Volume 1: The Gate of Flesh and Blood Chapter 57: Poirot Marple's 'First Arrival'!
At noon, Old Tom drove his carriage into the kingdom's capital, Hastings.
Old Tom was not a full-time coachman, but an innkeeper.
Late last night, a gentleman carrying a wicker box knocked on the door of his hotel, chose the best room in the hotel, and gave him a $1 tip.
This made Old Tom remember the guest clearly.
I firmly believe that this is a gentleman.
After all, if a person speaks softly and is generous, what else can he be but a gentleman?
Therefore, when the other party offered him 5 dollars to work as a part-time coachman in Hastings, Old Tom agreed without hesitation.
Anyway, his wife and two sons are in the hotel, so nothing will happen without him.
What's more, 5 dollars is definitely not a small amount for Old Tom.
An ordinary person may not be able to earn this much even if he works hard for a week.
Especially since the round trip only takes one day, it is really worth it.
So, old Tom asked very attentively to the gentleman who got off the carriage.
"Mr. Marple, do you have anything else to say?"
As he spoke, Old Tom took down the wicker box for the gentleman.
“You’ve done enough for me.”
"I'll do the rest myself."
"Thanks again for your help."
Goethe took the wicker box, waved his hand with a smile, then turned and walked towards the carriage shop nearby - 'Simok Private Carriage Rental', as the sign read, and in an inconspicuous place there were small letters engraved: Specializing in carriage rental for 30 years.
Old Tom couldn't help but sigh as he watched the figure disappearing in the dealership.
"A gentleman like Mr. Marple should have a carriage worthy of a gentleman. A carriage like mine is really a bit shabby."
Old Tom looked at his slightly shabby carriage and was very self-aware.
However, the innkeeper was not discouraged.
But very happy.
The fare Goethe paid was enough for him to buy some things for his wife and son. When he came to Hessetings last year, his wife stared at the hat for a long time.
The eldest son stared at a collection of poetry for a long time.
Buy them all for them.
As for the youngest son?
Two candies are the best thing.
And him?
No need for that. His family’s happiness is his greatest happiness.
Thinking of this, the innkeeper drove his carriage to the market.
Life is always full of twists and turns.
But there are always little surprises.
It is a gift from destiny.
Let the painful life not be so long and dark.
At least, it's a little sweet.
As Goethe ate the snacks prepared by the coachman, he felt that the pudding in his hand was quite sweet. When Goethe clearly stated that he wanted to rent the best carriage and coachman for a month and said that he had not had lunch, the coachman immediately brought him afternoon tea.
"Mr. Marple, is this your first time in Hasedings?"
The car dealership owner asked.
"Well, I've been traveling to other countries before."
"I have recently hit a creative bottleneck, so I chose to come to Hessetings to look for inspiration."
Goethe gave the answer he had prepared long ago.
"Then you must have come to the right place!"
“Hessettins is the best country!”
The car dealership owner looked very proud.
"Yes, at least I had to be very careful and make a big detour to avoid the robbers, and I also had to pass through many uninhabited areas - this is still fresh in my memory."
Goethe nodded and spoke in a calm voice.
Immediately, the car dealership owner became embarrassed.
"Ahem, ahem, it's unavoidable in some places around here, but it's absolutely safe in Hessetings..."
"Extra Edition! Extra Edition!"
"Special extra!"
"A murder occurred at Saint-Els Hospital!"
The newsboy's sudden shout made the car dealership owner's voice stop abruptly.
He looked at Goethe even more awkwardly.
"Sometimes, there are always accidents, right?"
As he spoke, the car dealership owner winked at Goethe.
"certainly!"
"But I hope our business will not be an accident - I hope you can recommend a reliable agent to me. I need a male and female servant, and a house that is safe enough."
Goethe said with a smile.
However, emphasis was placed on the word 'safe'.
"It's safe enough, of course."
"What's the price?"
The car dealership owner asked.
“As long as it’s reasonable.”
According to that identity, Goethe created a travel writer who paid attention to the quality of life, had a small fortune, but was not a sucker.
"Please leave it to me."
"And the butler..."
"Butler not needed!"
"It's hard for me to trust an outsider in my family... I don't need a housekeeper anymore. I will hire someone else if I need one."
The car dealership owner was interrupted by Goethe before he could finish his words.
Then Goethe hesitated and quickly changed the subject.
The car dealership owner seemed to be thinking about something.
Then, the car dealer brought some tea and snacks to Goethe and went to take care of the trivial matters for him personally.
The car dealership owner had only seen some old-time aristocrats treat their butlers with such caution.
noble!
Even a ruined noble is worthy of respect.
This tradition, which has been preserved in Hessetings for hundreds of years, has not changed due to the rise of the new nobility in the past decade or so.
It is deeply rooted.
It's like a big tree that is about to die.
The leaves look yellow, but the root system is still well developed, even though there are many borers in it.
Goethe looked at the car dealer's back and smiled barely perceptible.
Judging from the fact that the car dealership owner changed his attitude again, his role was quite successful.
At least, the refreshments now are better than before.
The tea tastes sweet and sour, probably because honey is added to the lemon tea.
The dessert was sweeter, a complete piece of pastry without cream, but with some nuts added to make the taste richer. Goethe liked it very much, and when the car dealership owner came back with an agent, Goethe had finished the whole cake.
"Mr. Marple, this is the best agent I know!"
"He has the best connections in Hessetins!"
The car dealership owner introduced.
Of course, such words are exaggerated.
If the other party really had such connections, it would be impossible for him to appear in front of him so easily.
However, Goethe did not reveal it.
"Poirot Marple."
Goethe introduces himself.
“Hunter, you can call me Hunter.”
"Do you have any requirements for male and female servants?"
"As for the house, I dare say you will be absolutely satisfied!"
Hunter is a short young man, but his figure seems a little bloated. When he bowed, his seemingly well-fitting suit immediately became full of wrinkles, especially the buttons, which seemed about to fall off.
"Just a normal male servant."
"As for the maid...it's better if she can cook."
Goethe stated his request.
"clear!"
"Shall we go see your house first?"
Hunter asked with a big smile on his face.
"Can."
Goethe nodded.
Then, he boarded the carriage that had just been rented.
There are two tall horses and the driver is neatly dressed. The carriage is black with gilded edges, which makes it look stable and luxurious. There are wine cabinets and food cabinets inside. One side of the door is decorated with a green ivy, and there is a place underneath for books.
It is much better than old Tom's carriage.
Naturally, the price is also quite good, including the driver, 7 dollars a day, serving Goethe from 8 am to 10 pm every day. If there are other arrangements, you need to inform the driver in advance. You don't need to worry about the driver's meals and accommodation. If the items in the carriage are damaged, you need to compensate according to the price, and the deposit is 10 gold crowns.
After signing the contract, the lease starts today.
The carriage is steady and fast.
The driver embodies his own value.
Until a figure suddenly rushed out from the alley nearby.
The driver barely managed to grab the reins and angrily shouted at the person who rushed out.
"asshole!"
But the next moment, the driver's voice more than doubled in volume.
"What are you going to do?!"
The man who rushed out got up from the ground and rushed straight to the carriage with a dagger in his hand. The coachman grabbed the whip beside him.
But before the driver could whip him, the man raised his hands.
because--
A revolver was stretched out from the car window, pointing at the man.
