Chapter 126

Chapter 126

John Hagwood

Recently while reading about half the Holmes series saying will write short film scripts in spare time, could pick up one very okay idea.

That exactly disguise art.

On earth why forgot this? If hard to wander in original appearance disguise and go out fine.

If walking the middle of London as is my current state don't know what form will suffer.

The meaning that recognition suddenly soared also the possibility of people who envy and hate arising as much as people who congratulate and praise.

Thinking of the talk of readers who broke the windows of his hometown house with bricks when Mr. Doyle serialized the Holmes series, even me can't be careless.

Moreover looking only at people sending prank letters to me until now, certain strange people all over the world.

[ Congratulate becoming baronet, Albrecht. See soon. ]

Such a strange letter came again. This on earth already how many times?

Honestly this was the first so elaborately made prank letter.

One line phrase, and even gold leaf stamped on one corner of the letter paper so all said.

Even asking Mr. Doyle said 'seems just a letter with no special trick', and surrounding people also no one knowing the source of the pattern so ultimately remained an unsolved case, but somehow seemed no thought of stopping the prank.

Indeed, a prank that costs a lot of money.

Well anyway, if hungry for London walks the conclusion disguise is the answer that sound.

The problem, I'm not a person skilled in disguise like Holmes in the novel.

If trying disguise with my shabby hand skill crude and soon discovered obvious so needed an expert's touch.

As a result of rummaging around here and there, just in time a person who can help.

Self-proclaimed genius poet of Florence, Mr. Gabriele D'Annunzio.

This person still not returning to Italy what good about London, but hearing the talk in the middle of throwing advances at London ladies and getting rejected and rejected again repeating.

Just a playboy that sound.

Said skilled in theater makeup as a playwright, so I decided to throw some work to this person talented limited to the entertainment world.

"Ooooh! Sir Jean-Paul Durand! This cool and kind noble who seems molded as is the Apollo of Hesiod who appeared in reality remembering me again, and like this again—"

"Shut up and quickly do the work."

"Kkeuheung..."

Mr. D'Annunzio widely spread the makeup sets obtained from some small theater in London on the office desk.

Wigs made of human hair, wax and clay, animal fur and plant dyes, and accessories like glasses and hats.

At a glance unusual?

He rubbed and twisted up the trademark rat-tail like mustache with two fingers.

"If touched by this D'Annunzio's hands, can make any occupation plausible! What want to become? Priest? Doctor? Police?"

"Just make ordinarily. Degree not noticeable on the street."

"Hmm... That seems very hard."

Mr. D'Annunzio carefully examined my face then tilted the head and continued the words.

"Your features so distinct and balanced so gathering people's gazes no choice. Only can make a bit mistaken."

He made clicking sounds with the iron scissors in hand.

"For example, if wearing this height increasing insole height stands out about 3 inches. Even if height changes a bit the overall balance changes, and due to that people's perception also changes. Moreover the completion of disguise is accessories! You don't wear things like hats or glasses at all usually, so even just wearing such hat and glasses one won't easily recognize."

"Hmm..."

"Come, entrust once to this D'Annunzio's hands! Will make very plausible!"

Honestly a feeling of selling medicine a bit, but since called out up to here no choice but to believe.

In fact in this era even just changing clothes became quite effective disguise. Because almost no cases of nobles wearing shabby clothes like lower class and walking around.

The problem my face. From the appearance noticeable, and my face already too well known to surrounding people so with ordinary clothing change can't hide anymore.

Even if wearing miners' jeans and suspenders and carrying a pickaxe on the shoulder, people will just think 'Jean-Paul Durand doing miner cosplay'. No way look like an ordinary miner.

From that point Mr. D'Annunzio clearly showed the aspect of a makeup expert.

He slightly attached wax to my face and adjusted the contours, and ground charcoal powder and newly put shadows.

"This is color cream made by mixing plant dye and cream. After using more than one day must wash off. Not that good for the skin."

The words that even disguise art has cooldown.

Condition unable to activity two days consecutive.

Well in this era no way applying something on the face that good. Decided to just accept that degree.

Mr. D'Annunzio applied white powder on my face and did basic makeup, added color tone, drew fine lines on the face with a detailed brush then tapped with a sponge and made wrinkles.

"Hmm... If sweating makeup can partially erase, but this degree won't easily notice. Carry a small hand mirror and if the makeup distorts flee right away."

"...Wait, at such times usually say hide somewhere and fix right away not?"

"Hahaha! My makeup art boasts the power of making even men mistaken as women! No matter how skilled you are in cooking, can't easily follow even my makeup skill, right?"

"Ugh..."

"Just in time today sunlight also strong, if making like this at most the complexion looking not good degree. Anyone seeing won't know it's you, right."

Clearly his makeup art worth boasting.

The bushy wig he brought also not greatly different from my original hair color so natural. After well putting on the wig, the appearance in the mirror felt like a different person.

There attaching a mustache made of animal fur, wearing thick metal glasses frames, and even wearing a flat cap, age looked over thirty more?

Here changing voice, actions, speech a bit each—

"Wow! This really I made, but a work! Became a completely different person, right!"

Mr. D'Annunzio clapped and admired.

"Anyone seeing won't know it's Sir Durand!"

"Hehe. Teacher D'Annunzio, then ahead call me ‘John Hagwood’ would be good."

"Already thought of a plausible alias! Cool!"

"...Just thought of anything."

"But really suits well! Okay to push that concept as is!"

I somehow mood strange. Just like this fleeing and living like a different person okay?

Remembered the Duke of York disguising as Holmes and coming to my restaurant in the past. Why couldn't think of doing up to this then?

That probably because the duke's makeup too crude. With a dangling mustache, seeing the crude Holmes attire a prejudice that this era's makeup art is trash arose.

Of course that perception immediately corrected. Going to the theater and seeing the play the actors' makeup looked more plausible than thought.

Just the duke at that time crude.

Anyway with this I successfully added a new sub-character to activity in London.

A quite handsome mid-30s painter, John Hagwood.

I tried a dignified voice once. Meeting Sir Campbell recently helped.

“Good, Mr. D'Annunzio. Very excellent. So give a reward."

"Yes, master. This lowly one's pocket always empty."

I flicked one sovereign gold coin to Mr. D'Annunzio as repayment. He eyes sparkling and caught the gold coin in the air with the hand.

“Ooh! As expected Sir Jean-Paul Durand! No, Mr. John Hagwood! As expected a great person endlessly respected in Britain!"

This including the mouth shutting cost of telling to shut the mouth.

He held the gold coin and bit once with the mouth and very rejoiced.

* * *

The reason I set the setting of a painter, because no occupation as natural for London walks as a painter.

Late Victorian era, from the late 19th century interest in art greatly increased in Britain. So amateur painters' activities became active to the degree Britain's unique impressionism and realism painting styles created.

The words just looking around the street can easily see people holding one sketchbook and sketching anything.

Moreover no need to draw well. Just preparing plausible pictures in advance and carrying around enough.

To test the effect of the makeup, I asked Mr. D'Annunzio and secretly called Joe.

And abruptly pushed the body in front of Joe walking the corridor.

Joe surprised and momentarily took a defensive posture.

"Hey! Who are you? Where is this coming in without permission... Boss?!"

He shouted then stopped, and opened both eyes round and confirmed my face again.

"What is that appearance?!"

"It's me, you guy. Did makeup a bit to go out. How, plausible?"

"C-cool! I almost didn't recognize too! Probably others the same!"

"Yes? Then fortunate. Hmm, now the alias John Hagwood so when I'm this appearance call Mr. Hagwood."

"Yes, yes. Boss!"

"Mr. Hagwood."

"Yes, Mr. Hadwood!"

Clearly even Joe who spent long with me confused about ten seconds degree. So more effective to outsiders who roughly know my appearance.

Since testing the makeup, I decided to make Joe do makeup too.

Anyway lately nothing to do and loafing so this time make do the role of knight's squire again.

If wandering alone and some situation arises troublesome, right.

Mr. D'Annunzio scanned Joe once then started the work in earnest.

And Joe transformed into a dock worker in one breath.

"Very perfect! With this you painter, and this friend laborer can naturally fit wherever going in London!"

Because bulky this degree just suitable. I looked at his makeup for a long time then nodded.

"Good. This degree reliable."

Joe confirmed his appearance reflected in the mirror and smiled awkwardly.

"Boss, no Mr. Hagwood. I really okay correct? Feeling I'm not me..."

"Don't worry. If I said okay okay. But painter and laborer sticking together strange, right? This time follow far by wits on your own."

"Yes, Boss. But can't you give me one plausible alias too?"

"Your alias? Why do you need an alias. Confusing so just go. You're 'dock worker A' from now."

"Wow, very creative, Boss."

Doing makeup and going out the main gate no different from saying 'please suspect us!'.

So the two of us decided to climb over the wall toward the next lodging direction, and naturally escape to the backyard.

The problem Joe. I lightly jumped over the wall, but Joe guy whether due to bulk and weight groaned and barely came over.

Ahead shall I take another person besides this guy...?

Like that because Joe dragged time on the wall, ultimately got caught exactly by Miss Edith who came out to the backyard.

She seemed came out to pick the butterhead lettuce planted in the greenhouse.

"Oh my, Jean! Thought a thief! But where going? Suddenly even putting on a wig?"

Insight so good?!

I calmly forced a smile.

"Ah, this just experimenting. Miss Edith, wait a moment. Does the wig suit well? Or a bit awkward?"

She narrowed the eyes and tilted the head and said.

"Hmm... Suits well, but Jean. Not going to do some bad thing, right?"

"No way? But how did you recognize...?"

"That... I also once dreamed of becoming an actress? Recognize makeup degree. But really decorated well. If another person absolutely won't recognize!"

Hmm, clearly same industry(?) people will recognize.

Obtained good information. Let's reference in future actions.

Must not approach around the theater district.

"By the way that makeup, who did? Really well done!"

"That, Mr. D'Annunzio I mentioned last time, my dance teacher."

"Aah, that person? So... that person..."

Said something then she slightly nodded and smiled.

"Clearly if disguising ahead can easily go around in London without suspicion! Have a good walk!"

Leaving those words she urgently entered the lodging.

What? No more words? Eyes strangely meaningful?

I briefly met eyes with Joe. Joe also slightly tilted the head then shrugged without particular words.

"Just go, Boss... no Mr. Hagwood."

"Yes, let's go."

We again climbed over the backyard wall and came out to the alley.

Fortunately after that moved carefully checking presence, and could come out to Lombard Street as planned without being caught.

Now the preparation to roam London for one day ended.

But actually walking a few steps, I realized something strange.

Too many unfamiliar people monitoring my restaurant.