infodatos Chapter 35 It's as if she's sitting alone!
Chapter 35 It's as if she's sitting alone!
After he finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Uh……
Regardless of whether others are here to exchange reading notes, I/we are not...
Does anyone actually want to be interested in the theme of "Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf"?! Viscount Hammond must be thinking people are idiots!
The middle-aged man, not receiving the expected agreement, gradually became embarrassed. Fortunately, the Viscountess quickly spoke up:
"Charlie will be back tonight or early tomorrow morning. You will see him sooner or later. Until then, please remember that this is a book club, and we should finish reading today's theme story no matter what."
Her maid stepped forward and handed the Viscountess a thin booklet of stories.
The Viscountess opened the booklet, looked around, focused intently on Winston, and asked, "Does anyone have any further questions?"
Winston smiled at her but did not reply, so the Viscountess began to read:
One evening, Little Red Riding Hood's mother asked her to deliver cakes and other food to her sick grandmother who lived in another village, so Little Red Riding Hood set off from home...
The story was short; even though the Viscountess's tone was very soothing, it only took five or six minutes to read.
After her voice faded, the reception room fell silent; no one spoke.
The main problem is that I don't know what to say. This little story is so short and cliché that even a seven-year-old would find it too simple. What is there to discuss?
Viscount Hammond must really think they're fools, right?
The Viscountess, seemingly oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, asked calmly, "Does anyone find anything noteworthy about this story?"
silence.
The adults fell into a long silence.
After a long silence, Winston slowly said, "Is the story of Little Red Riding Hood set at night?"
The woman sitting across from him said, "This story dates back to the sixth century BC, and there are many versions. The nighttime setting was probably added by later generations to enhance the atmosphere."
Some people said, "But you can't go out at night, right? Isn't it strange that Little Red Riding Hood's mother asked her to deliver food to her grandmother after sunset? This setting is contradictory."
"Unless the author is implying that Little Red Riding Hood's mother did it on purpose."
"She wants Little Red Riding Hood dead!"
"But why? Under what circumstances would a mother intentionally kill her own daughter?"
"..."
Unexpectedly, Winston's casual question sparked a lively discussion. Margaretsa wanted to join in, to share her thoughts on the night, and even thought she could use this opportunity to tell Winston about Anna's recent strange behavior...
However, before she could finish speaking, a warm sensation returned from the sofa beneath her. Margaret Lisa jumped in fright and abruptly stood up!
She didn't know why her reaction was so intense; the soft heat that pressed against her skin made her scalp tingle and her spine tremble as if electrified.
just like……
It was as if she were sitting alone!
Those around quickly noticed Margaret Lisa, who had just sprang to her feet. Eileen asked, "Miss Zeller, are you alright?"
She also recognized the man as London’s most famous circus performer.
Margaret's face was deathly pale. She looked back at her chair, then at the people around her, unsure how to describe it.
After a moment, she forced a smile and said, "I'm fine. Sitting isn't very comfortable, so I'd like to stand for a while."
Eileen pondered for a moment and said, "It's possible the room is too stuffy. Mrs. Hammond, is there any well-ventilated area in this house?"
"Yes." The Viscountess paused, then said, "The discussion is paused, Miss Zeller, I'll take you there."
Just as Eileen was about to get up to say that she would go too, Winston suddenly reached out and pressed down on her shoulder, his fingertips touching a small patch of exposed skin.
Eileen's heart tightened as she saw Winston stand up and say:
"I'll go too, madam. I happen to have something I'd like to discuss with you."
Then he leaned down, seemingly intimately close to Eileen's ear, and whispered:
"You stay here and keep an eye on the others."
Eileen pursed her lips and nodded almost imperceptibly. Winston patted her shoulder reassuringly before following the Viscountess and Margaret into the corridor.
Along the way, he couldn't help but stare at the Viscountess's skirt.
Because it's said that a mysterious third leg is hidden inside...
Whether the Viscountess sensed Winston's gaze or not, she didn't look back the whole way. They went straight up to the second floor and came to a terrace facing the garden at the back of the house. Margaret walked in, grabbed the railing, looked into the distance, and her arm trembled slightly.
Winston, having observed everything, said to the Viscountess:
"Miss Zeller doesn't look well. Let's wait here in case anything unexpected happens."
Without saying a word, the Viscountess turned and walked back into the house.
Winston returned to the room and stood in a position where he could see both Margaret and the Viscountess's expression.
"Madam, I have a question, and I wonder if you could answer it for me."
He repeatedly appeared to speak in a gentle tone, but his attitude was actually firm. The Viscountess, unable to bear it any longer, asked, "Who exactly are you? What is your purpose in attending this salon?"
"I'm just an ordinary member of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce," Winston said. "My question is, did Viscount Hammond really send out the accusations of cult activities that Scotland Yard received?"
That's right, it's that direct.
Winston figured he wasn't a detective, and he couldn't very well sneakily search the entire Viscount's mansion and then try to deduce the truth. Besides, the Viscount owned more than one property; there was simply no way he could search it all!
However, asking a strange question to a strange viscountess in such a strange mansion was indeed a bit reckless. After much deliberation, Winston felt that among the topics of "a letter of denunciation of cult activities," "the bloodline of the divine offspring," "the reason why a 15-year-old European boy met with a middle-aged prime minister," and "a woman's third leg," the letter of denunciation was the most mild.
The Viscountess's lips trembled, and she said, "I don't know, maybe it's him."
Winston: "What is the Viscount's purpose in doing this? Don't tell me he's a law-abiding citizen."
The Viscountess smirked. "Who knows? I'm just a woman; I don't concern myself with these things. Sir, it would be better if you asked him directly when he returns."
Winston then asked, "So where exactly did the Viscount go?"
"He...he kept a pet in the basement, and the pet wasn't very healthy...it was often sick, and he had to take care of it."
"I see." Winston nodded. "The Viscount is such a loving man—Madam, you and your husband must have a wonderful relationship."
"Yes, we are very much in love," the Viscountess said with a smile.
Winston gazed at her thoughtfully.
interesting.
he thought.
In his view, not a single word of the Viscountess's answer was true.
Lying is either voluntary or forced. Was the Viscountess the perpetrator or the victim?
Winston decided to start with the easier options:
"Madam, I'm afraid we have a slightly different understanding of the situation. If you are being threatened by someone and unable to tell the truth, I may be the only person in all of London—in all of Great Britain—capable of helping you."