Dear ladies and gentlemen! We invited a famous detective writer Melanie Hopkins for a cup of tea to our office. Melanie is more than 100 years old, she has lived a fabulous life and written dozens of gripping unforgettable stories about wonderful and complicated crimes. So, as a person who has investigated so many confusing situations by means of language, she certainly has got a lot of experience to share with us.

 

Watson: Dear Miss Hopkins, how did you start your business?

 

Hopkins: Well… When I was a child we lived in a big city and every summer I used to visit my cousins who lived in the countryside. My dad always used his brother’s car to bring me and my mother to them. I loved spending my school holidays over there and my auntie Agatha used to teach us how to make so many interesting things, such as decoupage, drawing and embroidery. You know, sir, there didn’t use to be television or Internet in our life in those days. We even never used the radio at my home, though it was becoming very popular in big cities.

 

Sherlock: Oh, I can’t believe, Miss Hopkins…

 

Hopkins: Yes! Erm… What did you ask me, sir?

 

Watson: Oh, Miss Hopkins, I wanted to know how you started writing your stories!

 

Hopkins: Ah! Right! That was easy! When I studied at the boarding college I used to go to the park for a walk with Eleanor, one of my cousins… She used to visit me a lot and we missed the classes together, though I used to be the best student and I never used anyone’s help on my exams! I and my cousin, we were young and very pretty!  We didn’t use any cosmetics at all… One day we met a very nice young gentleman in the park and we made friends. He used a very expensive perfume and had so gentle manners! He used to travel a lot because of his job and he always brought us nice gifts! Eleanor used all her beauty and charm when we went with him to the park, and they finally married…

 

Sherlock: What about our question, Miss Hopkins?

 

Hopkins: Sorry, what? Excuse me, please, I forgot your question, sir…

 

Watson: Well, did you use any experience when you wrote your first story? Or did you use to make notes in your diary before you started writing?

 

Hopkins: No, sir, I didn’t. Our family used to have so many friends among writers, painters and actors! Oh, I loved the theatre! Did I use our relations with them for going on shows? Never! But one day, I did! That was a performance of a famous actor… I can’t remember his name now…

 

Watson: Oh, I see! The show was interesting, Miss Hopkins… And even it’s going on! I think, we leave our question for the next time! Thank you very much, dear Miss Hopkins, for a very interesting and informative conversation!