WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.799 Part one of The Red Headed League. This is a 2 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:08.119 LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. 3 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:12.480 For more information, are a volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. 4 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:17.719 Recording by Phil Schinebert. The Red Headed League by Sir 5 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:23.079 Arthur Conan Doyle, Part one. I had called upon my 6 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:26.920 friend mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of 7 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:30.839 last year, and found him in deep conversation with a 8 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:35.759 very stout, florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair, 9 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:39.679 with an apology for my intrusion. I was about to 10 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:43.280 withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and 11 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:47.320 closed the door behind me. You could not possibly have 12 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.880 come at a better time, my dear Watson, he said cordially. 13 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:54.560 I was afraid that you were engaged, so I am 14 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:58.159 very much so then I can wait in the next room. 15 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.479 Not at all, this gentleman, mister Wilson, has been my 16 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:07.319 partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, 17 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:10.040 and I have no doubt that he will be of 18 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:14.480 the utmost use to me in yours. Also, the stout 19 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:18.280 gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob 20 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:21.840 of greeting with a quick, little questioning glance from his small, 21 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:28.200 fat encircled eyes. Try the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into 22 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.439 his arm chair and putting his finger tips together, as 23 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:36.359 was his custom when in judicial moods. I know, my 24 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:39.280 dear Watson, that you share my love of all that 25 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:43.840 is bizarre and outside the conventions and hum drum routine 26 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:47.079 of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it 27 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:50.920 by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle. And 28 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:54.879 if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish 29 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:59.439 so many of my own little adventures, your cases have 30 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:03.519 indeed been of greatest interest to me, I observed. You 31 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:08.400 will remember that I remarked the other day, just before 32 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:11.960 we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss 33 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:17.719 Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, we 34 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:22.680 must go to life itself, which is always far more 35 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:27.319 daring than any effort of the imagination, A proposition which 36 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:31.520 I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor, But 37 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.680 none the less, you must come round to my view, 38 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:39.000 for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact 39 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:42.960 on you until your reason breaks down under them and 40 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:48.599 acknowledges me to be right. Now. Mister Jobez Wilson here 41 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:51.840 has been good enough to call upon me this morning 42 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:55.800 and to bring a narrative which promises to be one 43 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.919 of the most singular which I have listened to for 44 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:03.479 some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest 45 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:07.800 and most unique things are very often connected not with 46 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:13.000 the larger but with these smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, 47 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.520 where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime 48 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:20.960 has been committed. As far as I have heard, it 49 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.080 is impossible for me to say whether the present case 50 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.639 is an instance of crime or not. But the course 51 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:31.400 of events is certainly among the most singular that I 52 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:36.039 have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you would have 53 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:39.840 the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you 54 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.360 not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard 55 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:47.719 the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of 56 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:52.599 the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail 57 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.680 from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard 58 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:59.360 some slight indication of the course of events, I am 59 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.840 able to goud myself by the thousands of other similar 60 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:07.039 cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance, 61 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.319 I am forced to admit that the facts are, to 62 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:15.120 the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed 63 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.120 out his chest with an appearance of some little pride, 64 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.319 and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside 65 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:27.519 pocket of his greatcoat, as he glanced down the advertisement 66 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:31.600 column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened 67 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:34.079 out upon his knee. I took a good look at 68 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:38.040 the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion, 69 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.160 to read the indications which might be presented by his 70 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:47.120 dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However, 71 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:51.199 by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being 72 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:58.120 an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He 73 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:02.519 wore rather backy gray sh shepherd's check trousers, a not 74 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:06.879 over clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and 75 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:11.279 a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and 76 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.319 a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. 77 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.560 A frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with 78 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.920 a wrinkled velvet color lay upon a chair beside him. 79 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:28.079 Altogether look as I would. There was nothing remarkable about 80 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:32.639 the man save his blazing red head and the expression 81 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:38.839 of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's 82 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.600 quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his 83 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.839 head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. 84 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:50.360 Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time 85 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:54.879 done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is 86 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:58.519 a freemason, that he has been to China, and that 87 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.319 he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I 88 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:07.040 can deduce nothing else. Mister job Ass. Wilson started up 89 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.720 in his chair with his forefinger upon the paper, put 90 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:14.360 his eyes upon my companion. How in the name of 91 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:18.040 good fortune did you know all that, mister Holmes, he asked, 92 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:21.720 How did you know, for example, that I did manual labor? 93 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.519 It's true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carpenter. 94 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.519 Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand is quite 95 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:34.439 a size larger than your left. You have worked with it, 96 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:38.360 and the muscles are more developed. Well. The snuff, then, 97 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:42.680 and the freemasonry. I won't insult your intelligence by telling 98 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.600 you how I read that, especially as rather against the 99 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:50.560 strict rules of your order. You use an arc and 100 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:55.480 compass breastpin. Oh, of course I forgot that. But the 101 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.959 writing what else can be indicated by that right cop 102 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:04.600 so very shiny for five inches, and the left one 103 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:08.040 with the smooth patch near the elbow where you rested 104 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:14.240 upon the desk. Well, but China. The fish that you 105 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:18.680 have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have 106 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.639 been done in China. I have made a small study 107 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:26.720 of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to the literature 108 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:31.000 of the subject. The trick of staining the fish's scales 109 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:35.360 of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, 110 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:39.160 in addition I see a Chinese coin hanging from your 111 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:43.720 watch chain, the matter becomes even more simple. Mister Jabez 112 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:50.839 Wilson laughed heavily. I never said he. I thought at 113 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:54.279 first that you had done something clever, But I see 114 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.800 that there was nothing in it. After all, I begin 115 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.319 to think, Watson, said Holmes, that I make a mistake 116 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:07.319 in explaining omne ignotum pro magnifico. You know, and my 117 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.680 poor little reputations, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck. 118 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:15.160 If I am so candid, Can you not find the advertisement. 119 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:19.040 Mister Wilson, Yes, I have got it now, he answered, 120 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:22.680 with his thick red finger planted half way down the column. 121 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:26.600 Here it is, this is what we get at all. 122 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.839 You just read it for yourself, sir. I took the 123 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:33.759 paper from him and read as follows to the Red 124 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:37.519 Headed League, on account of the bequest of the late 125 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:43.200 Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S A. There is 126 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:46.720 now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the 127 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:50.440 League to a salary of four pounds a week for 128 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:55.279 purely nominal services. All Red Headed men who are sound 129 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:58.240 in body and mind and above the age of twenty 130 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:02.399 one years are eligible. Apply in person on Monday at 131 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:06.799 eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of the League, 132 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:12.080 seven Pope's Court, Fleet Street. What on earth does this mean? 133 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:16.480 I ejaculated after I had twice read over the extraordinary announcement. 134 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:22.000 Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his 135 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:25.679 habit when in high spirits. It is a little off 136 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.919 the beaten track, isn't it? Said he? And now, mister Wilson, 137 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.759 off you go with scratch and tell us all about yourself, 138 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.279 your household, and the effect which this advertisement had upon 139 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.399 your fortunes. You will first make a note doctor of 140 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:44.840 the paper and the date hum. It is the Morning 141 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:49.519 Chronicle of April twenty seven, eighteen ninety, just two months ago. 142 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.879 Very good, now, mister Wilson, Well, it is just as 143 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:58.279 I've been telling you, mister Sherlock Holmes said job as 144 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:03.159 Wilson mopping his forehead. I have a small pawnbroker's business 145 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:06.759 at Coburg Square, near the city. It is not a 146 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:10.360 very large affair, and of late years it has not 147 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:13.879 done more than just give me a living. I used 148 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:17.000 to be able to keep two assistants, but now I 149 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:19.720 only keep one, and I would have a job to 150 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.279 pay him, but that he is willing to come for 151 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.799 half wages so as to learn the business. What is 152 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:29.960 the name of this obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. His 153 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:34.399 name is Vincent Spalding, and he's not such a youth either. 154 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.279 It's hard to say his age. I should not wish 155 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.759 a smart to assistant, mister Holmes, and I know very 156 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.639 well that he could better himself and earn twice what 157 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.440 I am able to give him. But after all if 158 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.720 he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head? 159 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:57.320 Why indeed, you seem most fortunate in having an employee 160 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:01.080 who comes under the full market price. It is not 161 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:05.399 a common experience among employers in this age. I don't 162 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:09.600 know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement. 163 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:14.960 Oh he has his faults too, said mister Wilson. Never 164 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:18.759 was such a fellow for photography, snapping away with a 165 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.080 camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and 166 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:25.200 then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into 167 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:28.759 its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault. 168 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:31.840 But on the whole he's a good worker. There's no 169 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:36.360 vice in him. He is still with you, I presume, yes, sir. 170 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.519 He and a girl of fourteen who does a bit 171 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:42.919 of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That's all 172 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:45.720 I have in the house, for I am a widower 173 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.000 and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir, 174 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:52.080 the three of us, and we keep a roof over 175 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:55.320 our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more. 176 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:02.000 The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spaulding. 177 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:05.039 He came down into the office just this day, eight 178 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:08.720 weeks with this very paper in his hand, and he says, 179 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:12.200 I wish to the Lord mister Wilson that I was 180 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:16.639 a red headed man. Why is that? I asks? Why? 181 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.519 Says he? Here's another vacancy on the League of the 182 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:24.360 Red Headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to 183 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.600 any man who gets it. And I understand that there 184 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:31.000 are more vacancies than there are men, so that the 185 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:33.759 trustees are at their wits end what to do with 186 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:38.080 the money. If my hair would only change color, here's 187 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:42.480 a nice little crib all ready for me to step into. 188 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.559 Why what is it? Then? I asked, you, see, mister Holmes, 189 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:49.039 I'm a very stay at home man, and as my 190 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.759 business came to me instead of my having to go 191 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:55.120 to it, I was often weeks on end without putting 192 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.240 my foot over the door mat. In that way, I 193 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.440 don't know much of what was going on outside, and 194 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:05.159 I was always glad of a bit of news. Have 195 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.360 you never heard of the League of the Red Headed Men? 196 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:13.600 He asked, with his eyes open. Never. Why I wonder 197 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:17.360 at that? For you are eligible yourself for one of 198 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:22.679 the vacancies. And what are they worth? I asked, Oh, 199 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:26.080 merely a couple of hundred a year. But the work 200 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:29.480 is slight, and it need not interfere very much with 201 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:33.799 one's other occupations. Well, you can easily think that that 202 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:37.399 made me pick up my ears, for the business has 203 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:40.879 not been over good for some years, and an extra 204 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:45.159 couple of hundred would have been very handy. Tell me 205 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:48.919 all about it, said I, well, said he, showing me 206 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:53.080 the advertisement. You can see for yourself that the league 207 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:56.600 has a vacancy, and there is the address where you 208 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:59.840 should apply for particulars. As far as I can make 209 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:04.600 The league was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins, 210 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:08.799 who was very peculiar in his ways. He himself was 211 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:12.159 red headed, and he had a great sympathy for all 212 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:15.879 red headed men. So when he died, it was found 213 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.840 that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands 214 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:22.720 of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the 215 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.799 providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of 216 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:29.080 that color. From all I hear, it is splendid pay 217 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:33.879 and very little to do. But said I, there would 218 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:37.120 be millions of red headed men who would apply. Not 219 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.960 so many as you might think, he answered, You see, 220 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:44.320 it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men. 221 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:48.720 This American had started from London when he was young, 222 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.279 and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. 223 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:55.639 Then again, I have heard it is of no use 224 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:59.279 your replying if your hair is light red or dark red, 225 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:05.320 or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if 226 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.799 you cared to apply, mister Wilson, you would just walk in. 227 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:11.919 But perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to 228 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.000 put yourself out of the way for the sake of 229 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:17.320 a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentleman, 230 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:20.679 as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is 231 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.080 of a very full and rich tint. So that it 232 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.159 seemed to me that if there was to be any 233 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:30.279 competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance 234 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.919 as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding 235 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:36.960 seemed to know so much about it that I thought 236 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.519 he might prove useful. So I ordered him to put 237 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:43.360 up the shutters for the day and to come right 238 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:46.679 away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday, 239 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.519 so we shut the business up and started off for 240 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.360 the address that was given us in the advertisement. I 241 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.840 never hoped to see such a sight as that. Again, 242 00:15:55.960 --> 00:16:01.399 mister Holmes, from North, Southeast and West every man who 243 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:04.200 had a shade of red in his hair, had tramped 244 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.279 into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street was 245 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:11.679 choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked like 246 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.399 a coaster's orange barrow. I should not have thought there 247 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:18.240 was so many in the whole country as were brought 248 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:23.039 together by that single advertisement, every shade of color. They 249 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:29.200 were straw, lemon, orange, brick, irish setter, liver clay. But 250 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:33.080 as Spalding said, there were not many who had the 251 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:37.639 real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how many 252 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.360 were waiting, I would have given it up in despair, 253 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.000 But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did 254 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:48.159 it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled 255 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.759 and butted until he got me through the crowd and 256 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.919 right up to the steps which led to the office. 257 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:58.720 There was a double stream upon the stair, some going 258 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.679 up in hope and some coming back dejected. But we 259 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:06.200 wedged in as well as we could and found ourselves 260 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:11.559 in the office. Your experience has been a most entertaining one, 261 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.359 remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed his memory 262 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:20.000 with a huge, pincious snuff. Pray continue your very interesting statement. 263 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.559 There was nothing in the office but a couple of 264 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:26.440 wooden chairs and a deal table, behind which sat a 265 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:30.640 small man with a head that was even redder than mine. 266 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.960 He said a few words to each candidate as he 267 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:37.680 came up, and then he always managed to find some 268 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:42.720 fault in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy 269 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:45.400 did not seem to be such a very easy matter 270 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:49.960 after all. However, when our turn came, the little man 271 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:53.319 was much more favorable to me than to any of 272 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:56.599 the others, and he closed the door as we entered, 273 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:59.319 so that he might have a private word with us. 274 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:04.160 This is mister jobas Wilson, said, my assistant, and he 275 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:07.880 is willing to fill a vacancy in the league, and 276 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.400 he is admirably suited for it. The other answered, he 277 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.960 has every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen 278 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:20.799 anything so fine. He took a step backward, cocked his 279 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:24.400 head on one side, and gazed at my hair until 280 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:29.960 I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward, wrung 281 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:34.920 my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my success. It 282 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:38.960 would be injustice to hesitate, said he You will, however, 283 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.680 I am sure excuse me for taking an obvious precaution. 284 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.720 With that, he seized my hair in both his hands 285 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:50.759 and tugged until I yelled with the pain. There is 286 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:53.640 water in your eyes, said he as he released me. 287 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:57.880 I perceive that all is as it should be, but 288 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.599 we have to be careful, for we have twice been 289 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.799 deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could tell 290 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:08.599 you tales of cobbler's wax which would discust you with 291 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.400 human nature. He stepped over to the window and shouted 292 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.359 through it at the top of his voice that the 293 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:19.039 vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, 294 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:24.039 and the folk all trooped away in different directions, until 295 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:27.200 there was not a red head to be seen except 296 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:31.359 my own and that of the manager. My name, said 297 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:34.759 He is mister Duncan Ross, and I am myself one 298 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:38.160 of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 299 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.759 Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family? 300 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:46.680 I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately. 301 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:52.200 Dear me, he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed, 302 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:56.640 I am sorry to hear you say that the fund was, 303 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.799 of course for the propagation and spread of the redheads, 304 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:04.759 as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate 305 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.400 that you should be a bachelor. My face lengthened at this, 306 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:11.319 mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to 307 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:15.079 have the vacancy after all. But after thinking it over 308 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:17.720 for a few minutes, he said that it would be 309 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:21.799 all right in the case of another, said he. The 310 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:26.599 objection might be fatal, but we must stretch a point 311 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.920 in favor of a man with such a head of 312 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:33.160 hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter 313 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:36.920 upon your new duties? Well, it is a little awkward, 314 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:40.440 for I have a business already, said I. Oh, never 315 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.920 mind about that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding, I should 316 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:46.880 be able to look after that for you. What would 317 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:51.720 be the ours, I asked? Ten to two. Now upon 318 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:54.799 broker's business is mostly done of an evening, mister Holmes, 319 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:59.480 especially Thursday and Friday evenings, which is just before pay day, 320 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.599 So it would suit me very well to earn a 321 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:06.759 little in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant 322 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:09.839 was a good man, and that he would see to 323 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:14.119 anything that turned up. That would suit me very well, 324 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.319 said I. And the pay is four pounds a week, 325 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:23.480 and the work is purely nominal. What do you call 326 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:27.839 purely nominal? Well, you have to be in the office, 327 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:31.519 or at least in the building the whole time. If 328 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:36.359 you leave, you forfeit your whole position forever. The will 329 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:39.759 is very clear upon that point. You don't comply with 330 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:43.160 the conditions if you budge from the office during that time. 331 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.440 It's only four hours a day, and I should not 332 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:50.759 think of leaving, said I. No excuse will avail, said 333 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:54.519 mister duncan Ross, neither sickness, nor business nor anything else. 334 00:21:55.240 --> 00:22:00.160 There you must stay or you lose your billet. And 335 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:05.720 the work is to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There 336 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:09.039 is the first volume of it in that press. You 337 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:12.680 must find your own inche pens and blotting paper. But 338 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:17.880 we provide this table and chair. Will you be ready tomorrow? Certainly? 339 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:23.359 I answered, Then, goodbye, mister Jabez Wilson, and let me 340 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:28.000 congratulate you once more on the important position which you 341 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:31.880 have been fortunate enough to gain. He bowed me out 342 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:34.680 of the room, and I went home with my assistant, 343 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:37.319 hardly knowing what to say or do. I was so 344 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:48.599 pleased at my own good fortune end Part one, Part 345 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:52.640 two of The Red Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 346 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:59.680 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Part two. Well, 347 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:02.079 I I thought over the matter all day, and by 348 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:05.519 evening I was in low spirits again, for I had 349 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:09.599 quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must be some 350 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:13.400 great hoax or fraud. Though what its object might be 351 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:17.640 I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past belief that 352 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:21.039 anyone could make such a will, or that they would 353 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:24.279 pay such a sum for doing anything so simple as 354 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:30.079 copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spaulding did what he 355 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.759 could to cheer me up, but by bedtime I had 356 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:37.799 reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However, in the 357 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:41.400 morning I determined to have a look at it anyhow 358 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:44.920 so I bought a pity bottle of ink, and with 359 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:48.039 a quill pin and seven sheets of full scap paper, 360 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:53.319 I started off for Pope's court. Well, to my surprise 361 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:58.839 and delight, everything was as right as possible. The table 362 00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:01.599 was set out ready for me, and mister Duncan Ross 363 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.319 was there to see that I got fairly to work. 364 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:08.480 He started me off upon the letter A, and then 365 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.519 he left me, but he would drop in from time 366 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:14.119 to time to see that all was right with me. 367 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:18.680 At two o'clock he bade me good day, complimented me 368 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:21.799 upon the amount that I had written, and locked the 369 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:25.440 door of the office after me. This went on day 370 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:30.119 after day, mister Holmes, And on Saturday the manager came 371 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:34.839 in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my week's work. 372 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:38.079 It was the same next week, and the same the 373 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:42.559 week after. Every morning I was there at ten, and 374 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:46.960 every afternoon I left it two by degrees. Mister Duncan 375 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:50.000 Ross took two, coming in only once of a morning, 376 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:53.039 and then after a time he did not come in 377 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:56.799 at all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave 378 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:59.759 the room for an instant, for I was not sure 379 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.880 when he might come. And the billet was such a 380 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.039 good one and suited me so well that I would 381 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:09.920 not risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away 382 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.640 like this, and I had written about abbots and archery, 383 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:18.839 and armor, and architecture and attica, and hoped with diligence 384 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:21.839 that I might get on to the bees before very long. 385 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:26.480 It cost me something in foolscap and I had pretty 386 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.400 nearly filled a shelf with my writings, and then suddenly 387 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:34.559 the whole business came to an end. To an end, yes, sir, 388 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:38.480 and no later than this morning. I went to my 389 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:41.599 work as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was 390 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:45.319 shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered 391 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.359 on to the middle of the panel with attack, Here 392 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:51.279 it is, and you can read for yourself. He held 393 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.240 up a piece of white cardboard about the size of 394 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.720 a sheet of notepaper. It read, in this fashion, the 395 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:07.079 red headedly is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen nineteen. Sherlock Holmes 396 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:10.640 and I surveyed this curt announcement and the rueful face 397 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:14.119 behind it, until the comical side of the affair so 398 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:19.680 completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out 399 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:23.839 into a roar of laughter. I cannot see that there 400 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:28.039 is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing up to 401 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:31.279