Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty Six

The champagne was barely bubbling. At first they drank in moderation.Soon, the incredible discovery had them blown away. This is indeed an inestimable historical chapter, Beth said suddenly and seriously, think about it, after so many years, the truth finally surfaced, Darwin and McCormick, a pair of enemies, tried their best to rescue each other in the crater other side. It can also be understood in this way, maybe he didn't try his best, otherwise why would he feel guilty for most of his life? Because despite his best efforts, he could not save his opponent; because he was a kind man.And even though he is an atheist, he insists on the teachings of Christianity.McCormick's death was purely an accident.

Maybe you are right. The whole thing is so unbelievable God, thank Darwin himself. It makes sense that he admits that McCormick has grasped evolution.As we all know, McCormick would have gone down in history as a co-founder of the theory, whereas today he is a nobody. The two raised their glasses to celebrate, for the hard work of the past investigation, for this group of related people: Darwin, Fitzroy, Jamie.Barton, and of course poor Lizzie. But in the end she was rewarded, her father gave her trust and reputation, and she was the only one with insight into her father's secret.Hugh said.

A cheap consolation, retorted Beth, her whole life was of little value to me. I wonder why she didn't read the default chapter of his father's autobiography.She should be curious, maybe she's terrified of what she might see. possible.But she already knew the secret, and she wisely guessed her father's role in revealing his family scandal and his death at McCormick.She didn't need to read it, she didn't want to spoil the good image of her father in her mind.After all, her father was already world-famous and she didn't want to be the instigator and announce the scandal to the public.So she passed this chapter to her daughter, mainly to shirk responsibility and leave it to her daughter or leave it to fate.

I think maybe so.Hugh replied. You sound less sure. I can't tell. She put an arm around Hugh.At this time, the foam in the wine is about to run out. Something else bothered me, he said, didn't you notice the language Darwin used?In one place he speaks of his life having lost its value; in another he speaks of his fame and fortune as none of which belonged to him.The tone is strong, don't you think?I mean if McCormick's death was a complete accident, it shouldn't be so strong, because Darwin really deserved it. He started this theory. Or because of guilt.Good people make mistakes and suffer more than wicked people.Besides, maybe if he was honest enough, he knew that he really wanted his enemy dead, don't forget that guy tried to kill him.

You just said that Darwin did everything he could to save him, and it wasn't even a minute. Perhaps the line is not very clear, at least in Darwin's mind.Perhaps he regretted that he hadn't foreseen the danger, that watching it happen was negligence, not murder. Hugh refilled two wine glasses. He remembered someone said that Darwin never had the confidence to investigate human psychology.Why do I always have a hunch that the two of them haven't fully discovered Darwin's secret yet? And he never said when he came up with the theory, he continued, sounding like he and McCormick just happened to pick it up somewhere.

This is not a new discovery, the tone of the material he writes is all in this tone, he is not very rigorous about it.This just shows that he had insight into this theory earlier than everyone knew. But he glossed over when he came up with the theory, roughed up his finches, and made up stories about his bug bites.What's the point of any of this. I also think it's kind of weird. And, let's not forget, all these people were trying to blackmail him.But why did Huxley and the others protect him? They weren't really trying to protect him, they were protecting the theory.They know that the theory is too important to let one's reputation weigh it down.

But how did they know what Darwin did?Where did they hear about McCormick's death? Take it from Fitzroy. But he never saw the scene of the crater with his own eyes, he just suspected it. Perhaps Darwin himself said it. But he did, and Lizzie was the only one who knew his secret. The only one with insight into his secret, Beth corrected.She herself didn't know what to do, and felt that she was in trouble again. And Wallace ended up back in London, maybe he heard about it from people in the circle. But Wallace himself had articulated the theory, and if he thought Darwin might have been a murderer, wouldn't he want to own the theory?

Maybe he needs money. possible.But if he knew these things about Darwin, he would take credit for the theory and bargain with fame and exploits.Also, if you count Wallace as an accomplice, if that's the right word, the circle is getting wider. She withdrew her arm. Let's face it, Beth, it's not time to draw conclusions, too many conclusions are uncertain. I admit that I can't answer these questions you raised. Hugh stood up suddenly, and I just remembered, he said, how could we miss this one?He took off his glasses and put them on the table. There was another question that was more difficult to answer.

What? Assuming you're thinking correctly, Lizzie objected to her father because of the scene at the crater. right. She got it from letters McCormick wrote to his relatives. right. How could he have written it?He's all dead. Oh shit! Let me ask you something, Hugh said to Roland.The three locked the door, left the library at night, and strolled down Burrell Street.You are an old man. Thanks, compliments are always handy.Roland replied. Does the French phrase "Night of the Fire" mean anything to you? This reminds me of a few things and I wonder if I should mix them up.

Come on, be serious. Can you tell me why this strange question is asked? It's about our Darwinian research, and we've hit a dead end.Beth chimed in. I don't think you guys will talk about cutting-edge stuff.In the words of you Americans, I have long been out of fashion. We want to tell you, but we don't know what we're doing, Hugh said. We're just one mystery in place of another, and this mystery is more mysterious than the previous one. Like Churchill talking about the former Soviet Union, Bessie said.Mysteries of mysteries with a veil of mystery. Roland grimaced.You're talking about the mysteries of mysteries and mysteries.

Either way, it's the same thing. No, you can't put a veil of mystery on things. Then I think you should be able to put a veil of mystery on things. In a nutshell, it is the mystery that veils the enigma, and then is contained in the doubtful thing. Well, stop it!Hugh cried.The three of them crossed the bridge.The swans all hid behind the willow branches for the night.Hugh explained: "Darwin used the French term for night of fire and we wanted to figure out what he was referring to. Roland interrupted him, I can't remember where the word was. In Lizzie's diary. Understood.The one you found when I smuggled you into the library. Yes, Beth said, we thought we got what he meant by that phrase, but it doesn't seem to quite fit. The problem is, says Hugh, the events we have in mind don't happen overnight. Although it involves horrific fires.Beth added. They came to a narrow lane behind Trinity College. Hearing this phrase reminds me of a man who used the same phrase, also in French, but that was two hundred years ago. keep talking.Hugh urged him. It's Blaise.Pascal, French mathematician and philosopher.He used the phrase to describe an incredible night.He was completely converted that night, and he believed that he had really seen God.Since then he entered a Jansenist monastery and never published a book in his own name. So Darwin must have heard of it, right?don't ask. Of course. Beth had doubts.But that doesn't quite fit, you wouldn't say Darwin became a believer, would you? That's not what it means, Roland replied, there is no context, and of course I don't know what he is talking about, but it is possible that the phrase is used in a broad sense.He's implying some kind of momentous shift, like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus, Archimedes in the tub, a moment of lightning-like epiphany where everything suddenly becomes clear. I see.Hugh said. The three came to Hill Market.It was the height of the evening shopping rush, and the sidewalks were packed with merchandise.The three weaved among the crowd of gentlemen riding bicycles, flush-faced tourists squeezing into their cars, and students rushing to bars. Roland stopped and walked into a bookstore: I'll be right back. Hugh turned to Beth and said: Epiphany is one thing, murder is another.If you killed someone, or thought you did, you probably wouldn't call it the night of the fire. The two stood waiting in front of the bookstore when a teenager walked over with a stack of books under his arm.With that innocent face and golden soft long hair, he looked like a young student.Xio watched him walk past, lost in thought. What's the matter?Beth asked. Nothing, he reminded me of a character described in a person's book.He stood still.Beth, oh my god, there it is! what? We put R. M got it wrong, he wasn't McCormick, he was the teenage preacher Richard.Matthews.