Chapter 820 - Queen of Mystery? Ⅱ (1/2)
The shopkeeper points out the two novels to the two married women. He thoughtfully points out another novel on the shelf. ”I would suggest that the ladies browse for a bit for there are plenty of excellent novellas including North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell.” The two married witches eagerly begin to browse the bookshelves abandoning their husbands to their own devices without any guilt.
Seeing the two gentlemen looking rather bored, the shopkeeper says, ”Might I interest the gentlemen in mystery or two?” The two wizards look a lot more interested as the shopkeeper continues, ”I would recommend Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I myself, prefer the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie, especially her detective novel series of Hercule Poirot. The portrayed crimes and mysteries are intriguing with a gripping plot until the very end.”
”Show us, both,” Mr. Vane said in a loud dramatic fashion with Mr. McLaggen nodding his head arrogantly in agreement.
”Right this way, gentlemen,” the shopkeeper happily said and led the two gentlemen to the mystery section. Needless to say, the two wizards became fascinated by the elegant, suave Belgium detective, Hercule Poirot. Mind you, Sherlock Holmes was not bad, but Sherlock Holmes lacked a certain je ne sais quoi that Hercule Poirot possessed..
The two couples happily browsed the shelves for over an hour, before realizing the late hour. The shopkeeper had hopefully retreated into the bookshelves to stack books giving the customers plenty of space and time to browse to their heart's delight. By the time, he returned he found the two couples patiently waiting for him without having selected any books.
A bitter sense of disappointment fills his soul, but he attempts to appear cheerful. ”Ladies and gentlemen, were the recommendation's not to your satisfaction?” He courteously asked.
”On the contrary, they were most excellent,” Mr. McLaggen haughtily said. ”I and Mr. Vain would like to an order the entire novels of Agatha Christie that involve detective Hercule Poirot.”
The shop owner almost chokes on his own spit. ”All of them?” He incredulously gasped.
”Yes, the entire series,” Mr. McLaggen replied with a bit of a frown at having to repeat himself.
”Right away, sir's,” the shopkeeper said, before quickly remembering the ladies. Without speaking, he glanced at them with questions in his eyes.
Mrs. Vane arches her brow at the balding shopkeeper, ”You will need a quill, sir.”
The shopkeeper hastily grabs a scrap of paper and pen and begins to write the long list of novels. With his hand nearly cramped, he says, ”Er, I welcome for the Vane and McLaggen families to sit and wait while I pack the novels.”
”Of course,” Mrs. McLaggen said before the two couples sat down each with a book to intently read.
The balding shopkeeper was in a stupor and did not understand how he managed to pack the entire set of books. With care, he packed several boxes, before placing them neatly before them. Mrs. Vane motions to her husband and says, ”Pay the shopkeeper, dear,” with Mrs. McLaggen giving her husband similar looks.
”How much will it be, shopkeeper?” Mr. Vane asked as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out rolled-up wads of money causing the shopkeeper to almost choke again in shock.