88 – Baker Street Uproar (4)
The carriage running through downtown London was moving regularly and slowly. It was something that could not be helped in this huge city filled with countless carriages and pedestrians, but the strange sense of regularity gave it its own sense of stability.
The three men and women in the carriage all remained silent, but of course their intentions were different.
From the moment they boarded the carriage, Moran had a secret war of nerves with Holmes about the seat arrangement. It was a brief moment, but Moriarty had to organize his thoughts as he saw Moran glaring at Holmes, and Holmes responding to that look.
At first, he thought about having the two of them sit together just for fun, but he didn’t want to make a fuss in the narrow carriage, so he had to intervene.
“Come and sit here, Moran.”
After entering the carriage first, Moriarty opened his mouth by subtly tapping the seat next to him with his palm, and only then Moran gave a small sneer to Holmes and sat down.
I didn’t like the gaze of that arrogant wolf, who looked at me as if I were a maid, as if the place was always a reserved seat reserved just for me, and I had no choice but to sit on the other side and face the two of them.
However, Holmes had no choice but to sit in the empty seat, and soon the carriage departed.
Both the three men and women were naturally more silent than talkative, so an uncomfortable silence hung in the carriage.
As for Moriarty, he briefly considered picking on Holmes, but chose to remain silent because it seemed more fun.
In the case of peonies, I wasn’t particularly concerned. He was a guard dog and obedient to his master, and there was no need to make noise until his master gave him permission.
Above all, he was able to enjoy the silence happily, intoxicated by the small sense of victory that he had given that arrogant woman a beating from the start.
Of course, while James Moriarty closed his eyes and tilted his head back as if meditating, the silent fight between the two women continued.
For the peace of its owner and itself, a dog must always be on the lookout for enemies. That way, the enemy won’t dare to have wrong thoughts.
Therefore, even after the carriage moved, Moran secretly pressed his body to Moriarty and rested his head on his shoulder, but did not stop glaring at Holmes with his eyes.
Above all, there was no restraint from the master regarding these actions. Therefore, it was as if it was allowed.
It was a bit cocky for a moment, but how about trying to go a little further over the line?
However, Moran soon abandoned her thoughts and focused on her vigilance. She knew her place and wanted to enjoy a little more pleasure within her limits.
Of course, Holmes, who had guessed Moran’s stupid intentions to some extent, laughed and did not forget to glare at the wolf for a moment as if retaliating.
But at that moment, she felt that her actions were stupid, and without caring about what misunderstanding the wolf might have, she first turned her gaze out the window.
Ignoring the wolf who gave him another small smile of victory, Holmes tried to put away his foolish thoughts.
‘Like Mycroft said, I may not have grown up yet.’
The two men and women in front of him were enemies that he had to face and defeat. To be more precise, it was an inevitable conflict in the process of judging the teacher.
Holmes worked hard to think that this was because, in the process of learning acting from an actor, he unconsciously developed aspects of himself like an actor.
Just as actors always seek the audience’s response and attention, it was clear that they wanted some kind of attention from Moriarty, who remained silent even in this strange situation.
She couldn’t have behaved so childishly if she hadn’t done that.
Of course, even if I thought that way, I was secretly hoping that the villain would say something or give me a clue to help the two of them compete.
But unfortunately, Moriarty remained silent, and his intentions had no choice but to fall prey to Holmes.
For now, Moriarty was secretly laughing at Holmes, who was pretending to look out the window indifferently.
It was now evening time in downtown London, and traffic was jamming due to the carriages and pedestrians. Despite leaving fairly early, it was approaching evening time when the carriage entered the Baker Street area.
As the carriage was silently heading towards the store that Professor Moriarty had told the driver about, Holmes looked out the window without realizing it and made a low noise.
“Ah… ….”
It was an irresistible moment when I made eye contact with two familiar children on the sidewalk right next to the road where the carriage was running.
Holmes, who is more than anything good at hiding his emotions, lost control for a moment due to the harshness he felt toward Moriarty.
Wiggins, the girl of her street, who had acted as her messenger to Holmes, was walking down her street, holding the hand of her own brother.
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Because they were right nearby, they were able to look at each other’s faces, and just in time, Wiggins seemed to sense the gaze being directed at her, so she turned her head and was able to make eye contact with Holmes.
“Please stop the carriage next to me for a moment. “I think I met someone I know.”
“Yes? “Are we almost there, Professor?”
At that time, Moriarty, who had been silent, opened his mouth for the first time, and at the sound, Holmes had no choice but to tremble for a moment and take his eyes off Wiggins.
However, what caught the eye of Holmes, who turned his head, was the sight of Mr. Moriarty expressionlessly handing a one-pound gold coin to the embarrassed coachman.
Of course, for a coachman running in London, one pound was enough money to make him the fastest coach in London, and the coachman politely stopped the carriage on the side of the road for a moment as instructed by the professor.
The Wiggins siblings, who did not know what was going on inside, quietly approached the carriage and were soon able to see Holmes and his companions through the carriage window.
Holmes was conscious of Mr. Moriarty’s gaze for a moment, but soon realized that it was pointless resistance and opened his mouth to Wiggins.
“It’s been a while, Wiggins.”
“Ah, yes! Miss Holmes… “I see you’re going to that meal?”
Wiggins, who had been carefully examining the inside of the carriage, trembled without realizing it and said, fixing his eyes only on Holmes.
At that moment, she was frightened by the menacing gaze of her peony glaring at her. Above all, because Holmes was so perceptive that he made it a point to specifically report to him, he instinctively felt that there was something evil in the carriage.
“Anyway, where are your siblings going? Was she just wandering around looking for work?”
“Ah… no. Actually, I found out after moving here that there is someone who regularly shares bread with children like us. “She was going with her brother to receive bread.”
“… “You are a philanthropist.”
I was puzzled for a moment, but decided to end the conversation in order to find out personally later. But suddenly, Miss Moriarty stuck her head out to her side and opened her mouth to her Wiggins siblings.
Anyone could see that he was a benevolent person with a good smile. Wiggins, who was talking to Holmes, blushed as if he was embarrassed.
“You’re a philanthropist, so you’re the kind of person who runs an orphanage? “You said Miss Wiggins, right?”
“Ah…… That…… Yes. That… It’s not an orphanage, you can just go to his home… There is.”
“If you tell Mrs. Hudson the news of her street, she can get bread in return!”
“Hey!”
Holmes was once again convinced by his previous attitude that Wiggins was quite trustworthy.
It seemed like she was receiving some kind of compensation from the suspicious Mrs. Hudson, but she wanted to avoid talking in a way that belies the street people.
However, her trust was in vain as her younger brother immaturely opened his mouth first.
“A price? “Can you briefly tell me what type it is?”
Wiggins still hesitated at Moriarty’s question. Of course, it wasn’t that kind of girl, but she subtly handed the 1 pound gold coin back to her younger brother right next to her and asked, and the boy answered first.
“Nothing special, sir! “I just wanted to know the locations of the police officers moving around this area, and some information about what I usually told Mr. Holmes about!”
“Where does Mrs. Hudson live?”
“It’s 221B Baker Street! Ah, why, sister! Look, you already gave me two pounds!”
“Ha… ….”
Fortunately, as if there was nothing more to do, Moriarty said a brief farewell to her siblings, gave a slight wink to Holmes, who had kept her silence, and then started her carriage again.
Of course, her silence was completely broken, so Moriarty opened his mouth in her carriage as if he was intrigued.
“That’s interesting. “Holmes, is there anyone else doing similar work to you?”
“… “I guess Mr. Moriarty started it first.”
“Well… …. Actually, didn’t someone think of this? There are few people who can see as much as street beggars and not be suspected. Of course, if someone dies suddenly, stupid police officers are the first to get involved.”
“…… “After all, aren’t you your subordinates?”
“Student Holmes, I don’t know how many times I tell you that proof comes first. That’s why I can’t give you a diploma, let alone a doctorate. After all, it’s impossible for Widow Victoria to know every single commoner on the street, right?”
Although it was very natural for Professor Moriarty, Holmes could not help but click the tip of her tongue at her obnoxious remarks. But strangely she wasn’t very offended.
I was able to realize once again an obvious fact. Although it is not right, she is finally happy when she confronts the villain as a detective.
“Well, after eating, I guess we can go for an evening walk and see what people are doing. “You’ll be okay, right?”
“…… “Is there any reason why I should avoid your invitation?”
Moriarty nodded slightly, as if satisfied with her answer to Holmes. Of course, since it was her owner’s conversation next to her, she couldn’t hastily intervene, but she didn’t forget to comfort Peony by stroking her cheek as she couldn’t completely hide her dissatisfied expression.
The carriage headed to an upscale oyster bar on Baker Street.
