Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 381: New Achievement!
The carriage that arrived was an impressive four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, with the family crest on the carriage.

This is an extremely unusual sight in this workers' neighborhood.

The few remaining patrons in the tavern, along with Lionel and Old Jimmy who were about to leave, all looked toward the door in surprise.

The car door opened, and a rather overweight figure jumped out.

He was dressed in a respectable woolen overcoat and wearing a bowler hat; he was Dr. Norman McLeod, the editor-in-chief of Good Words magazine.

He stood on the dirty street, first glancing disdainfully at his leather shoes, then looking up at the simple sign for "Curved Pickaxe".

His face showed a mixture of relief and a sense of "finally found you."

He pushed open the tavern door and immediately saw Lionel sitting in the corner: "My God! Lionel, you really know how to find a quiet place!"

Norman MacLeod strode over: "You arrived in London and only wrote to tell me today! I was nearly frantic with worry!"
The roads here are so narrow, and the streetlights are so dim they're practically nonexistent..."

Lionel looked at the travel-worn Norman and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

He stood up and began to tidy up the scattered letters and the pile of pennies on the table.

Then he turned to old Jimmy, who was still somewhat dazed, and pushed all the copper coins on the table in front of him.

“Mr. Jimmy, thank you for your care these past few days. Please pass this money on to Jim the Old Pipe’s family!”

Old Jimmy looked at the pile of copper coins, then at Lionel, then at the impressive carriage at the door and the distinguished Norman MacLeod—

He opened his mouth, and said with deep shock, "James, I knew it... I knew you weren't an ordinary person..."

Lionel smiled and nodded at him, then followed Norman McLeod, who was still grumbling about the road conditions and the lights, out of the "Bent Pickaxe" bar.

The carriage doors closed, and it quickly drove away from the dimly lit street, disappearing into the London night.

Old Jimmy stood at the bar entrance, gazing in the direction the carriage had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

Only the heavy copper coin in his hand reminded him that what had happened in the past few days was real.

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The carriage swayed gently with the bumps of the road, and the glow of the kerosene lamp flickered, making the interior alternately bright and dark.

Norman McLeod pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow: "Thank God you're safe and sound, Lionel!"
Do you know that Paris is almost reduced to ruins because of you? An unprecedented media earthquake has struck!

Lionel leaned back in his chair and gestured for Norman McLeod to continue.

"Almost all the newspapers, regardless of which faction they originally belonged to, have now stood together—of course, on completely different sides."

Norman MacLeod spoke quickly: "Le Figaro and The Times went all out, denouncing Vernef's 'atrocity'."

They accused the Jules Ferry cabinet of condoning or even inciting violence, tarnishing the spirit of the rule of law in the Republic, and saying that this "set France back a hundred years!"
The Uncompromising Daily and the People's Voice directly referred to the "Youth Guard" as "hyenas kept by Ferry," calling it a premeditated political persecution!

He took a breath and continued, "The Gauls and Le France are surprisingly consistent in their condemnation of the 'atrocity'."

But this implicitly suggests that Clemenceau orchestrated a self-inflicted injury to oust Prime Minister Ferry, with the aim of undermining French stability and colonial achievements.

Lionel gave a soft "humph" and asked, "And Jules Ferry? What was his reaction?"

Norman McLeod curled his lip: "Him? In the name of 'restoring order and defending the laws of the Republic,' he purged the Departments of the Interior and Education!"
The local police chief in Vernef was immediately dismissed, and several local school supervisors were transferred to the countryside.

He portrayed himself as a hero who quelled the riots and maintained stability—a brilliant move!

Norman McLeod recalled something and said with some regret, "The charges against you have not been dropped, and it is said that Ferry himself may have made some efforts."

But although he wanted to quell the matter, the courts, especially the Palais de Justice in Paris, were very firm in their stance. That's all I know from the newspapers!

Norman McLeod suddenly became excited: "By the way, Leon, you've accomplished something!"

Lionel: "Hmm?"

Norman MacLeod counted on his fingers: "Chateaubriand, Louis-Philippe, Hugo, Louise Michel, Clemenceau..."

"What big shot from France wouldn't seek refuge in England when they're in trouble? You're a big shot now, Leon!"

Lionel: "..."

Norman McLeod then asked, "Should I notify your family by telegram?"

Lionel shook his head: "No need, I've already informed them."

While in Calais, he sent a telegram to Paris with a long list of recipients, including notary Delarouca, Zola, Maupassant, and others.

He even remembered to send a brief message to Mrs. Rothschild.

Seeing that he didn't care about the lawsuit, Norman McLeod quickly changed the subject: "Alright, let's put those nasty things in France aside for now."

Leon, I have to tell you, The Sign of Four is about to end! God, you have no idea how popular Sherlock Holmes is right now!

The magazine's sales increased by another 20% because of this story! My office is flooded with reader letters, all asking when the next story will begin.

You can't keep them waiting too long!

He looked at Lionel with intense longing, as if he were looking at a walking gold mine: "The Sign of Four is ending in two issues, we need new stories!"

Lionel didn't respond immediately, but instead turned his gaze to the passing London street scene outside the window—the dimly lit alleyways, the hurried pedestrians…

The faces from the "Curved Pickaxe" tavern flashed through his mind one by one.

Lionel began slowly, “A new Sherlock Holmes story, of course, must be written. But before that, Norman, I’d like to write a short story first—”

A short story about London.

Norman McLeod paused, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

At the height of Sherlock Holmes' fame, instead of continuing this miracle, he decided to write an unrelated short story?

Norman MacLeod frowned slightly: "A short story?"

But he quickly adjusted his expression and waved his hand: "Of course! No problem! Whatever you write, 'Good Words' will accept it all!"
We've reserved a spot for you on the homepage! And you'll be paid the highest possible fee!

He paused, then couldn't help but add, "But this short story, it's not going to be another critique of colonial policies, is it?"

The controversy and uproar surrounding "The Sign of Four" brought in sales, but also put him under considerable pressure from the conservative camp.

Based on his understanding of the temperament of French writers, he knew they would never give up under pressure from the law or public opinion; in fact, they would become even more determined.

Lionel glanced at Norman and gave him a faint smile: "Don't worry, it has nothing to do with colonial policy. It's almost... almost a fairy tale."

Norman McLeod breathed a sigh of relief and wisely refrained from asking further questions.

Silence fell over the carriage, with only the soft breathing of the two people echoing between them.

(End of this chapter)