Speaker 1: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Original and Immortal Stories
of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle dramatized Daniel, with Sir Ralph
Richardson as Doctor Watson and Sir John Gielgud in the
role of Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 2: I suppose that the Affair of the Red Headed League
was always one of my favorites among Sherlock Holmes's triumphs
when I was writing these memoirs of his adventures that
are always amused and exasperated him.
Speaker 3: So much, I said it among the earliest.
Speaker 2: Yet the adventure itself didn't occur until rather late in
our relationship, and one day in the autumn I went
back to the dear Old Haunt in Baker Street for
a visit. There he was, and sitting with him was
a very stout and flooded faced old gentleman with the
fieriest red hair I'd ever seen in all my life.
Speaker 3: Watson, my dear Watson. I'm Surrey Holmes. I am afraid
you're engaged.
Speaker 4: So I am, so I am. It's exactly what I meant,
mister Wilson. Permit me to introduce my good friend Dr
Watson to meet you. Doctor Watlson, delighted mister Jamies Wilson Watson,
who has this moment appeared with what promises to be
a stranger case as we've ever encountered.
Speaker 2: I suppose it's another example of your theory that for
the strangest things.
Speaker 3: We must go to ordinary life itself homes.
Speaker 2: But of course, ah, if he'll forgive me, mister Wilson,
here hardly seem as the kind of gentleman to whom
startling adventures are likely to occur.
Speaker 3: Yes, you're right, of course, Watson.
Speaker 4: Apart from his blazing red hair, there might appear to
have been nothing indeed unusual about mister Wilson, beyond, of course,
the obvious facts that he has at some time done
manual labor, that he's been to China, and that he's
done a considerable amount of writing lately.
Speaker 5: Upon my soul, Mister Ramsy, how did you know all
that I have mentioned? A single word?
Speaker 4: Words, mister Wilson, are the least communicative of all things. Yes,
but your right hand is quite a size larger than
your left.
Speaker 5: For instance, with the muscles. More well, it's as true
as gospel. I began as a ship's carpenter but how
high you have.
Speaker 2: To forgive him, mister Wilson, it's a habit of his
all the same at Holmes you mentioned writing, Well, what
else do.
Speaker 4: You fancy would explain that shiny right cuff of his
Watson and the left one with the smooth patch near
the elbow where you rested on the desk.
Speaker 2: All right, then, all right, but China homes it's the
simplest of all the fish there tattooed on mister Wilson's
right wrist.
Speaker 4: Well, I've made a small study of tattoo marks. That
trick of staining the fish scales of a delicate pink
is quite peculiar to China.
Speaker 5: Upon my soulon and I thought at first you've done
something clever, mister Holmes.
Speaker 3: There was nothing in it, after.
Speaker 2: All, unignotum pro magnifico, Holmes, your reputation will supper shipwreck
if you're always so candid.
Speaker 4: However, the problem, mister Wilson, the problem you were showing
me the advertisement here it is Watson.
Speaker 3: You better look at it for yourself.
Speaker 5: It's from the Morning Chronicle last April.
Speaker 2: You see, that is the start of it all to
the Red Headed League on account of the big quest
of the late Ezekah Hopkins. That is now another vacancy open.
All red headed men who are sound in body and
mind are eligible, applying person on Monday at eleven o'clock
to Duncan Ross at the offices of the League, seven
Pope's Court.
Speaker 3: Fleet Street.
Speaker 4: Splendid, Quite splendid, isn't it, Watson?
Speaker 3: Yes? But what does it mean in all the world? Prayed?
Do you go on, mister Wilson?
Speaker 5: Well, I was just going to explain to mister elmesd
I've got a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square.
Speaker 3: Oh, yes, that that's near the city. Quite a lucrative
line of business, I fancy.
Speaker 5: No, No, it doesn't do much more than give me
a living. I'd hardly have enough to cover the way, jez,
except that my young assistant's willing to come for half
pay so as to learn the business. And what is
the name of this obliging youth Spaulding, Vincent Spalding. Oh,
his first rate, couldn't wish for better? Except there never
was such a fellow for photography. Yes, he's snapping away
with his camera every minute he is, and then diving
down into the cellar like a rabbit to develop his
pictures into the cellar.
Speaker 3: He's still with you, I take it.
Speaker 5: Oh, yes, As a matter of factive was young Spaulding.
I drew my attention to this advert doctor. He came
into the office one day with that very paper in
his head.
Speaker 3: I'll tell you what, mister Wilson.
Speaker 6: I just wish to the Lord that I was a
read eddied man the same way you are. Just look
famous red Edded League. There's another vacancy read edded league.
Speaker 3: Yes you've heard of it, of course, not word. What
is it?
Speaker 6: Well, as far as I'm written, the league was founded
by one of them American millionaires. S and is it
Kayah Hopkins, same as it says there. And he was
mighty quinn his way, as they say. He was radied himself,
you see. And when he died they found he'd left
his fortune to provide in jobs for men that was
county air.
Speaker 7: Like he was strong.
Speaker 3: There'll be millions applying. It's hardly worthwhile me trying, or
go on, I.
Speaker 6: Have a shot, sir, I would honest, you might put
yourself in the way of summing good mister Wilson.
Speaker 3: You know I wanted to try and so that was
the whole way of it, mister Elmes.
Speaker 5: Well, I went along that Monday, and I've never seen
such a sight in all my life that wasn't a
man in all London with a red air in his
head that hadn't turned up at Pope's Court.
Speaker 4: I dare say the whole entrance from Fleet Street must
have looked like a costamonger's orange barrowing.
Speaker 3: Mister Wilson, pray go on, mister Wilson.
Speaker 5: Well, anyway, I got in at last to the office
where mister Duncan Ross was sitting very plain. It was
with a deal table and a couple of chairs. And
this mister Ross was a little quick card of man,
and he had a head that was even redder than mine,
if you believe it. And the minute he saw me,
he was up like a shot. Mister Wilson, cries mister Wilson.
Speaker 8: Heaven bless you, mister Wilson. It's marvelous. What a head,
what a shade?
Speaker 3: Armed large it? Mister row One.
Speaker 8: One moment though, you'll excuse me, will you, mister Wilson,
Ah Sankuels, thank you. I just had to give it
that one small tongue to do. See that you were genuine.
And we've been tricked twice by whigs, mister Wilson, and
once by pint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's
wax that would disgust.
Speaker 3: You with human nature.
Speaker 8: And you're married, of course, nurse, what o pity?
Speaker 3: Pity?
Speaker 8: The fund was for the propagation of redheads too, of course,
besides their maintenance. Still, I think we could stretch a
point for such a remarkable crop as yours.
Speaker 4: When could you take up your duties?
Speaker 3: Well?
Speaker 8: The job's yours, of course, with such a shade almost anytime.
Speaker 5: I suppose my sister's very reliable in my shop business.
Speaker 8: Ten to two every day, mister Wilson. In this office,
the pay four pounds a week, and the work, mister
rossu'ly nominal. The only condition is that you have to
be in the office the whole time. If you leave
it for even a minute, you forfeit your whole position forever.
Speaker 3: The will's very clear on that point, or I wouldn't.
Speaker 5: Dream of it, mister Arcis. What's only four hours a day?
After all? What is it that I have to do?
Speaker 4: Though?
Speaker 8: To copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica every word of it
from beginning to enter. There's the first volume on the table,
and you must find your own pens and ink. We
provide the table and cheers. Of course, you'll be ready
to start tomorrow. Then, well, if if it's so very
urgly it is it is, the work mustn't flag for
a moment. Yeah, I'll be here myself to start you off.
But afterwards you'll simply carry on by yourself, except that
I look in every Friday to pay you. Yay, goodbye,
mister Wilson. And let me congratulate you from my heart
on the important position you've been lucky enough to obtain.
Speaker 5: And I can tell you that I'll never forget the
growner disappointment that came up from those other copper knobs
waiting out in Pope's court when they heard the job
was filled.
Speaker 4: Mister Olmes, it must have been heartbreaking. Well, well what next?
Speaker 5: You turned up, mister Wilson, to the dot And there,
I said, mister Olmes. Day after day I wrote about
abbots and archery and armor and architecture. I thought I
might get even to the bees before I expired, And
you were paid on the nails. We'll say that for them.
Every Friday. But then suddenly, just suddenly, the old thing
came to an end before the bees. After all, mister Wilson,
this very morning, doctor, there was this square of white
cardboard nail to the office door.
Speaker 2: Look, the Red Headed League is hereby dissolved October eighteen ninety.
Speaker 4: Well well, well, well, indeed, my dear Watson, you made inquiries.
Speaker 3: Of course, mister Wilson. Everywhere.
Speaker 5: Not a single cell in the old building had ever
heard of mister Duncan Ross, or even of the league itself.
Speaker 3: What extraordinarily, From.
Speaker 4: What I've heard, I think it's very possible that graver
issues hanged from the singular episode of the Red Headed
League and appear at first sight. Watson the door for
mister Wilson. Missus Hudson will show him the street. Yes, yes,
good day again mister Wilson, and my thanks for bringing
me a problem that is quite worthy of me here,
Thank you, miss.
Speaker 2: Gooday, goodbye, goodbye.
Speaker 3: We went out at last to the city. As it suggested.
Speaker 2: We traveled by the new fashioned underground as far as
Alder's Gate, and a short walk took us to Coburg Square,
which was a pokish, shabby genteel little place, and halfway
along three gilt balls and a brown board with JB's
Wilson ont announced the place where our red headed clients
had carried on his business. Sharck Holmes stopped in front
of it, and to my surprise, splendid Watson.
Speaker 4: Splendid Now the door, my dear fellows, would be good enough.
Speaker 3: Ah.
Speaker 2: Certainly a home certainly does seem a more orthodox manner
of attracting attention.
Speaker 3: But knocking on the pavement as you've just done, I
must say I'd like to know why you Well, what
do you want? Thank you, my good man? I only
wish to ask you how you'd go to the strand
from here? Fair right?
Speaker 4: Fourth rift, good day, admirable, Come Watson, let us walk
a smart fellow that the good Spalding himself no less,
of course, But so.
Speaker 3: I gathered from the white scar and his forehead that
you mentioned for.
Speaker 4: Skill, Watson, he's probably the fourth smartest man in London,
and for daring, I'm not sure he hasn't even a
claim to be the third? Is I've known something of
him before you gathered.
Speaker 8: Ah.
Speaker 2: Evidently mister Wilson's assistance seems to.
Speaker 3: Count fit it largely in this business of the red heads.
Speaker 2: I take it that you only asked him your way
for the sake of seeing him, not.
Speaker 4: Him, Watson, the knees of his trousers in.
Speaker 3: He And what did you see what I expected to see? Huh?
Speaker 2: I say, But what and why did you knock on
the pavement with your stick so heartily?
Speaker 4: My dear good fellow. This is surely a time for observation,
not for talk. We are spies in an enemy country. Now,
then me see, I'd just like you, Watson, to observe
the order of the houses at the corner here.
Speaker 2: Well, there's Mortimer's, the Tobacconists, and the little newspaper shop
over there, and there's the Coburg Square branch of the
City of a suburban bank, the vegetarian restaurant, McFarland's, the
carriage building depot.
Speaker 3: Excellent, exactly.
Speaker 4: Well, we've done our work for this afternoon, doctor, and
now we are free until ten o'clock tonight, till ten ten, precisely.
I have some little business myself in the interval. But
at ten tonight, Watson, if you love me, meet me
there by McFarland's depot. I'll come by, handsome and I
may have some companions with me. Oh, and Watson, your army.
Speaker 9: Revolver, Ah Watson, Holmes Watson, I think you'll remember our
old colleague here from Scotland yard, mister Ethelney Jones.
Speaker 3: Oh, of course that old adventure the Sile of four?
How did you do? Jonson?
Speaker 10: Happy to see you again, Dr Watson, Like old times,
isn't it.
Speaker 3: And this Watson is.
Speaker 4: Mister Medweather, who is to be our other companion into
Night's adventures.
Speaker 3: How do you do, sir Watson?
Speaker 4: Will you lead the way for you, mister Medoweather, I
may say tonight's steak is of some thirty thousand pounds.
Speaker 3: At the least.
Speaker 4: And for you Jones, the man you've been longing to
lay your hands on for many a year.
Speaker 10: John Clay, murderer, thief, if you're right, homes pon myself
a remarkable man, John Clay, doctor Watson. His grandfather was
a royal duke, they say. And he's been to eaten
in Oxford, and yet there isn't a dirty trick on
the calendar. He hasn't been up to the Cracker Crib
in Scotland one week and be raising money to build
and imagine orphanage in Conwell the next.
Speaker 4: This time it's bullion in Cobourg Square. Jones, Yes, mister Medoweather,
Watson is a director of the City and Suburban Bank.
I made a contact with him and Jones after I
left you this afternoon. He is about to lead us
by very private door to the vaults of the bank itself.
The vault, the vaults. Watson, lead on, my dear, mister Mediweather. Splendid,
splendid Watson, you brought the gunners, I asked you.
Speaker 3: Well, of course, Holmes, but it only me to qua man,
we have something better to do.
Speaker 4: Sit down, Watson on that big pecking case and keep
your pistol ready, and you'll be seated also, mister Medoweather,
you too, mister Jones. We may have some little time
to wait still, mister Medowether, will no doubt explain to you, Watson,
why it is that one of the most daring criminals
in London seems to be taking a considerable interest in
this cellar in which we are all sitting now. Well,
do you see it's our French goal, Dr Watson, heavens
name man, quiet, quiet, to maybe maybe here it in
a moment.
Speaker 7: Ah French gold dr Watson French gold weed occasion to
borrow some strengths in our resources. That creature sitting on
contains two thousand napoleons pet in lead foil.
Speaker 3: Two thousand napoleons.
Speaker 4: The one mister Jones is sitting on contains four thousand. Oh,
by the way, Jones, you've got the other entrance covered.
I take yes, spector two officers. Good Now, how goes
the time? Ah Watson? Prey dark in the lantern, and
keep your eyes glued to the floor there about six
feet in front of us. I guess, and the moment
we wait, wait and earlier than I thought.
Speaker 3: After all, quiet now.
Speaker 7: Homes the floor there opening I can see an age
of like quiet Watson.
Speaker 3: So got you? Pay what quick? Watson? I want? You want?
Aren't play the hard use.
Speaker 8: Shoes, clan.
Speaker 3: There's another roblem there. I love the underground channel.
Speaker 4: So use clay. The other entrance is covered too. Your
friend's had his run. They'll get him at the other end.
Confound you.
Speaker 3: It's a fair cop then, so you've got us after all?
Speaker 4: Whoever you are, play Sherlock Holmes at your service?
Speaker 6: What oh it would be well, I've never met your
Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 3: But well, well, I guess, I guess I've heard about you.
Speaker 6: And if I had to be taken by anybody at
the very point of a fortune, I recogn it's you
that I choose.
Speaker 4: Oh thank you, may I say in return, because your
red headed idea was one of the most effective I've
ever encountered. Jones, He's yours, mister Medwether, Your French bullion
is safe.
Speaker 3: Thank Heaven for it.
Speaker 4: Hold out your hands, Clay, Helia spawling, I beg.
Speaker 3: You'll know, mister Jones. You may not be aware of it,
but I have royal blood in my veins. It was
a decent fight and I lost. I'll go quietly thank you.
Speaker 10: Well, will you please march upstairs, your highness, where we
can get a cab to carry your serene nobility to
the police station.
Speaker 3: That's better were you're certain, mister Holmes.
Speaker 4: Good Night, good night, mister Clay, mister Jones, good night,
good night, your weather.
Speaker 3: Good night.
Speaker 2: And so that's that you solved at Holmes, as you promised.
Speaker 3: The League of the Red Headed Men.
Speaker 4: Yes, Watson, just perfectly obvious from the start, of course,
that the only possible object of the whole thing must
be to get rid of that mot opra bright pawnbroker
of ours for a certain period every day.
Speaker 3: It's a curious way of managing it.
Speaker 4: Shirley, our Clay was always an imaginative dog, and really
it would have been difficult to suggest a better can you,
for all your.
Speaker 3: Wisdom, I confess I can't.
Speaker 2: It was the color of the fellow's hair, of course,
that suggested it.
Speaker 3: All, every bit of it.
Speaker 4: Clay alias Spaulding, took a job at half pay as
Wilson's assistant so as to be near those cellars where
he knew the bullion was stored.
Speaker 3: That was smart, well.
Speaker 4: He hadn't accomplice that man who called himself Duncan Ross,
who was either redheaded himself, or accomplished those miracles with
cobbler's wax, which were to discust us all with human nature.
He managed between them to guarantee Wilson's absence from his
shop for hours on him, weeks on him, and while
he's toiling away, the burrowing their way like moles from
his premises towards the gold. But what set you on
the trail the homes, the photography, that business of disappearing
to the cellar for so long at a time.
Speaker 3: Did I surprise you, Watson by beating on the page?
You did? Indeed?
Speaker 4: Well, I was checking on the hollownies of the tunnel
between Wilson's place and the bank. Ah. I looked at
Spalding's knees when we met him in his role of
the cockney shopmen, and there they were worn and stained
from that endless digging of his.
Speaker 3: The thing was as clear as daylight. But how could
you tell that they'd make their attempt tonight?
Speaker 4: They closed the league officers, they no longer needed mister
Jbis Wilson's absence, and it's a Saturday, Watson, to give
them two clear whole days for their escape.
Speaker 3: Ah, you reasoned it beautifully, Holmes.
Speaker 2: The case of the Rarely Headed leg one more among
so many, well, well.
Speaker 3: Well well.
Speaker 1: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, based on the original stories
of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, have been dramatized anew with
original music composed by Sidney Torch. Sir Ralph Richardson played
the part of Doctor Watson and Sir John Gilgod that
of Sherlock Holmes. The program was produced by Harry Allen Towers.
Speaker 4: Uh uh
Speaker 3: Let me go,