Chapter 42

A few days passed, and it was another Saturday.

After breakfast, old Hunterdal read the newspaper for a while and then went upstairs. He seemed to have become obsessed with the Go game that John had brought from China recently. He would definitely play on weekends. Of course, the old man had played with John before, but he lost so badly that he decided to study it on his own. According to his usual routine, he wouldn't come down until lunchtime.

"Mr. Alber."

After his grandfather left, John called out to the butler who was about to help clean up. He took out a letter from his pocket and said, "I have a reply for Miss Philip. Could you please have someone deliver it for me?"

The butler quickly came over and nodded, "Of course, I'll have Henry deliver it shortly."

"Thank you."

John smiled slightly and didn't say more.

A few minutes later, John changed into his outdoor clothes and came downstairs.

Seeing this, the butler asked in surprise, "Sir, are you going out? Should I have Henry prepare the carriage?"

John shook his head and smiled, "No need, I've already made an appointment with Mr. Stone. He should be here soon."

"Alright."

Hearing this, the butler didn't say more. Recently, John had been free to spend his weekends as he pleased, but since he was only twelve, he still needed someone to accompany him. However, since he was going out with Joshua, Hans was naturally at ease.

Sure enough, a short while later, Joshua's carriage stopped at the front gate.

Without letting his friend get out, John got in, and the carriage left. Not long after they departed, Henry also set off in his carriage...

...

"I don't quite understand."

Having the coachman follow Henry discreetly, Joshua asked his friend with a puzzled look, "Why are you secretly following your own carriage? Do you suspect the footman of inappropriate behavior?"

Keeping his eyes on the carriage in front, John shook his head instinctively, "No, I just want to know where he's going!"

"Why?!"

Hearing John's words, Joshua became even more puzzled.

Turning his head, seeing Joshua's puzzled face, John hesitated for a moment and then explained about Miss Philip. He then sighed, "To me, a hundred dollars isn't important, and my grandfather's secrecy isn't a problem. But Miss Philip has been teaching me diligently for half a year, and I respect her, so..."

"So you think it's unfair to fire her now?"

Hearing John's words, Joshua asked with a hint of skepticism.

John fell silent.

Perhaps he was being too soft-hearted, but thinking about the helplessness and pain on Miss Philip's face that day, John felt he couldn't remain indifferent. Even if he couldn't do much after finding her, he still...

He touched the small envelope in his chest and sighed inwardly.

"I hope I can help a little."

John had prepared three hundred dollars, which was a significant amount in this era. The transfer of the bamboo filament light bulb patent had indeed brought him great benefits, including a factory in preparation for production and enough money. Perhaps because he showed the maturity of an adult, old Hunterdal didn't impose any restrictions, allowing him to manage the money freely.

"Huh?"

While John was deep in thought, Joshua, looking at the direction of the carriage, suddenly exclaimed and sat up straight.

John, puzzled, asked, "What's wrong?"

Leaning forward to look ahead, Joshua's expression quickly turned serious, "The carriage has stopped... John, are you sure Henry is going to see Miss Philip?"

"This... I guess so?"

John quickly looked ahead, feeling uncertain.

Sure enough, their carriage had stopped, and Henry had gotten out, seemingly negotiating with someone. Seeing this, the coachman from the Stone family also stopped on the side of the road.

"He seems to be going into that area!"

After observing, Joshua pointed ahead and whispered.

Several carriages were parked near the person Henry was talking to, who seemed to be a caretaker. Although John didn't know what was ahead, the low, dilapidated houses, the sewage on the ground, and the faint, unpleasant smell all indicated that Henry was about to enter the slums of New York!

"I remember your governess earns twelve dollars a week, right?"

Joshua turned to John with a serious expression and asked.

"Yes."

John was also puzzled, his brows furrowed. A weekly salary of twelve dollars, while not particularly high, was enough for Miss Philip to maintain a relatively decent life in Manhattan. Living in such a place was clearly unexpected.

"Something's strange!"

After muttering this, Joshua immediately called out loudly, "Fett, follow that coachman and tell me who he meets and where!"

"Yes, sir!"

The coachman from the Stone family immediately jumped out of the carriage and followed Henry.

"Shouldn't we follow too?"

John, feeling anxious, quickly asked.

"No!"

Joshua's tone was firm, and he shook his head, "I can't let you go into such a place. It's not only very dirty but also one of the highest crime areas in New York... We'll wait here for Fett!"

Although Joshua was usually mild-tempered, his current stance was not to be refused. Today, he was taking John out, and if anything happened, Joshua could imagine how old Hunterdal would deal with him!

After thinking for a moment, John accepted Joshua's arrangement and waited patiently for the coachman to return.

However, they didn't have to wait long. Soon, Henry wobbled back to the carriage and left. Fett returned to the carriage about ten minutes later, running quickly.

"Fett, did you see clearly?"

Before the coachman could catch his breath, John asked.

"Clearly, sir."

Fett quickly replied, "Henry went into a small house and came out after about half a minute."

"Do you know who he met?"

Joshua also asked curiously.

Nodding, Fett said, "Yes, sir. I spent a little money to ask the neighbors, and they said it was a French woman in her thirties and her daughter."

"Daughter? Are you sure?"

Hearing this, John was surprised. The French woman was undoubtedly Miss Philip, but what about the daughter? The governess had never mentioned having a daughter. If she did, what happened to the child when she stayed at the Hunterdal house? Did Miss Philip have relatives in New York?

"I'm quite sure, sir."

Fett nodded vigorously, "I spent fifty cents to confirm this. There was also a man, apparently an artist, but they had a big argument a while ago... apparently over the daughter, and the man left. For the past few days, only the French woman has been living there with her child."

Hearing this, John immediately understood.

However, even after understanding what had happened, John still couldn't figure out why old Hunterdal insisted on firing his governess. Was it because her daughter was unattended? In this era, hiring someone to look after a child wouldn't cost much, and Miss Philip could afford it.

Joshua, after a moment's thought, asked in a low voice, "Fett, do you know why they argued?"

"Yes!"

Fett immediately nodded, "According to their neighbors, the child was seriously ill, and they spent a lot of money without improvement. The man seemed to be afraid of something, so they had a big argument, and he left. He hasn't come back since!"

"Afraid?"

Hearing this word, John was taken aback.

Afraid of what?

Joshua also felt strange, but after considering, he said to John, "You should understand the situation now. Let's leave quickly; this place is very unsafe."

Instinctively, Joshua sensed something was wrong.

Fett's words only made him puzzled, but when combined with old Hunterdal's decision to fire Miss Philip, Joshua felt a growing unease.

"Hmm..."

However, John didn't immediately respond to Joshua's suggestion. After a moment's thought, he took out a piece of paper and a dollar from his pocket and handed them to the coachman, "Fett, could you please run one more errand and give this paper to the French woman..."