Four thousand words,
Two chapters in one.
…
When Doyle stabilizes his Taoist mind, his creation speed is still very fast.
A few days later, in the new issue of "Marineside Magazine", the first short story of Sherlock Holmes' new series "The Return" was released——
"Empty House".
Because there was no prior announcement, readers were caught off guard.
But even so, the sales of "Seaside Magazine" still skyrocketed, and "The Scotsman", which lost Lu Shi, was completely suppressed and could not hold its head up.
On the same day, Lu Shi completed "The Hobbit".
Compared with the original work, he only modified the text to make "The Hobbit" no longer like a fairy tale.
There are almost no adjustments to the content of the story, because there is still the highlight of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
If the front is changed beyond recognition, there will inevitably be all kinds of mistakes later.
Lu Shi put down the pen in his hand,
"Done!"
The manuscript is typed on a typewriter, but it is more convenient to use paper and pen for proofreading.
Next to me, Natsume Soseki had just finished reading "The Empty House".
He put down the "Seaside Magazine" in his hand and looked at Lu Shi, his eyes full of awe.
"Lu, are you really..."
I couldn't find the right words for a while.
Lu Shi stretched himself.
"how?"
Natsume Soseki shook his head and said nothing.
He witnessed Lu Shi's entire creative process and naturally read "The Hobbit".
Therefore, he really wanted to say that Lu Shi was a terrifying monster, but saying that seemed to be a bit too high on the monster and insulted Lu Shi, so he couldn't say it in the end.
Why should the monster compare with Lu Shi?
It’s better to stop joking!
Lu Shi asked: "What do you think of this book "The Hobbit"?"
This question needs to be answered carefully.
Natsume Soseki couldn't help but think deeply,
After a long while, he said: "Lu, even someone like me who doesn't read much fantasy novels knows that what you write is extraordinary. Moreover, judging from the hook you left at the end, is this novel a trailer? ?”
The word "prediction" is used very spiritually.
Lu Shi laughed loudly: "To be precise, this should be called a prequel."
Natsume Soseki suddenly realized,
"Yes, it should be a prequel. I think the world view of your novel is extremely grand, almost reaching the boundaries of human imagination... No, that's not right..."
Lu Shi followed the lead and said: "Human imagination has no boundaries."
Natsume Soseki said solemnly: "But human words have boundaries. Lu, being able to express the grand fantasy world in writing is what I admire most about you. But I am a little worried that subsequent works of "The Hobbit" will be difficult. Control it?"
Of course it is difficult to control.
Tolkien was a distinguished professor of linguistics at Oxford.
Even so, the Lord of the Rings trilogy took several years to write.
Lu Shi said: "No matter what, let's take a look at the effect of the serialization of "The Hobbit" first. What if it can't compare with those ghost stories of Professor James?"
Natsume Soseki muttered: "If those experts and scholars in Cambridge ignore fairness and insist on saying that your "The Hobbit" is not good, then I can only think that their shame is thicker than the city wall... thicker than the city wall."
Natsume Soseki, who has always been serious, had a rare moment of humor.
Lu Shi was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly,
"Okay, okay, let's go find Mr. Cooper."
The two packed up their things and got on the carriage heading to Fleet Street.
On the way, you can hear all kinds of discussions about Sherlock Holmes.
"Did you read today's "Seaside Magazine"? Sherlock Holmes is back! Sherlock Holmes is back!"
"It's in line with Holmes's character to come back quietly."
"Hahaha, I think it fits Dr. Doyle's character."
"Do you feel that "The Empty House" is purer than "The Hound of the Baskervilles", more like... like... um..."
"More like Sherlock Holmes!"
"right!"
…
Various discussions abounded.
Natsume Soseki raised his eyebrows and whispered: "Isn't that true~ The Hound of the Baskervilles is interesting no matter how you read it... humph..."
It’s that old question about “borrowing” again.
Lu Shi waved his hand,
"Don't mention that."
There is no evidence for gossiping, and talking too much about it will only cause more trouble.
Natsume Soseki was recently writing "I Am a Cat". Knowing the author's mentality, he couldn't help but secretly said, "Surprise your private Marseilles", and then said: "If the book I wrote is said to be a reference to others, I'm afraid I won't feel well either."
This is empathy with Doyle.
Lu Shi remembered that before time travel, the hasty completion of "I Am Cat" seemed to be due to someone copying it, and he couldn't help but want to laugh.
There are so many coincidences in the world.
Natsume Soseki said: "However, I always feel something is wrong when Dr. Doyle publishes a book at this time."
Lu Shi said "hmm".
"The Empty House" was supposed to be published in January 1903, but it was now two years ahead of schedule.
No one would believe that Doyle had no small ideas.
Lu Shi raised the corners of his mouth,
"It should be related to that bet."
Natsume Soseki nodded in agreement, apparently thinking so too.
Otherwise, it really cannot be explained why Doyle was so anxious to publish The Return immediately after The Hound of the Baskervilles.
You know, even the highly productive Ru Lu Shi was originally planning to take a break after finishing "No One Survived".
Later, because of Wilde's death, he owed editor Cooper a favor and decided to write another novel in return.
Natsume Soseki sighed: "I was attacked from both sides by Dr. Doyle and Professor James..."
Lu Shi chuckled,
"The left and right are men."
The two chatted for a while longer, and then the carriage came to Fleet Street and stopped at the door of the Scotsman office.
Lu Shidang jumped off the carriage first.
Unexpectedly, Cooper was waiting at the door.
He rushed up quickly and said to Lu Shi, "You are finally here. Do you know that Holmes has appeared... um..."
Cooper stopped talking and glanced around,
"Go inside first."
He introduced Riku Toki and Natsume Soseki into the editorial office.
Inside the house, there are piles of newspapers and magazines, all open on a certain page, with various marks made in circles or dots with pencils.
Lu Shi roughly read a few articles.
"coward? Could "Great" Lu be frightened by ghosts? 》
"Sherlock Holmes Returns, No One Challenges"
"A flash in the pan!" Lu may be the shortest-lived novelist"
…
These headlines, in modern times, are just plain marketing, exuding the stench of a rice circle.
Lu Shi couldn't help but be speechless for a while.
He took a step forward, picked up an article and read it, chuckling from time to time.
Cooper gave him a hard look.
"dare you laugh!?"
Lu Shi spread his hands and said, "They insist on putting aside the facts and saying that I am useless. There is nothing I can do."
Natsume Soseki on the side interjected: "Actually, they have not ignored the facts. For example, in that article, "A Flash in the Pan! Lu is the Shortest-lived Novelist", people only say that you are short-lived as a novelist, poet, The two identities of the playwright were not mentioned at all.”
Part of the truth is also true,
Even in 1901, the media was very good at this game.
(Well, it’s already 1901.)
Cooper was curious,
"Lu, tell the truth. Is there something going on between you and Professor James? Why do I feel that something is wrong with the magazines published by Cambridge University?"
Lu Shi smiled and said,
"It's just a small bet."
He recounted what had happened before, going over some details that were inconvenient for Cooper to know.
Cooper's face is dark;
"you you……"
After saying the word "you" several times, he finally said: "You are so fucking awesome!"
Lu Shi nodded,
"Well, I also think I'm pretty awesome."
This sounds outrageous.
Cooper was too lazy to continue, so he turned the topic back to Holmes and said, "Now I know why Dr. Doyle is rushing to publish the book. He wants to kill you."
He slapped Lu Shi on the shoulder,
"Have you read the article "Empty House"?"
Lu Shi nodded,
"Yeah, I saw it. I think it's a very good work."
Natsume Soseki asked doubtfully: "Are you serious? Lu, that article "Empty House" is completely incomparable to your work!"
Cooper said: "Hey! Don't you lose your fighting spirit because you have to deal with James and Doyle at the same time? This is not like you!"
The two spoke almost at the same time.
Lu Shi looked at the two of them and asked, "Who should I answer first?"
Cooper and Natsume Soseki pointed at each other at the same time,
After that, the two of them froze and said in unison: "Then answer me first."
There was an embarrassment in the room,
"..."
"..."
"..."
Eerily quiet.
Lu Shi said: "Forget it, let me answer Natsume first. You think "The Empty House" is boring because the plot in "The Empty House" is silly and seems to be fooling the readers, right?"
Natsume Soseki nodded repeatedly.
In "The Empty House", the deceased is killed in a locked room;
In other words, this was a locked room murder.
When Doyle cracked the secret room, he used a powerful method of flying bricks, that is, a sharpshooter.
Colonel Moran, who originally belonged to the 1st Engineer Regiment in Bangalore, loaded a bursting bullet into an air gun, pointed it at the window in the front of the room and fired a shot, which opened a big hole in the deceased's mind.
As for how the door was locked...
Of course the deceased locked it himself.
After reading this conclusion, Natsume Soseki almost threw out the "Seaside Magazine".
Is this a hammer's secret room?
What a waste of brain cells!
Of course Riku Toki knew what Natsume Soseki was thinking, and explained: "The reason why I say "The Empty House" is well written is because as the return of Sherlock Holmes, it is an extremely successful work. Think about the reunion between Watson and Holmes. , what did Watson say?"
Cooper on the side said: "Don't think about it, I have "Seaside Magazine"."
As he spoke, he read the original text:
"
'Holmes, I can't believe my eyes. Oh my gosh! There are so many people in the world, but you alone are standing in my study. '
"
Lu Shi asked again: "What about the description of Holmes' appearance?"
Cooper continued:
"
Holmes was wrapped in a shabby long coat worn by a book seller, and the only thing visible was a pile of white hair and the old books on the table. He looked thinner and more alert than before, but there was a hint of paleness in his eagle-like face, which made me see that his life had been irregular recently. '
"
No need to read any further.
Lu Shi's meaning was clear. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes, how could he not feel the same way after seeing these two paragraphs?
Natsume Soseki understood,
"That said, there is another very important point. The villain of "The Empty House", Colonel Moran, appeared frequently in the previous work. As the murderer of the first short story of "The Return", he is full of emotions."
Lu Shi nodded,
"Yes, feelings! You hit the point. That's why I say "Empty House" is a very good work."
For fans, the return of Sherlock Holmes only needs to bring excitement, and the excellent plots and exciting adventures are just insignificant additions.
I have to admit that Doyle has touched the reader's heart.
But Lu Shi was not afraid,
He took out the manuscript of "The Hobbit" and handed it to Cooper: "Please take a look, my respected editor-in-chief."
Cooper smiled bitterly,
"What about 'Dear Editor-in-Chief', please stop making fun of me."
He took the manuscript and started reading.
Soon, his eyes widened and he said incoherently: "This is...um...how could...why..."
Lu Shi coughed lightly,
"Mr. Cooper, please read it to the end first."
The shock on Cooper's face turned to seriousness, and he began to read "The Hobbit" word for word.
This novel is not that long, but it takes a few hours anyway.
By the time Cooper finished reading, the sun was almost setting. The afterglow of the setting sun dispelled the fog that shrouded London all year round, leaving bright red spots on the sparkling waves of the Fleet River.
"Huh~~~~"
Cooper let out a sigh of relief.
His expression was as if he was actually there, following the protagonist through the bizarre adventure in the book.
Lu Shi asked: "How is it?"
Cooper has not yet completely withdrawn from the story in the book, his eyes are a little confused,
He asked doubtfully: "What do you think of me?"
Lu Shi nodded,
"Yeah, you should give me an evaluation after reading it, right?"
Cooper looked helpless and said, "Am I worthy?"
Natsume Soseki on the side nodded wildly,
He had the same feeling as Cooper when he just finished reading "The Hobbit".
Lu Shi said: "This... shouldn't be the case, right?"
Cooper was speechless;
"Lu, you still don't know what kind of world you have built. Let me ask you a question, what is the difference between hobbits and dwarves?"
This is a question about worldview,
Of course Lu Shi memorized it and immediately answered: "The dwarves were created by Aulë, the god of craftsmen of the earth, at the beginning of creation, because he couldn't wait for the firstborn children of Ilúvatar to appear..."
Cooper immediately called a halt;
"Stop! Look how many brand-new concepts you mentioned in this sentence?"
"this……"
Lu Shi knew what the other party wanted to say.
The world created by Tolkien is so complete and real that ordinary people are not qualified to judge.
Lu Shi said: "Then let me ask another question. Mr. Cooper, do you think this book is interesting?"
Cooper nodded,
"Of course! Of course it's interesting! I can't wait to read the follow-up story now. Looking at the end of your book, there should be more to come, right?"
Lu Shi smiled,
"Mr. Cooper, I can answer your question now."
This sentence without beginning or end made Cooper a little confused.
"Problem? What problem?"
Lu Shi said: "Didn't you just ask me, 'You won't lose your fighting spirit because you have to deal with James and Doyle at the same time?', this "The Hobbit" is my answer."
Cooper couldn't help but was speechless, thinking that Lu Shi was really awesome.
He said: "This "The Hobbit" is used to deal with Professor James. That Doyle... um... by the way, you said before that you are writing a detective novel called... what... Is there a mystery coming?"
Lu Shi said: "The Mysterious Case of Roger. I have already submitted the manuscript to the Royal Publishing House."
Cooper couldn't help laughing;
"You are shooting from left to right."
People took the initiative to come to the door, but Lu Shi couldn't do anything.
He could only lie flat,
"Well, let's get them together."
