144 – Irene Adler (4)
Jane Watson, who followed the manager and Holmes and was led to the place where actors and singers were waiting, was very nervous, but looked around like a child. I had no choice but to keep looking around.
This theater itself, as he told Holmes, was a place Watson himself had visited several times while living in London. Even though she always lost her living expenses through gambling, she still had that much to spare as a member of the middle class in London.
But since she was not an actress or singer, nor did she have any connections, it was her first time going to the waiting room. She couldn’t help but feel nervous as a place she was always familiar with suddenly became unfamiliar.
More than anything, it was confusing.
In fact, while she was with Holmes, she was never otherwise, but she was still confused. She was escorted by her manager to meet her singer on short notice, but her confusion about her own friend also caught Watson’s curiosity.
While she naturally observed Holmes’s thoughts, she had no choice but to ask Watson cautiously.
“How on earth do you know the manager, Holmes?”
“Ha, Watson. “I explained it, or did you just forget it because you’re Watson?”
“… My… “You didn’t explain it properly!”
In fact, she was rarely explained kindly by Holmes, but Watson still felt unfair and had no choice but to raise her voice a little.
Holmes, who was eccentric and unkind and clearly had no friends other than Watson himself, always gave explanations to show off his intelligence and was far from communicating with people.
Fortunately, this time, Holmes opened his mouth as if teasing Watson. As Watson listened, he couldn’t help but feel a little moved, but he knew that no matter what he said, he would only be ridiculed by Holmes, so he had to listen quietly.
“As I said last time when I visited Milverton’s mansion, I have the talent to make a living through various pastimes other than just this job.”
“That… “Yes, Holmes, you are good.”
Watson couldn’t help but be a little sarcastic, which was unusual. Because for a moment my friend seemed really, really unlucky.
Of course, I could always tell from watching my friend that he was truly an arrogant person, but just now he seemed a little more arrogant than usual.
Nevertheless, Watson could not hastily point out that Holmes’s arrogance was wrong. Unfortunately, Holmes didn’t say anything wrong.
It was clear that Holmes himself also thought the same way, and would look at him as if he were an idiot who did not understand even though he expressed common sense and facts.
No matter how I looked at it, I still suspected that he might have used magic and faked it by calling it inference, but Holmes’ observation skills were certainly surprising in themselves.
Even if he didn’t do detective work or, as Holmes himself emphasized, investigative consulting work, in Watson’s opinion, it was a good talent for making money in many ways.
How many con artists are there right now in London wearing suspicious makeup and reading fortunes? Of course, I couldn’t recommend it to my friends.
Of course, I had the urge to secretly encourage him to become a gambler who would sweep the gambling scene together with his great talent.
But this wasn’t everything.
I had heard it a few times, especially when I was spending a few days at the Baker Street building waiting for Miss Moran to attack Duke Florizel, and I also knew that Holmes played the violin at a high level.
Watson only had the knowledge about music that cultured people of this era would have, but Holmes’ playing skills that he could hear clearly did not make it impossible for him to make a living playing the violin.
What about makeup and acting?
My friend’s skills were so magical that I often believed that Holmes must have used the art of transformation. It was certainly enough to replace actors in Shakespeare’s plays in London’s theaters.
Of course, Watson also had enough brains to deduce the faint clue of how Holmes came into contact with the manager.
“After all, Holmes is the person you knew when you were learning acting. It’s obvious even if you don’t look at it. Am I right? “I was faster this time. I’m sure Holmes, you’re the one who’s wasting your talent and is still urging you to become an actor.”
But Holmes laughed at Watson.
“Wrong, Watson. “He is a friend of my eldest brother, and I found out about him after I helped him find out that his wife was having an affair and conspired with her lover to send him to prison.”
“… Now, you’re lying because you don’t want to admit that I was right, right?”
“You really think like Watson. Stay quiet, Watson. “Don’t be stupid.”
Fortunately, they had no choice but to stop the conversation as they arrived at the waiting room door. Before knocking, the manager cautiously opened his mouth.
“You know, but we can’t meet for too long. First of all, Ms. Adler has to prepare for tonight’s performance. “I don’t know how I could make time for her because she’s still a rookie, but she’s a gem that will shine soon, so please don’t be too rude.”
“Don’t worry.”
At Holmes’ immediate reply, Watson swallowed his anxiety and watched the manager carefully knock on the door and open it.
The manager went in first and immediately closed the door halfway, so I couldn’t tell what kind of woman was inside or what conversation was taking place.
As a small quarrel broke out, Watson was anxious, but fortunately, the manager who came out nodded and told him to go in, so he was able to follow Holmes inside.
Watson couldn’t help but be a little surprised when he went inside and saw the waiting room where only one person was sitting with a disapproving expression on his face.
It was Watson’s first time hearing a singer named Adler. As the manager said, it was clear that he was a rookie.
However, as he added, it was also clear that we were facing a jewel that would soon shine in Europe.
In fact, I could see at a glance that he was a singer who would shine more than anyone else and attract people’s attention, just from his appearance. Even if I didn’t know her singing skills, there was a beauty in front of me who caught my eye from the looks of it.
No, she was still closer to a girl’s age than a beauty. In terms of age alone, there was a girl who was several years younger than Holmes, who was younger than Watson, and who had not yet reached adulthood.
Of course, Watson could see an outstanding beauty when he looked in the mirror every day, and even Holmes was similar, so neither of them were very surprised.
“No matter how new I am, I can’t do anything unnecessary through my manager.”
The singer named Adler spoke first. She had an American accent, and her voice was a bit low, uncharacteristic of a girl.
In fact, Watson could understand her reaction, so she couldn’t help but smile humbly. Even in her displeasure, the gaze of the young singer in front of her, a girl as old as her own younger sister, was wavering as if a little embarrassed.
It wasn’t a strange thing.
A visit from strangers who came out of nowhere was a visit, but it seemed strange to anyone to see that it was a duo of women, one of whom was a witch, and the other a woman wearing pants.
Nevertheless, his confident attitude was different from that of a new employee who received a request from the manager, so Holmes opened his mouth, raising his eyebrows as if he was a little interested.
“… I’ve come to ask you a few questions about something important, Miss Adler. “I am Sherlock Holmes, and I am in charge of a small investigative advisory role, and this is Jane Watson, my assistant.”
Watson felt disappointed by her usual treatment of herself and the polite attitude of the other Holmes, but she nodded her head for now.
Miss Adler opened her mouth angrily.
“I don’t know why you are asking about Sybil Vane. That person also unfortunately died a few years ago. I don’t know, okay? “Then, I’m busy so please leave.”
“Excuse me while I’m waiting for a secret meeting with the duke, but it’s still important.”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. In Watson’s case, he did not even understand what Holmes was saying, and in Adler’s case, he was embarrassed and suspected that someone was following him.
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Holmes lightly shrugged his shoulders.
“As you can see, this is the person who does this. They use rational reasoning to notice things that others cannot see and give advice on problems. We need your cooperation, Miss Adler, as Sybil Vane’s death may have something to do with what is currently causing turmoil in London. So, please cooperate. No matter how important it is to find sponsors, there are more important things.”
“…… You’re a funnier lady than I thought. And the way he speaks is very cheeky, which is fun. It seems like she openly treats people like prostitutes, but has she ever held a man’s hand? Oh, don’t worry, this isn’t speculation. “Just looking at you, it looks like you have no dating experience.”
Watson unconsciously gasped and covered his hand with his mouth. At this, Holmes made a small sarcasm.
“Watson, you are the same, but don’t pretend you’re not.”
“I… I am!”
“It’s not an important issue. “Miss Adler.”
“Irene. “I’m Irene Adler, Miss Holmes.”
“Yes, whatever. “I want to know about Sybil Vane’s death.”
Holmes answered angrily and pressed for an answer.
However, Watson could see that Holmes’ earlobes were slightly red due to the singer’s remarks just before.
