41 – The Gambler, Watson (2)
“Um.. what to do, Jane… I must be crazy… I only lose…. and I keep…keep borrowing money from professor….”
At first, Jane Watson hesitated to accept Moriarty’s goodwill completely, but as her gambling streak went on and her losing streak increased proportionately, Miss Watson became unabashedly engrossed in the game.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say that she had half lost herself to a deep immersion into gambling. She was a woman that was different from Moriarty in several ways.
At first, Moriarty attempted to continue conversation and comfort Miss Watson, who had lost all the slightly borrowed money from baccarat. Soon, Watson caught fire in her gambler’s zeal, turned her gaze to Moriarty, and bluntly shouted to borrow more money.
In reality, her request to borrow was merely a pretext to save Watson’s face. At least, when Watson recaptured the money, she was brimming with the audacity and shamelessness of retrieving her own money.
In short, she embodied a typical gambler who ends up bankrupting her own household.
And then, she lost everything again.
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Moriarty could acknowledge that there were people as unlucky in the world as Watson. Of course, nothing was impossible statistically, and given he was superficially a mathematician, he could calculate that such odds existed more than imaginable.
However, Watson’s gambling skills were woefully inadequate. Even for a beginner, it seemed like her bad luck was trailed by malevolent intervention. The commonly cited beginner’s luck did not apply to this silver-haired witch.
“Um… Mr. Hamish?”
“Um… No… No…. Professor, how much have I… borrowed?”
“…… If we combine your recent losses, it’s already 52 pounds, 12 shillings, and 10 pence.”
“Jane, this is crazy! This is really crazy! What…what to do? If… if I win and pay back…. If… if I lose this time? Well… I might enjoy the feeling of truly going bankrupt….. But… still…. Yes, I should consider marrying …. the professor as a means of repaying the debt. I can pay off the debt with my body. My… my… friends have all said I’m pretty, and looking at the professor… I like his face…. he seems wealthy…. he’s nice and he’s a professor. If I get married to repay the debt…. I could gamble again with the professor’s money….”
“Mr. Hamish?”
No doubt, Miss Watson was clearly a hopeless spender. It could have been because of her age.
Even Moran, who always stayed by Moriarty’s side, was earning about a thousand pounds per year with additional special allowances from Moriarty, but still often was wasteful like when they first met, carelessly buying an entire candy store, receiving some remarks from Moriarty.
Yet, Moran mostly made unexplained savings, so at least he was certainly better than the current gambler in front of him.
Miss Watson, evidently shocked by the figure Moriarty had mentioned, began to murmur nervously while nibbling on her nails. She seemed like a witch muttering ominous spells. They might have thought so because they heard from Moran that the opponent was a witch.
Who knows why she doesn’t frequently use magic outside of magic pawnshops.
For some peculiar reason, while muttering anxiously, Miss Watson’s face showed an unusual expression. Moriarty couldn’t ascertain what she was imagining, but seeing her lips curl into a somewhat displeasing smile, he felt compelled to call her again, and she met his gaze as though snapping back to reality.
“Ah… I…. I’m sorry! Just one more time! Please lend me one more time, I… I have a really good feeling this time, professor! I can pay everything back!”
“This is the last time.”
Moriarty was not lacking in money, but if it continued like this, he would only see Miss Watson devote all her money to the casino, so Moriarty emphaized ‘the last time’ as he handed her some more gambling money.
Miss Watson, taking the money in her trembling hands, headed back onto the gambling floor.
Watching Watson wager for one last time, Moriarty came to a conclusion.
‘Once we get to know each other better, I should take her to the race track.’
She had borrowed beyond expectations, so it was certain that their rapport could grow. Seeing her passion for games like baccarat, he was sure that she would jump for joy like a drug-addict if they went to the race track.
She seemed like a woman easy to handle in many ways. He thought she could be useful in meeting Holmes for the sake of paying off the debt in future.
Surprisingly, Miss Watson hit a big win on her last bet.
“We won, professor! We won!”
“…Yes, … I got it. Calm down a bit and let go, Mr. Hamish.”
“Oh! S…Sorry, I was too excited….”
Was it a late beginner’s luck that found its way? Miss Watson’s last gamble accomplished dramatic success, and she ended up winning more money than the total amount that Moriarty had lent to her.
As soon as the results were decided, Miss Watson shouted then twirled around while hugging Moriarty in joy, oblivious to the discreet stares of the gentlemen and ladies around them.
Though Moriarty was much taller, so Watson’s head barely reached his chest, but her strength was not girlish. Moriarty had no choice but to cough as he found himself unable to wrench himself away from her.
It was an unusual experience for him that he was a bit startled. Moriarty’s side was always guarded by Moran, so anyone casually touching him was impossible. At that moment, Watson rushed towards him and his face was hit by a soft cushion, which was Watson’s chest.
Fortunately, Watson who came to her senses belatedly, separated from Moriarty shyly and bowed her head.
Moriarty took back the borrowed money only to cancel the emotional debt and led Miss Watson to gather with a new group of people.
A group of people, including a senior man who didn’t focus on gambling but purely enjoyed card games in this casino, were about to start a new Whist game and looking for two new members.
Surprisingly, there was a middle-aged gentleman who had been playing games before parting with Watson. Fortunately, he seemed to prioritise the game and hurriedly welcomed Moriarty and Watson to deal the cards.
As the game of Whist proceeded, Moriarty finally had an opportunity to chit chat with Watson. Whether it was because there was no gamble involved, or the game of Whist was somewhat lacking in thrill except for the mind games, Watson seemed relatively ordinary compared to the casino.
Moriarty gingerly speculated, “You might not be the type who enjoys the thrill of danger.”
“By the way, Hamish, I heard you came here searching for your family.”
“Yes……. I heard my brother frequents here. I came in using the membership badge he owns.”
“Your brother, what about your parents?”
The gentleman, who appeared to be only interested in the card game, earlier asked the question first, seemingly a bit intrigued by the out-of-place lady’s, or rather, the girl’s story.
Of course, it was more convenient for Moriarty. Sometimes, you can dig up more truth when the conversation is involved amongst many rather than a one-on-one.
“Ah……. They have, in fact, recently passed away.”
“My condolences.”
“My apologies.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Hamish.”
“No worries, it’s okay. Thank you for your concern. Just that, my brother, understandably, inherited the properties and the wealth…….”
“He must have fallen into gambling. I’ve seen many like that.”
“Ah, yes. So it’s like that, Mr.… Bern, right?”
“Come on, Professor, it’s your turn to deal. Ah yes, that’s correct, Hamish. Everyone here uses an alias, which is a bit of a hassle but we all go along with it.”
As the game of Whist continued, Moriarty gathered useful information about Watson.
Her father used to be a wealthy, well-to-do doctor. However, this fortune effectively crumbled after being handed over to Watson’s brother, Henry Watson, owing to his reckless lifestyle.
She added that she aspires to be a doctor like her father and hopes to study at a medical school.
It would’ve been impossible for her if she was an ordinary woman. But Moriarty, who already knew that she was a witch through Moran, found it acceptable.
If she was born with a special ability like a witch, such barriers would be significantly lower. Witches who can perform healing magic often work as military doctors or nurses.
Of course, Moriarty couldn’t yet conclude how exceptional Watson would be as a witch.
Committedly, the reason Watson came to this club to find her brother Henry was because he frequently visited the place and his debt was rapidly increasing.
Watson did not specifically mention it, but Moriarty could sense that someone who visits this gambling club was exploiting Watson’s brother and lending him money.
“Ah……. I should excuse myself, I found… my brother.”
“Good luck, Hamish. Do let me know if you need any help.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bern, and Professor…uhm, Professor?”
“Oh, I also need to see someone. Seem like they’re with your brother, Hamish.”
Where Watson’s gaze landed, it was certainly her brother, Henry Watson, half-drunkenly walking into the club. He was a handsome man, with similarities here and there, indicating that he was certainly Watson’s sibling.
However, Moriarty focused on the person accompanying him.
A cunning man seemingly dwarf-size with a strangely large head, not even half the height of Watson’s brother, came along.
He was Daniel Quelp, the owner of this casino and today’s target of Moriarty.
