1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:06,200 The Red Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle. I had called upon my friend 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,359 mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of last year, and found him 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:15,560 in deep conversation with a very stout, florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:20,239 red hair, with an apology for my intrusion. I was about to withdraw 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,160 when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me. 6 00:00:25,399 --> 00:00:28,559 You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson, 7 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:33,320 he said cordially. I was afraid that you were engaged, so I am 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,960 very much so then I can wait in the next room. Not at all 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,039 this gentleman, mister Wilson has been my partner and helper in many of my 10 00:00:43,079 --> 00:00:46,640 most successful cases, and I have no doubt that he will be of the 11 00:00:46,759 --> 00:00:51,799 utmost use to me in yours. Also. The stout gentleman half rose from 12 00:00:51,799 --> 00:00:56,240 his chair and gave a bob of greeting with a quick, little questioning glance 13 00:00:56,479 --> 00:01:00,320 from his small, fat encircled eyes. Try the settee, said Holmes, 14 00:01:00,799 --> 00:01:06,879 relapsing into his armchair and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when 15 00:01:06,879 --> 00:01:11,680 in judicial moods. I know, my dear Watson, that you share my 16 00:01:11,799 --> 00:01:15,400 love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday 17 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:21,439 life. You've shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you 18 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:26,719 to chronicle. And if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish so 19 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,480 many of my own little adventures, your cases have indeed been of the greatest 20 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,879 interest to me, I observed. You will remember that I remarked the other 21 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:40,519 day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary 22 00:01:40,519 --> 00:01:46,200 Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, we must go to life 23 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:49,599 itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination, 24 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:56,719 A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor. But 25 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:00,760 nonetheless you must come round to my view, for otherwise I shall keep on 26 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:05,920 piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges 27 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,639 me to be right. Now, mister Jobez Wilson here has been good enough 28 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:14,759 to call upon me this morning and to begin a narrative which promises to be 29 00:02:14,759 --> 00:02:17,000 one of the most singular, which I have listened to for some time. 30 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,639 You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often 31 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:28,759 connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, 32 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,719 where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. 33 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,360 As far as I have heard, it is impossible for me to say whether 34 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,479 the present case is an instance of crime or not. But the course of 35 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:46,479 events is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Perhaps, 36 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,520 mister Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative. 37 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,800 I ask you not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard of the 38 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:59,919 opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious 39 00:02:59,919 --> 00:03:04,439 to have every possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I 40 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,360 have heard some slight indication of the course of events, I am able to 41 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,759 guide myself by the thousand of other similar cases which occurred to my memory. 42 00:03:13,199 --> 00:03:15,439 In the present instance, I am forced to admit that the facts are, 43 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:21,520 to the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed out his chest 44 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:25,039 with an appearance of some little pride, and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper 45 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:31,039 from the inside pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement column with 46 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,280 his head thrust forward and the paper flattened out upon his knee. I took 47 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,439 a good look at the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my 48 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:44,479 companion, to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. 49 00:03:45,919 --> 00:03:49,639 I did not gain very much. However, by my inspection, our 50 00:03:49,719 --> 00:03:54,520 visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, 51 00:03:54,520 --> 00:04:00,120 and slow. He wore rather baggy gray shepherd's checked trouse, a not 52 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:05,599 overclean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a 53 00:04:05,639 --> 00:04:11,599 heavy brassy Albert chain and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an 54 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,680 ornament. A frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet 55 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,800 collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, look as I would, 56 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:26,279 there was nothing remarkable about the man, save his blazing red head and the 57 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:32,120 expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features. Mister Holmes quick eye took 58 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,920 in my occupation, and he shook his head with a smile, as he 59 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:42,560 noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time 60 00:04:42,639 --> 00:04:46,680 done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is a freemason, 61 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,279 that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount 62 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:56,000 of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else, mister job As Wilson started 63 00:04:56,079 --> 00:04:59,839 up in his chair with his forefinger upon the paper, but his eyes a 64 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,439 my companion, How in the name of good fortune did you know all that? 65 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,399 Mister Holmes? He asked, how did you know, for example, 66 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,639 that I did manual labor. It's as true as gospel, for I began 67 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,680 as a ship's carpenter. Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand 68 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,160 is quite a size larger than your left. You have worked with it, 69 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:25,639 and the muscles are more developed. Well. The snuff, then, and 70 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:30,759 the freemasonry. I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, 71 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,399 especially as rather against the strict rules of your order, you use an 72 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:40,040 arc and compass breastpin. Ah. Of course I forgot that. But the 73 00:05:40,079 --> 00:05:45,439 writing, what else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for 74 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,600 five inches, and the left one with a smooth patch near the elbow where 75 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:55,360 you rested upon the desk. Well, but China. The fish that you 76 00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:59,560 have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China. 77 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,000 I have made a small study of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to 78 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:08,639 the literature of the subject. The trick of staining the fish's scales of a 79 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:13,439 delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I see 80 00:06:13,439 --> 00:06:16,959 a Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain, the matter becomes even more simple. 81 00:06:18,199 --> 00:06:23,639 Mister job As Wilson laughed heavily. Well, I never said he. 82 00:06:24,439 --> 00:06:27,720 I thought at first you had done something clever, But I see there was 83 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:30,680 nothing in it. After all, I begin to think, Watson, said 84 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:36,519 Holmes, that I make a mistake in explaining omne ignotum pro magnifico, you 85 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:41,839 know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer 86 00:06:41,879 --> 00:06:46,079 shipwreck if I am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, mister 87 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,360 Wilson, Yes, I have got it now, he answered, with his 88 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:54,879 thick red finger planted halfway down the column. Here it is, this is 89 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,040 what it began at all. You just read it for yourself, sir. 90 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,720 I took the paper from him and read as follows to the Red Headed League 91 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:10,240 on account of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 92 00:07:10,439 --> 00:07:14,920 U. S A. There is now another vacancy open which entitles a member 93 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,240 of the League to a salary of four pounds a week for purely nominal services. 94 00:07:19,079 --> 00:07:23,600 All Red Headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the 95 00:07:23,639 --> 00:07:28,360 age of twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person on Monday at eleven 96 00:07:28,399 --> 00:07:32,319 o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of the League, seven Pope's Court, 97 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:38,959 Fleet Street. What on earth does this mean? I ejaculated after I had 98 00:07:38,959 --> 00:07:44,120 twice read over the extraordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, 99 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,240 as was his habit when in high spirits. It is a little off the 100 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,560 beaten track, isn't it? Said he? And now, mister Wilson, 101 00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:56,120 off you go at scratch and tell us all about yourself, your household, 102 00:07:56,399 --> 00:08:00,920 and the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make 103 00:08:00,959 --> 00:08:05,720 a note doctor of the paper and the date. It is the Morning Chronicle 104 00:08:05,879 --> 00:08:11,199 of April twenty seventh, eighteen ninety, just two months ago, very good 105 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,680 now, mister Wilson. Well, it is just as I have been telling 106 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:20,519 you, mister Sherlock Holmes said job as Wilson mopping his forehead. I have 107 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,319 a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square near the city. It's not a very 108 00:08:24,399 --> 00:08:28,160 large affair, and of late years that has not done more than just give 109 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:31,799 me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, but 110 00:08:31,919 --> 00:08:35,320 now I only keep one, and I would have a job to pay him, 111 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,360 but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn 112 00:08:39,399 --> 00:08:43,039 the business. What is the name of this obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. 113 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,399 His name is Vincent Spalding. And he's not such a youth either. 114 00:08:48,879 --> 00:08:52,559 It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assistant, 115 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,399 mister Holmes, and I know very well that he could better himself and earn 116 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,720 twice what I am able to give him. But after all, if he 117 00:08:58,799 --> 00:09:03,120 is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head? Why? Indeed, 118 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,600 you seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under the full market 119 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:13,240 price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I 120 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:18,120 don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement. Oh he 121 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,519 has his faults too, said mister Wilson. Never was such a fellow for 122 00:09:22,639 --> 00:09:26,360 photography, snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, 123 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:31,399 and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to 124 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:35,720 develop his pictures. That is his main fault. But on the whole he 125 00:09:35,799 --> 00:09:39,000 is a good worker. There's no vice in him. He's still with you, 126 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,480 I presume, yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen who 127 00:09:43,519 --> 00:09:48,559 does a bit of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That's all I 128 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,720 have in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. 129 00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:54,879 We live very quietly, sir, the three of us, and we 130 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,360 keep a roof over our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more. 131 00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:03,159 The the first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spalding. 132 00:10:03,279 --> 00:10:07,240 He came down into the office just this day, eight weeks with this very 133 00:10:07,279 --> 00:10:11,360 paper in his hand, and he says, I wish to Lord mister Wilson 134 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,919 that I was a redheaded man. Why that, I asks, Why? 135 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,120 Says he, here's another vacancy on the league of the red headed Men. 136 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,080 It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets it. And I 137 00:10:24,159 --> 00:10:28,399 understand that there are more vacancies than there are men, so that the trustees 138 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:33,120 are at their wits end what to do with the money. If my hair 139 00:10:33,159 --> 00:10:37,000 would only change color, here's a nice little crib all ready for me to 140 00:10:37,039 --> 00:10:41,120 step into. Why what is it? Then? I asked? You? 141 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,399 See, mister Holmes, I am a very stay at home man, and 142 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:48,039 as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it, 143 00:10:48,639 --> 00:10:50,919 I was often weeks on end without putting my foot over the door mat. 144 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:54,519 In that way, I didn't know much of what was going on outside, 145 00:10:54,799 --> 00:10:58,679 and I was always glad of a bit of news. Have you never heard 146 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,879 of the the League of Red Headed Men? He asked, with his eyes 147 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:07,240 open. Never. Why I wonder at that? For you are eligible yourself 148 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:11,200 for one of the vacancies. And what are they worth? I asked, 149 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,840 Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year. But the work is slight 150 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,879 and it need not interfere very much with one's other occupations. Well, you 151 00:11:18,919 --> 00:11:22,720 can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, for the business 152 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,399 has not been very good over some years, and an extra couple of hundred 153 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:31,120 would have been very handy. Tell me all about it, said I, 154 00:11:31,919 --> 00:11:35,440 well, said he, showing me the advertisement. You can see for yourself 155 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:39,000 that the league has a vacancy, and there is the address where you should 156 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,240 go apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the league 157 00:11:43,279 --> 00:11:48,360 was founded by an American millionaire, the Zekiah Hopkins, who was very peculiar 158 00:11:48,399 --> 00:11:52,200 in his ways. He was himself red headed, and he had a great 159 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,440 sympathy for all red headed men. So when he died, it was found 160 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:01,120 that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions 161 00:12:01,159 --> 00:12:05,080 to apply the interest to the providing of easy births to men whose hair is 162 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:11,000 of that color. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little 163 00:12:11,039 --> 00:12:16,000 to do. But said I, there would be millions of redheaded men who 164 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,320 would apply, Not so many as you might think, he answered, you 165 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,960 see, it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men. This American 166 00:12:24,039 --> 00:12:28,279 had started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the 167 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,720 old town a good turn. Then again I have heard it no use your 168 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:37,399 applying if your hair is light red or dark red, or anything but real, 169 00:12:37,639 --> 00:12:41,919 bright blazing fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, mister 170 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,159 Wilson, you would just walk in. But perhaps it would be hardly worth 171 00:12:46,159 --> 00:12:48,159 your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a few 172 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,480 hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentleman, as you can see 173 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,039 for yourself, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint. 174 00:12:56,519 --> 00:13:00,919 So that it seemed to me, if there was to be any competition in 175 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,960 the matter, I stood as good a chance as any man that I had 176 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,639 ever met. Vincent Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought 177 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,600 he might prove useful. So I just ordered him to put up the shutters 178 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:16,399 for the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing 179 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,320 to have a holiday, so he shut the business up and started off for 180 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:24,000 the address that was given us in the advertisement. I never hoped to see 181 00:13:24,039 --> 00:13:28,799 such a sight as that again, mister Holmes, from north, south, 182 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,639 east and west, every man who had a shade of red in his hair 183 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:37,039 had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street was choked with 184 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:41,960 red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked like a coster's orange barrow. I 185 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,720 should not have thought there were so many in the whole country as were brought 186 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:52,120 together by that single advertisement, every shade of color. They were straw, 187 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,679 lemon, orange, brick, irish setter, liver clay. But as Falding 188 00:13:56,799 --> 00:14:01,159 said, there were not many who had the vivid, flame colored tint. 189 00:14:01,759 --> 00:14:05,679 When I saw how many were waiting, I would have given it up in 190 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,600 despair. But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did it I 191 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,120 could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled and butted until he got me 192 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:18,440 through the crowd and ride up to the steps which led to the office. 193 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:22,279 There was a double stream upon the stairs, some going up in hope and 194 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,000 some coming back dejected. But we wedged in as well as we could, 195 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,600 and soon found ourselves in the office. Your experience has been a most entertaining 196 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,879 one, remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a 197 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:41,240 huge pinch of snuff. Pray, continue your very interesting statement. There was 198 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:45,000 nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table, 199 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,960 behind which sat a small man with a head that was even redder than mine. 200 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,440 He said a few words to each candidate as he came up, and 201 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:58,840 then he always managed to find some fault in them which would disqualify them. 202 00:14:58,879 --> 00:15:01,519 Getting a vacancy did not not seem to be such a very easy matter after 203 00:15:01,559 --> 00:15:05,960 all. However, when our turn came, the little man was much more 204 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,399 favorable to me than to any of the others, and he closed the door 205 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:13,000 as we entered, so that he might have a private word with us. 206 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:18,320 This is mister job as Wilson, said, my assistant, and he is 207 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,879 willing to fill a vacancy in the league, and he is admirably suited for 208 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,799 it. The other answered, he has every requirement. I cannot recall when 209 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,559 I have seen anything so fine. He took a step backward, cocked his 210 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:35,720 head on one side, and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. 211 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,879 Then suddenly he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly 212 00:15:41,919 --> 00:15:46,480 on my success. It would be an injustice to hesitate, said he. 213 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,840 You will, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious 214 00:15:50,879 --> 00:15:56,679 precaution. With that, he seized my hair in both his hands and tugged 215 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,039 until I yelled with the pain. There is water in your said he as 216 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,879 he released me. I believe that all is as it should be, but 217 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,720 we have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and 218 00:16:07,799 --> 00:16:12,519 once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would disgust 219 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:18,200 you with human nature. He stepped over to the window and shouted through it 220 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,320 at the top of his voice that the vacancy was filled. A groan of 221 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,080 disappointment came up from below, and the folk all trooped away in different directions, 222 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:30,879 until there was not a redhead to be seen except my own and that 223 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,840 of the manager. My name said, He is mister Duncan Ross, and 224 00:16:34,879 --> 00:16:40,360 I am myself one of those pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 225 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,080 Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family? 226 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,440 I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately. Dear me, 227 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,240 he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed, I am sorry 228 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,360 to hear you say that the fund was, of course for the propagation and 229 00:16:57,399 --> 00:17:02,000 spread of the Redheads, as as well as for their maintenance. It is 230 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:07,240 exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bachelor. My face linkedened at this, 231 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,799 mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to have the vacancy after 232 00:17:10,839 --> 00:17:14,680 all, But After thinking it over for a few minutes, he said that 233 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,680 it would be all right in the case of another, said he, the 234 00:17:18,759 --> 00:17:22,519 objection might be fatal, but we must stretch a point in favor of a 235 00:17:22,559 --> 00:17:26,400 man with such a head of hair as yours. When will you be able 236 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,359 to enter upon your new duties. Well, it is a little awkward, 237 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,599 for I have a business already, said I. Oh, never mind about 238 00:17:33,599 --> 00:17:37,200 that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding. I should be able to look 239 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,720 after that for you. What would be the hours, I asked, ten 240 00:17:41,759 --> 00:17:47,400 to two. Now, a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, 241 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:52,400 mister Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just before payday, 242 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,839 So it would suit me very well to earn a little in the mornings. 243 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,799 Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man and that he would 244 00:17:59,839 --> 00:18:03,599 see you do anything that turned up. That would suit me very well, 245 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,559 said I. And the pay is four dollars a week, and the work 246 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:14,839 is purely nominal. What do you call purely nominal? Well, you have 247 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,960 to be in the office, or at least in the building the whole time. 248 00:18:18,519 --> 00:18:22,480 If you leave, you forfeit your whole position forever. The will is 249 00:18:22,599 --> 00:18:26,680 very clear upon that point. You don't comply with the conditions if you budge 250 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,920 from the office during that time. It is only four hours a day, 251 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,279 and I should not think of leaving, said I. No excuse will prevail, 252 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:38,559 said mister duncan Ross, neither sickness, nor business or anything else. 253 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:45,039 There you must stay or you lose your billet and the work. It is 254 00:18:45,079 --> 00:18:48,640 to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There is the first volume of it in 255 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,480 that press. You must find your own ink, pens and blotting paper, 256 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:57,920 but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ready tomorrow? Certainly? 257 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,559 I answered, Then, good bye, mister job As Wilson, and 258 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:07,160 let me congratulate you once more on the important position which you have been fortunate 259 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,119 enough to gain. He bowed me out of the room, and I went 260 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,359 home with my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do. I was 261 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,160 so pleased at my own good fortune. Well, I thought over the matter 262 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,000 all day, and by evening I was in low spirits again, for I 263 00:19:22,039 --> 00:19:26,200 had quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must be at some great hoax or 264 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,319 fraud, though what its object might be. I could not imagine. It 265 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,920 seemed altogether past belief that any one would make such a will, or that 266 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:40,319 they would pay such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the 267 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:45,759 Encyclopedia Britannica Vincents. Faulding did what he could to cheer me up, but 268 00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:48,960 by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However, in 269 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,799 the morning I determined to have a look at it anyhow so I bought a 270 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:56,960 penny bottle of ink, and with a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap 271 00:19:57,039 --> 00:20:03,279 paper, I started off for Pope's court. Well. To my surprise and 272 00:20:03,319 --> 00:20:07,640 delight, everything was as right as possible. The table was set out ready 273 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,400 for me, and mister Duncan Ross was there to see that I fairly got 274 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,400 to work. He started me off upon the letter A, and then he 275 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,799 left me, but he would drop in from time to time to see that 276 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,519 all was right with me. At two o'clock he bade me good day, 277 00:20:22,039 --> 00:20:26,160 complimented me upon the amount that I had written, and locked the door of 278 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,119 the office after me. This went on day after day, mister Holmes, 279 00:20:30,559 --> 00:20:34,279 and on Saturday the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my 280 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:38,519 week's work. Who was the same next week, and the same the week 281 00:20:38,559 --> 00:20:42,799 after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I left 282 00:20:42,799 --> 00:20:48,160 at two. By degrees, mister Duncan Ross took to coming in only once 283 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,200 of a morning, and then after a time he did not come in at 284 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,799 all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for 285 00:20:53,839 --> 00:20:57,079 an instant, for I was not sure when he might come. And the 286 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,599 billet was such a good one and suited me so well that I would not 287 00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:06,640 risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away like this, and I 288 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:11,960 had written about abbots and archery and armor and architecture in Attica, and hoped 289 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,319 with diligence that I might get onto the bees before very long. It cost 290 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,200 me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly filled a shelf with my 291 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:25,559 writings, And then suddenly the whole business came to an end, to an 292 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:29,759 end, yes, sir, and no later than this morning. I went 293 00:21:29,799 --> 00:21:33,079 to my work as usual at ten o'clock, But the door was shut and 294 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,920 locked with a little square of cardboard hammered onto the middle of the panel with 295 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:41,839 attack. Here it is, and you can read it for yourself. He 296 00:21:41,839 --> 00:21:45,119 held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet of notepaper. 297 00:21:45,799 --> 00:21:49,480 It read, in this fashion, the Red Headed League is dissolved. 298 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:56,240 October ninth, eighteen ninety Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 299 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:02,200 rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affairs so completely overtopped 300 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:07,640 every other consideration that we both broke out into a roar of laughter. I 301 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,759 cannot see that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing up 302 00:22:11,799 --> 00:22:15,319 to the roots of his flaming head. If you can do nothing better than 303 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,920 laugh at me, I can go elsewhere. No no, cried Holmes, 304 00:22:19,039 --> 00:22:22,680 shoving him back into the chair from which he had half risen. I really 305 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,599 wouldn't miss your case for the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But 306 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,720 there is, if you will excuse my saying so, something just a little 307 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,319 funny about it. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card 308 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:40,240 upon the door? I was staggered, sir. I did not know what 309 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,920 to do. Then I called of the officers round, but none of them 310 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:47,920 seemed to know anything about it. Finally I went to the landlord who is 311 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,519 an accountant living on the ground floor, and I asked him if he could 312 00:22:51,519 --> 00:22:53,920 tell me what had become of the red headed league. He said that he 313 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:59,039 had never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who mister Duncan 314 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,480 Ross was. He answered that that name was new to him. Well, 315 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:07,400 said I, the gentleman at number four, what the red headed man? 316 00:23:08,039 --> 00:23:12,839 Yes, oh, said he. His name was William Morris. He was 317 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:18,799 a solicitor and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new premises 318 00:23:18,839 --> 00:23:23,000 were ready. He moved out yesterday. Where could I find him? Oh? 319 00:23:23,039 --> 00:23:26,519 At his new offices. He did tell me the address, yes, 320 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:33,400 seventeen King Edward Street, near Saint Paul's. I started off, mister Holmes, 321 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,359 But when I got to that address, it was a manufactory of artificial 322 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,200 knee caps, and no one in it had ever heard of either mister William 323 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,920 Morris or mister Duncan Ross. And what did you do, then, asked 324 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,559 Holmes. I went home to Saxe Coburg Square and I took the advice of 325 00:23:49,599 --> 00:23:53,680 my assistant, but he could not help me in any way. He could 326 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,079 only say that if I waited, I should hear my post. But that 327 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,640 was not quite good enough, mister Holmes. I did not wish to lose 328 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:04,720 such a place without a struggle. So as I heard that you were good 329 00:24:04,839 --> 00:24:07,759 enough to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I 330 00:24:07,799 --> 00:24:12,160 came right away to you, and you did very wisely, said Holmes. 331 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,559 Your case is an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look 332 00:24:17,599 --> 00:24:19,880 into it. From what you have told me, I think that it is 333 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:26,319 possible that graver issues hang from it that might, at first sight appear grave 334 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,279 enough, said mister job As Wilson. Why I have lost four pounds a 335 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:34,519 week? As far as you are personally concerned, remarked Holmes, I do 336 00:24:34,599 --> 00:24:40,279 not see how you have any grievance against this extraordinary league. On the contrary, 337 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:44,200 you are, as I understand, richer by some thirty pounds, to 338 00:24:44,279 --> 00:24:48,440 say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which comes 339 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,680 under the letter A. You have lost nothing by them, no, sir, 340 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,119 But I want to find out about them and who they are, and 341 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,759 what their object was in playing this prank. If it was a prank a 342 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,839 on me, it was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it cost 343 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,160 them two and thirty pounds. We shall endeavor to clear up these points for 344 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:12,000 you. And first, one or two questions, mister Wilson, this assistant 345 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:17,079 of yours who first called your attention to the advertisement? How long has he 346 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:21,759 been with you? About a month? Then? How did he come in 347 00:25:21,839 --> 00:25:26,359 answer to an advertisement? Was he the only applicant? No? I had 348 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,319 a dozen? Why did you pick him? Because he was handy and would 349 00:25:30,319 --> 00:25:36,559 come cheap at half wages? In fact? Yes? What does he like? 350 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:41,000 This? Vincent Spalding? Small stout, built, very quick in his 351 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:45,319 ways. No hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty as 352 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,000 a white splash of acid upon his forehead. Holmes sat up in his chair 353 00:25:49,039 --> 00:25:53,480 in considerable excitement. I thought as much, said he. Have you ever 354 00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:57,920 observed that his ears are pierced for ear rings? Yes, sir, he 355 00:25:59,039 --> 00:26:00,240 told me that a gipsy he had done it for him when he was a 356 00:26:00,319 --> 00:26:06,400 lad, hm, said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. He is 357 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:10,039 still with you? Oh, yes, sir, I have only just left 358 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:15,160 him. And has your business been attended to in your absence? Nothing to 359 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,359 complain of, sir. There is never very much to do of a morning 360 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,119 that will do mister Wilson, I shall be happy to give you an opinion 361 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,079 upon the subject in the course of a day or two. Today is Saturday, 362 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,200 and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion. Well, 363 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,720 Watson, said Holmes, when our visitor had left us, What do 364 00:26:33,799 --> 00:26:37,960 you make of it all? I make nothing of it, I answered, 365 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,960 frankly. It is a most mysterious business. As a rule, said Holmes, 366 00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:47,559 the more bizarre thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It 367 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:52,799 is your commonplace featureless crimes, which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace 368 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,240 face is the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this 369 00:26:56,359 --> 00:27:00,880 matter. What are you going to do? Then asked to smoke? He 370 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,839 answered, it is quite a three pipe problem, and I beg that you 371 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:10,359 won't speak to me for fifty minutes. He curled himself up in his chair, 372 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:14,079 with his thin knees drawn up to his hawk like nose, and there 373 00:27:14,079 --> 00:27:18,440 he sat with his eyes closed and his black clay pipe thrusting out like the 374 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:22,200 bill of some strange bird. I had come to the conclusion that he had 375 00:27:22,279 --> 00:27:26,720 dropped to sleep, and indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly sprang out of 376 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:29,920 his chair with a gesture of a man who has made up his mind, 377 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,039 and put his pipe down on the mantelpiece. Sarasate plays at the Saint James 378 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,680 Hall this afternoon. He remarked, what do you think, Watson? Could 379 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,680 your patience spare you a few hours? I have nothing to do today. 380 00:27:42,079 --> 00:27:47,240 My practice is never very absorbing. Then put on your hat and come. 381 00:27:47,759 --> 00:27:51,079 I am going through the city first, and we can have some lunch on 382 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,279 the way. I observe that there is a good deal of German music on 383 00:27:53,319 --> 00:27:57,279 the program, which is rather more to my taste than Italian or French. 384 00:27:57,759 --> 00:28:03,559 It is introspecting, and I want to introspect. Come along. We traveled 385 00:28:03,559 --> 00:28:07,400 by the underground as far as Aldersgate, and a short walk took us to 386 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,799 Saxe Coburg Square, the scene of the singular story which we had listened to 387 00:28:11,839 --> 00:28:17,480 in the morning. It was a poky, little shabby, genteel place where 388 00:28:17,519 --> 00:28:21,960 four lines of dingy two story brick houses looked out into a small, railed 389 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,880 in enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded 390 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:32,480 laurel bushes made a hard fight against the smoke laden and uncongenial atmosphere, three 391 00:28:32,559 --> 00:28:36,680 gilt balls, and a brown board with job as Wilson in white letters. 392 00:28:37,039 --> 00:28:41,119 Upon a corner house announced the place where our red headed client carried on his 393 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:45,759 business. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side, 394 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:49,200 and looked it all over with his eyes shining brightly between puckered lids. 395 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,680 Then he walked slowly up the street and then down again to the corner, 396 00:28:55,279 --> 00:29:00,160 still looking keenly at the houses. Finally he returned to the pawnbrokers, and, 397 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,960 having thumbed vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, 398 00:29:03,519 --> 00:29:07,039 he went up to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a 399 00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:11,720 bright looking, clean shaven young fellow, who asked him to step in. 400 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,200 Thank you, said Holmes. I only wish to ask you how you would 401 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:21,359 go from here to the strand third right, fourth left, answered the assistant, 402 00:29:21,359 --> 00:29:26,799 promptly closing the door. Smart fellow that observed Holmes as we walked away. 403 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,279 He is, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, 404 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,319 and for daring, I am not sure that he has not a claim to 405 00:29:33,319 --> 00:29:38,720 be third. I have known something of him before evidently said I, mister 406 00:29:38,759 --> 00:29:42,559 Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal in the mystery of the Red Headed League. 407 00:29:44,039 --> 00:29:47,000 I am sure that you inquired your way merely in order that you might 408 00:29:47,079 --> 00:29:52,160 see him, not him? What then, the knees of his trousers? 409 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,319 And what did you see? What I expected to see? Why did you 410 00:29:56,359 --> 00:30:00,960 beat the pavement, My dear doctor, This is time for observation, not 411 00:30:02,039 --> 00:30:06,160 for talk. We are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of 412 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,400 saxe Coburg Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it. 413 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,880 The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the corner from the 414 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:19,279 retired saxe Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it as the front of 415 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:22,960 a picture does to the back. It was one of the main arteries which 416 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,440 conveyed the traffic of the city to the north and the west. The roadway 417 00:30:27,519 --> 00:30:32,400 was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and 418 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:37,880 outward, while the footpaths were black with a hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It 419 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,480 was difficult to realize as we looked upon the line of fine shops and stately 420 00:30:41,559 --> 00:30:47,240 business premises that they really abutted on the other side, upon the faded and 421 00:30:47,319 --> 00:30:52,319 stagnant square which we had just quitted. Let me see, said Holmes, 422 00:30:52,359 --> 00:30:56,839 standing at the corner and glancing along the line. I should like just to 423 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,400 remember the order of the houses here. It is a hobby of mind to 424 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,000 have an exact knowledge of London. There is Mortimer's, the Tobacconist, the 425 00:31:04,039 --> 00:31:08,599 little newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the 426 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:15,519 Vegetarian restaurant, and McFarland's carriage building depot that carries us right on to the 427 00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:18,960 other block. And now, doctor, we've done our work, so it's 428 00:31:18,039 --> 00:31:22,799 time we had some play, a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and 429 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:26,480 then off to Violinland, where all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and 430 00:31:26,519 --> 00:31:33,000 there are no red headed clients to vex us with their conundrums. My friend 431 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:37,519 was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a very capable performer, but 432 00:31:37,599 --> 00:31:42,359 a composer of no ordinary merit. All the afternoon he sat in the stalls, 433 00:31:42,359 --> 00:31:47,880 wrapped in the most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers 434 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,920 in times of the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, 435 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:56,519 dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound, Holmes, the 436 00:31:56,599 --> 00:32:00,119 relentless, keen witted, ready handed criminal agent, as it was possible to 437 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:07,640 conceive in his singular character, the dual nature alternately asserted itself, and his 438 00:32:07,799 --> 00:32:13,480 extreme exactness and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction against 439 00:32:13,519 --> 00:32:19,359 the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally predominated in him. The swing of his 440 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:23,680 nature took him from extreme languor to devouring energy, And as I knew well, 441 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:29,200 he was never so truly formidable as when for days on end he had 442 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:35,079 been lounging in his armchair amid the improvisations and his black letter editions. Then 443 00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:38,079 it was that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him, and 444 00:32:38,119 --> 00:32:43,599 that his brilliant reasoning power would rise to the level of intuition, until those 445 00:32:43,599 --> 00:32:46,880 who were unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a man 446 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:52,599 whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him that afternoon, 447 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,400 so enwrapped in the music at Saint James Hall, I felt that an 448 00:32:55,400 --> 00:33:00,359 evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set himself to hunt down. 449 00:33:00,799 --> 00:33:04,519 You want to go home, no doubt, doctor, he remarked as 450 00:33:04,519 --> 00:33:07,680 we emerged. Yes, it would be as well, and I have some 451 00:33:07,799 --> 00:33:13,119 business to do which will take some hours. This business at Coburg Square is 452 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:19,720 serious. Why serious? A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every 453 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,319 reason to believe that we shall be in time to stop it, But today, 454 00:33:22,319 --> 00:33:27,400 being Saturday, rather complicates matters. I shall want your help tonight, 455 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:32,039 at what time ten will be early enough. I shall be at Baker Street 456 00:33:32,039 --> 00:33:37,160 at ten very well, And I say, doctor, there may be some 457 00:33:37,279 --> 00:33:40,960 little danger, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket. He waved 458 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:45,640 his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the 459 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:50,119 crowd. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbors. But 460 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,680 I was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with 461 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:57,960 Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard. I had seen 462 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,240 what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that he 463 00:34:00,279 --> 00:34:05,279 saw clearly not only what had happened, but what was about to happen, 464 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:09,679 While to me the whole business was still confused and grotesque. As I drove 465 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:14,199 home to my house in Kensington, I thought over it all, from the 466 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:19,599 extraordinary story of the red headed copier of the Encyclopedia, down to the visit 467 00:34:19,639 --> 00:34:22,880 to Saxe Coburg Square and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. 468 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:29,559 What was this nocturnal expedition and why should I go armed? Where were 469 00:34:29,559 --> 00:34:32,360 we going and what were we to do? I had the hint from Holmes 470 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:38,000 that this smooth faced pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable man, a man who might 471 00:34:38,039 --> 00:34:43,159 play a deep game. I tried to puzzle it out, but gave it 472 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:46,400 up in despair and set the matter aside until night should bring an explanation. 473 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:52,599 It was a quarter past nine when I started from home and made my way 474 00:34:52,639 --> 00:34:58,400 across the park and so through Oxford Street to Baker Street. Two Hansoms were 475 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,119 standing at the door. As I entered the passage, I heard the sound 476 00:35:01,119 --> 00:35:07,280 of voices from above. On entering his room, I found Holmes in animated 477 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,920 conversation with two men, one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones, the 478 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:15,360 official police agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad faced 479 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:22,800 man with a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock coat. Ha. Our 480 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:27,239 party is complete, said Holmes, buttoning up his pea jacket and taking his 481 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,239 heavy hunting crop from the rack. Watson, I think you know, mister 482 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:35,880 Jones of Scotland Yard. Let me introduce you to mister Merriweather, who is 483 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:40,320 to be our companion in tonight's adventure. We're hunting in couples again, doctor, 484 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:45,880 You see, said Jones in his consequential way. Our friend here is 485 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,599 a wonderful man for starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog 486 00:35:49,639 --> 00:35:53,039 to help him do the running down. I hope a wild goose may not 487 00:35:53,119 --> 00:35:57,960 prove to be at the end of our chase, observed mister Merriweather gloomily. 488 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,880 You may place concerner terable confidence in mister Holmes, Sir, said the police 489 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:06,960 agent loftily. He has his own little methods, which are, if he 490 00:36:07,039 --> 00:36:12,079 won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical and fantastic. But 491 00:36:12,159 --> 00:36:15,840 he has the makings of a detective in him. It's not too much to 492 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:20,000 say that once or twice, as in the business of the chalto murderer and 493 00:36:20,079 --> 00:36:23,119 the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force. 494 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:27,639 Oh, if you say so, mister Jones, it is all right, 495 00:36:28,039 --> 00:36:30,960 said the stranger, with deference. Still, I confess that I miss my 496 00:36:31,079 --> 00:36:35,880 rubber. It is the first Saturday night for seven and twenty years that I 497 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,159 have not had my rubber. I think you will find, said Sherlock Holmes, 498 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,840 that you will play for a higher stake tonight than you ever have done 499 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:47,360 yet, and that the play will be more exciting for you, mister Meriwether. 500 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:52,039 The stake will be some thirty thousand pounds, and for you, Jones, 501 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:55,039 it will be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands, 502 00:36:57,519 --> 00:37:01,079 John Clay, the murderer, thiefs, master, and forger. He's a 503 00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:05,480 young man, mister Meriwether, but he is at the head of his profession, 504 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,480 and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in 505 00:37:08,519 --> 00:37:14,320 London. He's a remarkable man, as young John Clay. His grandfather was 506 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,400 a royal duke, and he himself has been to Eton and Oxford. His 507 00:37:17,519 --> 00:37:22,400 brain is as cunning as his fingers. And though we'll meet signs of him 508 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,480 at every turn, we never know where to find the man himself. He'll 509 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,960 crack a crib in Scotland one week, and be raising money to build an 510 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:34,199 orphanage in Cornwall the next. I've been on his track for years and have 511 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:37,440 never set eyes on him yet. I hope that I may have the pleasure 512 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:42,679 of introducing you tonight. I've had one or two little turns also with mister 513 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:45,800 John Clay, and I agree with you that he is at the head of 514 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:50,039 his profession. It is past ten, however, and quite time that we 515 00:37:50,119 --> 00:37:53,239 started. If you two will take the first, handsome Watson and I will 516 00:37:53,239 --> 00:37:59,920 follow in the second. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive 517 00:38:00,079 --> 00:38:02,079 and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which we had heard in the 518 00:38:02,119 --> 00:38:08,159 afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas lit streets until we emerged 519 00:38:08,199 --> 00:38:14,199 into Farrington Street. We are close there now, my friend remarked, This 520 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:19,320 fellow Merriweather is a bank director and personally interested in the matter. I thought 521 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:22,280 it as well to have Jones with us. Also, he is not a 522 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:27,000 bad fellow. Though an absolute imbecile in his profession, he has one positive 523 00:38:27,079 --> 00:38:30,400 virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster. 524 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:34,880 If he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are and they are 525 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:38,800 waiting for us. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had 526 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:44,440 found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and following the guidance 527 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:47,400 of mister Merriweather, we passed down a narrow passage and through his side door, 528 00:38:47,559 --> 00:38:52,280 which he opened for us. Within there was a small corridor which ended 529 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:57,920 in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened and led down a 530 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:04,000 flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gait. Mister Merriwether 531 00:39:04,079 --> 00:39:07,440 stopped to light a lantern and then conducted us down a dark, earth smelling 532 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:13,159 passage, and so after opening a third door, into a huge vault or 533 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:17,639 cellar, which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes. You are 534 00:39:17,679 --> 00:39:22,440 not very vulnerable from above, Holmes remarked, as he held up the lantern 535 00:39:22,519 --> 00:39:27,760 and gazed about him, nor from below, said mister Merriwether, striking his 536 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,519 stick upon the flags which lined the floor. Why dear me, it sounds 537 00:39:31,559 --> 00:39:37,480 quite hollow, he remarked, looking up in surprise. I must really ask 538 00:39:37,559 --> 00:39:40,440 you to be a little more quiet, said Holmes severely. You have already 539 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:45,599 imperiled the whole success of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have 540 00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:49,840 the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere. 541 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:54,599 The solemn mister Merriwether perched himself upon a crate, with a very injured 542 00:39:54,599 --> 00:39:59,719 expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor, 543 00:40:00,159 --> 00:40:04,960 and with a lantern and a magnifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks 544 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,840 between the stones. A few seconds suffice to satisfy him, for he sprang 545 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:14,360 to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket. We have at 546 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:17,199 least an hour before us, he remarked, for they can hardly take any 547 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:22,480 steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then they will not lose 548 00:40:22,519 --> 00:40:24,679 a minute, for the sooner they do their work, the longer time they 549 00:40:24,679 --> 00:40:29,400 will have for their escape. We are at present, doctor, as no 550 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,320 doubt you have divined in this cellar of the city branch of one of the 551 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:37,280 principal London banks. Mister Meriweather is the chairman of directors, and he will 552 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:42,800 explain to you there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take 553 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:46,639 a considerable interest in this cellar. At present it is our French gold, 554 00:40:46,679 --> 00:40:51,960 whispered the director. We have had several warnings that an attempt might be made 555 00:40:52,039 --> 00:40:57,679 upon it, your French gold. Yes, we had occasion some months ago 556 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:01,840 to strengthen our resources, and borrowed for that purpose thirty thousand napoleons from the 557 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:07,119 Bank of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to 558 00:41:07,199 --> 00:41:10,440 unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The 559 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:15,880 crate upon which I sit contains two thousand napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. 560 00:41:16,719 --> 00:41:21,960 Our reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is usually kept in 561 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,360 a single branch office. And the directors have had misgivings upon the subject, 562 00:41:27,119 --> 00:41:30,920 which were very well justified, observed Holmes. And now it is time that 563 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:35,159 we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come 564 00:41:35,199 --> 00:41:38,119 to a head. In the meantime, mister Merriweather, we must put the 565 00:41:38,159 --> 00:41:44,440 screen over that dark lantern and sit in the dark. I am afraid, 566 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:47,159 so I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I thought 567 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:52,239 that as we were a PARTI carreis, you might have your rubber, after 568 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,599 all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have gone so far that we 569 00:41:55,639 --> 00:42:00,400 cannot risk the presence of a light. And first of all, we must 570 00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:04,639 choose our positions. These are daring men, and though we shall take them 571 00:42:04,639 --> 00:42:07,320 at a disadvantage, they may do us some harm unless we are careful. 572 00:42:08,079 --> 00:42:14,320 I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those then, 573 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:17,079 when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they 574 00:42:17,119 --> 00:42:22,639 fire, Watson have no compunction about shooting them down. I placed my revolver 575 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:28,840 cocked upon the top of the wooden case behind which I crouched. Holmes shot 576 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,679 the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness, 577 00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:37,519 such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot 578 00:42:37,559 --> 00:42:42,519 metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to flash 579 00:42:42,559 --> 00:42:45,800 out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked up to 580 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:52,039 a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and subduing in a sudden gloom 581 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:55,280 and in the cold, dank air of the vault. They have but one 582 00:42:55,320 --> 00:43:00,840 retreat, whispered Holmes. That is back through the house in the Saxe Coburg 583 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:04,119 Square. I hope that you have done what I asked you, Jones. 584 00:43:05,079 --> 00:43:08,119 I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door. Then we 585 00:43:08,199 --> 00:43:13,119 have stopped all the holes, and now we must be silent and wait. 586 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:17,639 What a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards, it was but an hour 587 00:43:17,679 --> 00:43:22,119 and a quarter. Yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost 588 00:43:22,199 --> 00:43:25,559 gone, and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were weary and 589 00:43:25,599 --> 00:43:30,760 stiff, for I feared to change my position. Yet my nerves were worked 590 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:34,760 up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hearing was so acute that 591 00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:37,679 I could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions, but I could 592 00:43:37,679 --> 00:43:43,920 distinguish the deeper, heavier in breadth of the bulky Jones from the thin sighing 593 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,480 note of the bank director. From my position, I could look over the 594 00:43:47,559 --> 00:43:52,480 case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of 595 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:57,440 a light. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. 596 00:43:58,119 --> 00:44:00,679 Then it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, 597 00:44:01,079 --> 00:44:06,079 without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open, and a hand 598 00:44:06,119 --> 00:44:09,920 appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the center 599 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:14,559 of the little area of light. For a minute or more, the hand, 600 00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:19,119 with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then it was 601 00:44:19,159 --> 00:44:22,039 withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again, save this 602 00:44:22,159 --> 00:44:28,880 single lurid spark, which marked a chink between the stones. Its disappearance, 603 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:32,880 however, was but momentary, with a rending tearing sound. One of the 604 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:37,559 broad white stones turned over upon its side and left a square, gaping hole 605 00:44:38,159 --> 00:44:43,320 through which streamed the light of a lantern. Over the edge, there peeped 606 00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:46,679 a clean cut, boyish face which looked keenly about it, and then, 607 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:52,199 with a hand on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder high and 608 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:57,559 waisted high until one knee rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood 609 00:44:57,559 --> 00:45:00,800 at the side of the hole and was hauling after him. I'm a companion, 610 00:45:00,159 --> 00:45:05,360 lithe and small like himself, with a pale face and a shock of 611 00:45:05,519 --> 00:45:10,079 very red hair. It's all clear, he whispered, Have you the chisel 612 00:45:10,119 --> 00:45:14,280 in the bags? Great Scott, jump, Archie, jump, and I'll 613 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:19,039 swing for it. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the 614 00:45:19,079 --> 00:45:22,960 collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of 615 00:45:22,039 --> 00:45:28,159 rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed upon the barrel 616 00:45:28,159 --> 00:45:30,679 of a revolver, but holmes hunting crop came down on the man's wrist, 617 00:45:31,039 --> 00:45:36,400 and the pistol clunked upon the stone floor. It's no use, John Clay, 618 00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:40,440 said Holmes, blandly, you have no chance at all, so I 619 00:45:40,519 --> 00:45:45,559 see the other answered with the utmost coolness. I fancy that my pal is 620 00:45:45,559 --> 00:45:49,559 all right, though I see you have got his coat tails. There are 621 00:45:49,599 --> 00:45:52,440 three men waiting for him at the door, said Holmes. Oh, indeed, 622 00:45:53,039 --> 00:45:57,639 you seem to have done the thing very completely. I must compliment you, 623 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:01,440 and I you, Holmes answered, your red headed idea was very new 624 00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:07,800 and effective. You'll see your pal again presently, said Jones. He's quicker 625 00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:10,320 at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the 626 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:15,239 Darby's. I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands, 627 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:21,360 remarked our prisoner, as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You may not 628 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:24,639 be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the goodness also 629 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:31,000 when you address me, always to say sir and please all right, said 630 00:46:31,039 --> 00:46:35,760 Jones, with a stare and a snigger. Well, would you please, 631 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:39,400 sir march up stairs where we can get a cab to carry your highness to 632 00:46:39,480 --> 00:46:45,599 the police station. That is better, said John Clay serenely. He made 633 00:46:45,639 --> 00:46:49,519 a sweeping bow to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody 634 00:46:49,559 --> 00:46:53,239 of the detective. Really, mister Holmes, said mister Merriweather, as we 635 00:46:53,320 --> 00:46:57,800 followed them from the cellar, I do not know how the bank can thank 636 00:46:57,880 --> 00:47:00,840 you or repay you. There is no out that you have detected and defeated 637 00:47:00,840 --> 00:47:05,920 in the most complete manner, one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery 638 00:47:06,119 --> 00:47:09,880 that have ever come within my experience. I have had one or two little 639 00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:14,559 scores of my own to settle with, mister John Clay, said Holmes. 640 00:47:14,760 --> 00:47:17,519 I have been at some small expense over this matter, which I shall expect 641 00:47:17,519 --> 00:47:22,320 the bank to refund, But beyond that I am amply or paid by having 642 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:27,159 an experience which is in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable 643 00:47:27,239 --> 00:47:31,239 narrative of the red headed league. You see Watson, he explained in the 644 00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:35,320 early hours of the morning, as we sat over a glass of whiskey and 645 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:39,400 soda in Baker Street. It was perfectly obvious from the first that the only 646 00:47:39,559 --> 00:47:45,800 possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the league and the 647 00:47:45,840 --> 00:47:51,519 copying of the encyclopedia must be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out of 648 00:47:51,519 --> 00:47:54,199 the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way 649 00:47:54,239 --> 00:47:59,679 of managing it, but really it would be difficult to suggest a better The 650 00:47:59,719 --> 00:48:04,119 method that was, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color of 651 00:48:04,159 --> 00:48:08,280 his accomplice's hair. The four dollars a week was a lure which must draw 652 00:48:08,360 --> 00:48:13,400 him, And what was it to them who were playing for thousands? They 653 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:17,280 put in the advertisement. One rogue has the temporary office, the other rogue 654 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:22,239 incites the man to apply for it, and together they managed to secure his 655 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:25,639 absence every morning in the week. From the time I heard of the assistant 656 00:48:25,679 --> 00:48:30,400 having come for half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some 657 00:48:30,599 --> 00:48:36,000 strong motive for securing the situation. But how could you guess what the motive 658 00:48:36,159 --> 00:48:39,360 was? Had there been women in the house. I should have suspected a 659 00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:44,320 mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The 660 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:47,119 man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his house which 661 00:48:47,159 --> 00:48:52,599 could account for such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were at it. 662 00:48:52,599 --> 00:48:55,920 It must then be something out of the house. What could it be? 663 00:48:57,840 --> 00:49:01,119 I thought of the assistant's fondness for fatighgraphy, and his trick of vanishing 664 00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:06,800 into the cellar. The cellar, there was the end of this tangled clue. 665 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:10,440 Then I made inquiries as to this a mysterious assistant, and found that 666 00:49:10,519 --> 00:49:15,320 I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London. 667 00:49:15,199 --> 00:49:20,000 He was doing something in the cellar, something which took many hours a 668 00:49:20,079 --> 00:49:23,119 day for months on end. What could it be? Once more, I 669 00:49:23,119 --> 00:49:27,280 could think of nothing, say that he was running a tunnel to some other 670 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:30,480 building. So far I had got. When we went to visit the scene 671 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:35,440 of action, I surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. 672 00:49:36,159 --> 00:49:39,760 I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It was 673 00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:44,400 not in front. Then I rang the bell, and as I hoped, 674 00:49:44,679 --> 00:49:49,039 the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we have never 675 00:49:49,079 --> 00:49:52,440 set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his face. His 676 00:49:52,559 --> 00:49:57,679 knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn, 677 00:49:58,079 --> 00:50:01,039 wrinkled and stained they were. They spoke of those hours of burrowing. 678 00:50:01,800 --> 00:50:07,400 The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for. I walked round the 679 00:50:07,400 --> 00:50:10,559 corner, saw the City and Suburban Bank a budget on our friend's premises, 680 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:15,119 and felt that I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the 681 00:50:15,159 --> 00:50:20,199 concert, I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors, 682 00:50:20,519 --> 00:50:23,480 with the result that you have seen. And how could you tell that 683 00:50:23,519 --> 00:50:28,760 they would make their attempt tonight? I asked, Well, when they closed 684 00:50:28,760 --> 00:50:31,280 their league offices, that was a sign that they cared no longer about mister 685 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:36,880 job As Wilson's presence. In other words, that they had completed their tunnel, 686 00:50:37,679 --> 00:50:39,880 but it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might 687 00:50:39,920 --> 00:50:45,639 be discovered or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than 688 00:50:45,679 --> 00:50:49,599 any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. 689 00:50:49,719 --> 00:50:53,920 For all these reasons I expected them to come tonight. You reasoned it out 690 00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:59,400 beautifully, I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain, 691 00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:04,880 and yet every link rings true. It saved me from Unwi, he answered, 692 00:51:04,960 --> 00:51:09,000 yawning, alas I already feel it closing in upon me. My life 693 00:51:09,079 --> 00:51:14,800 is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These 694 00:51:14,840 --> 00:51:17,840 little problems helped me to do so. And you are a benefactor of the 695 00:51:17,920 --> 00:51:22,360 race, said I. He shrugged his shoulders. Well, perhaps, after 696 00:51:22,400 --> 00:51:28,199 all, it is of some little use, he remarked. L'eme sellienne lou 697 00:51:28,280 --> 00:51:35,840 VREs setout as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George sand End of the Red Headed League,