't you see Anne today?" Let me guess, you found a good family for her and finally married off this big girl? ”

Martin smiled and shook his head, "If only it were as you say, Anne's little girl wasn't so lucky." But a while ago, there was a scoundrel who was eyeing her, and a sweet talk coaxed her so much that she was almost deceived by the bastard of Donkey Day. If I hadn't found out in time, maybe she would have been crying with a big belly and shouting for her Uncle Martin to help. ”

Arthur said, "Won't it? Anne is a shrewd girl, and she spends her days in the tavern dealing with the ruffians, doesn't she see the nature of the scoundrels? ”

Martin sighed, "You don't know, Mr. Hastings, that's how the girl's house is. She's smarter than anyone else when she's not looking at each other, but once you're fascinated by someone, it's useless to lock her up with chains.

I have seen too many of this kind of women in the East District, I have never seen much of the world, and I can't find the north if I am deceived by someone with a sentence or two, a bottle of wine or a beautiful dress. After half a year and a year, people got tired of playing, so they kicked her into the gutter.

If this woman has a little conscience, then she can only pull the little wild seed who she doesn't know who she has with in her life, and do some chores such as washing clothes to make a living.

If the woman has no conscience, let alone that. You should also know that, Mr. Hastings, a few dead babies are fished out of the Thames from time to time, and that's basically how the little mouths in the workhouse come from.

Alas...... O my God! Open your eyes and see, what kind of sin is this! I can't control anyone else's niece, but my niece can't bear the sins of Hell that deserve to go to Hell.

She had to find a down-to-earth and honest man to marry, and if she dared to elope with that flamboyant little rascal, then she would never want to set foot in my tavern door again. Whoever she carries in her belly is responsible, and the Martin family's money is not something that any shameless guy can spend. ”

At this, Martin's face turned red with anger. It was evident that he seemed to be very angry at Anne's almost transgression.

When Arthur heard this, he could only say a few words of relief: "Mr. Martin, you can't lose your temper. Hasn't Anne been persuaded to come back? When people are young, there will always be times when they accidentally make mistakes, as long as they don't really make a big mistake, then the past will be over. ”

When Martin heard this, he just said helplessly: "You don't know, that girl just confessed her mistake to me, but I can see that she is not convinced." She always felt like I was scaring her, and she didn't believe what I said was true. Alas...... That's it, anyway, I've said everything I should say, if she wants to live a hard life, then let her go. I'm sure she'll be hooking up with that bastard thing in two or three years, and she'll be a yellow-faced woman with yellow hair and rough skin and a bucket waist, and she really thinks it's that easy to find someone to live with? She thought she was going to be a countess in some big family! ”

When Arthur heard this, he muttered for a while: "Although I don't know if the young man who hooked up with Anne is really that unbearable, but if his character is really bad to the extent that it cannot be worse. Don't forget, Mr. Martin, you have a friend here. ”

When Martin heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he was delighted: "Mr. Hastings, I can't imagine that you are willing to bother with such a trivial matter. How can I thank you? Damn it! It's a great honor to be friends with you! If you want to eat something today, I'll go to the back kitchen and prepare it for you. ”

When Martin said this, he couldn't help but shout at the back kitchen: "Annie! Annie! Mr. Hastings is here, and Mr. Hastings' favorite meals, such as grape pudding and tomato patties, are ready to be prepared! ”

Martin shouted for a long time, but he couldn't hear a response, he patted his head and scolded in a low voice: "This little girl must be lazy, she probably went to the penny house to deliver wine again." Don't worry, Mr. Hastings, I'll go there and get her out. ”

Arthur didn't care about the slow serving, anyway, he didn't come here today to drink and eat. He was clearly more interested in Martin's penny house than the grape pudding and tomato patty.

"What is a penny house?"

"You don't know the Penny House?"

Martin smiled and explained, "But it's normal that you don't know, this thing hasn't been around for long, and it's mostly a favorite entertainment for girls." My male customers of five big and three thick would not be willing to pay a penny for a few little songs, and they would rather have two more glasses of ale when they have the money. ”

At this point, Martin pointed to a room at the back of the tavern separated from the main hall by a blue curtain and said, "Do you see that room?" That's the penny house I've reserved for the girls, and for a penny they'll be able to spend the whole night here.

While our show isn't as elegant as a regular theatre or as thrilling as the one in the small theatre on the south bank of the Thames, the penny house at our Martin's Tavern isn't for nothing.

Our singer here is absolutely the best in the East End, and you won't find anyone who can sing better than him, from six to ten o'clock, as long as you have enough beer, he can sing for four hours without stopping. And our dwarf artists here, do you know how difficult it is to get through the ring of fire and turn over it? Especially in that cramped little environment in a penny house, it wasn't easy. ”

Arthur heard Martin's introduction so interesting that he couldn't help but be interested in going to the penny house to find out.

He pulled a coin out of his pocket, flicked his fingernail into Martin's hand, and then got up and said, "Before my guests arrive, I hope that the penny house will bring some pleasure to my boring waiting time." ”

"Mr. Hastings, how can I take your money?"

Martin didn't even think about to shove the penny back into Arthur's hand, but Arthur pushed his hand back: "Mr. Martin, it is God's right to make money by trading. Besides, this penny is just an appetizer compared to my next expenses, so you can take it. ”

With that, Arthur took a step towards the penny house.

He lifted the dark blue curtain of the room, and he immediately took in the situation of the secret world in this tavern.

Perhaps miserly, Mr. Martin feared that someone might peek at the Penny House from outside, but the room was not windowed, and was lit only by two kerosene lamps flickering on the ceiling.

The room was smoky in the dim, yellowish and slightly warm light, and Arthur sniffed the room lightly, and he quickly judged that it was a compound of beer, tobacco, and a variety of cheap perfumes.

The smell wasn't great, but compared to the smell of sweat and the afterglow of vomit from the drunkards, Arthur didn't think it was too bad.

He glanced at the scene and layout of the room, where the stage was rather rudimentary, with only two curtains improvised with floral curtains, and even the stage for the performance was made up of a few wooden beer crates.

On the stage, which could only accommodate four adults standing side by side, sat a wandering singer with bagpipes in his arms, his hair a little messy, and his shirt was washed white, but that didn't stop him from rolling up his sleeves and puffing out his cheeks to make a big move. For no other reason, this is his field.

And the audience, sitting or standing, is, as Martin introduced, a group of young girls in their teens and twenties. The mixed smell of perfume, tobacco, and beer that Arthur had smelled earlier emanated from them.

Perhaps because the room was too small, or perhaps because Martin wanted to charge a few more tickets, he didn't even want to set up too many tables here, and there was only a large common round table in the room for the girls to set up beer glasses and plates.

As a well-known detective in Scotland Yard, Arthur can easily analyze their careers, experiences and past from their clothing and consumption.

Standing against the wall and listening to the songs, most of them were washerwomen with rough fingers, wearing patched black cloth skirts and headscarves, and their income was not ideal, and spending a penny on entertainment for a night was already considered a high consumption, so naturally they were reluctant to order more drinks or a few pieces of bread and half a sausage.

And the maids and governesses who were eating with plates in their hands, as if they were afraid to swallow them with their slender white fingers, were hired maids and governesses. Their income is a little better than that of the laundromat, and they also have employers who provide shelter, so they naturally have a lot more money on hand, and occasional luxuries are perfectly acceptable to them.

And those who sit around the round table, sipping beer in their glasses in the same way as high society tastes wine, and occasionally taking a sip of a slender women's cigarette pouch and spitting out a string of cigarettes that are so rich that they can't melt the smoke screen are beautiful women wearing all kinds of fashionable wide-brimmed women's hats.

As for their identity, it is needless to say, after all, there are only so many industries that ladies can engage in these years. In just a few moments, Arthur saw several of the girls he had seen around Fiona.

The girls seemed to notice that someone was looking at them, and when they looked back, they met Arthur's gaze, and several people were stunned for a moment, and then they also recognized Arthur's appearance.

Seeing this, Arthur had to take off his hat and nod at them apologetically, even if he had said hello.

When the girls saw Arthur say hello, their reactions were different, some of them smiled and greeted him, some pulled their partners next to them and snickered, and some winked at him maliciously, as if they were waiting to see his joke.

Just when Arthur didn't understand why, he suddenly heard the singing of wandering singers on the stage.

"I'm a homeless and just last summer I heard that the Manchester Rail was open.

Picked up three months of horse manure and stole two more geese from the village. I finally qualified to be a first-class passenger.

I boarded the train with trepidation, and the train whistle rumbled, and the steam blew across the station platform, blowing the ladies' long skirts open and close.

From this point on, I finally knew why bees love colorful flowers, because they are yellow, white, red, purple, colorful and colorful.

I banged on the car window, yelled at them, I whistled at them. I shouted, "Madame, please stand there obediently, I, who have become a bee, will pounce on me to collect honey!" ”

The wandering singer sang this, and immediately drew a burst of laughter from the ladies of the tavern, who heard the sound of a glass clashing, and they poured the beer into their stomachs.

Maybe it's the effect of alcohol, or maybe it's the need to relieve the pressure of life, and from time to time there are girls in the audience shouting at the wandering singer: "Edward, have you been collecting honey for a week?" Today's singing isn't as loud as last week! ”

Not to be outdone, the wandering singer Edward shouted at the audience: "You prodigal people all give me a little restraint!" This is just the beginning of today! Lao Tzu warns you, don't flood so soon! Do you think the smell in the house is not strong enough? ”

However, his clamor seemed to the audience to be nothing more than another joke, after all, in the penny house, interacting with the singers was also one of the options for entertainment.

"Edward, fuck you, I want my mother to say, you can't make a few dollars a night by selling your mouth, and the money from selling your ass is definitely much faster than singing!"

Anyone who sees this scene will inevitably doubt life, and I'm afraid everyone can't figure out where have all the weak ladies who can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of London gone?

Martin, who came after Arthur, couldn't help but be embarrassed when he saw this scene, he touched the back of his head and said, "Mr. Hastings, why don't you go to the private room on the second floor and sit down first?" Actually, my penny house wasn't always like this, and today it's just a coincidence. Of course, our shows here can't compare to the musicals you listen to regularly. ”

Martin had thought that Arthur, if not angry, would have to be embarrassed and have nowhere to hide.

Unexpectedly, Arthur just took out the matchbox and lit the fire gently, leaned against the door and smoked: "This song actually sounds okay, and the breath of life is quite strong." And I've listened to sermons, prayers and hymns in Scotland Yard today, and listening to the bees collecting nectar is just the right thing to wake me up. Otherwise, I'm always serious, and I'm not going to be able to do business with customers later. ”

"Talking to a guest about business?"

Martin's heart sank when he heard this, he pondered for a moment, and instantly seemed to understand something, and he said with a smile in the corner of his eyes and sweat on his forehead: "Mr. Hastings, if you want me to say, a person of your status, even if you want to talk about business, you should go to the West End." The girls in the Eastern District are really not a match for you, and they are not safe or confidential here, and it is easy to cause trouble for you in the future. ”

At this point, Martin rushed to the counter, fumbled under the cabinet for a while, pulled out a tattered booklet, and then walked over to Arthur and mysteriously handed it into Arthur's hands.

"What is this?"

Martin glanced around, then lowered his voice and said, "Don't ask so much. That's a good thing, and it's definitely a decisive guide for a newbie like you. ”

Arthur looked down and opened the cover, which was so blurred that he couldn't make out the specific text, only to see a line of headlines written on the title page - "Bernie Harrison's Wonderful Journey Rankings".

As soon as Arthur saw this title, he immediately remembered that there was a similar list of banned publications in Scotland Yard, and if he remembered correctly, the name of the banned publication was "Harris's Covent Garden Green House Rankings".

As an annual magazine published in 1760, it sold more than 250,000 copies for more than 30 years, until 1794, when it was forced to cease publication due to a strong ban by Parliament.

It's just that although "Harris's Covent Garden Green House Rankings" is no longer updated, similar underground publications pop up almost every once in a while, and no matter how much effort the Scottish field puts in, there will always be fish that slip through the net.

It's just that the one Martin handed to Arthur is particularly interesting, after all, the name Bernie Harrison impressed him too much.

Arthur thought about it for a while, and finally quietly took the magazine into his arms, and then showed an encouraging look at Martin: "Mr. Martin, next time you have this kind of good thing, remember to keep it for me." Not only do I need it, but I'm sure my soon-to-be-arrived guest will need it too. ”

Martin grinned and asked, "Really?" Your guest is also a newbie? ”

Arthur just smiled, and he shook his head slightly, "I don't know, but I don't think he's a novice." ”

Martin was curious, "Why do you say that?" ”

Arthur raised his eyebrows and said, "It's very simple, because he's a Frenchman, and he's from Paris." Although London is already very bad at the moment, as far as I know, London is not in the queue for the time being in front of Paris. ”

"Ah......h

Martin suddenly realized, and he immediately laughed, "Why else would you be a superintendent?" Sure enough, it's still thoughtful. ”

(End of chapter)