WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:05.040 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in 2 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:08.919 the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:16.199 visit LibriVox dot org. This reading by Kerri Shallenberg. The 4 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:21.760 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Adventure 5 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:27.800 number two, The Red Headed League. I had called upon 6 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.679 my friend mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn 7 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:34.920 of last year, and found him in deep conversation with 8 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:39.679 a very stout, florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair, 9 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.320 with an apology for my intrusion. I was about to 10 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.960 withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and 11 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:51.920 closed the door behind me. You could not possibly have 12 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:56.000 come at a better time, my dear Watson, he said cordially. 13 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:00.719 I was afraid that you were engaged, so I am 14 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.640 very much so then I can wait in the next room. 15 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:09.000 Not at all, this gentleman, mister Wilson, has been my 16 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:12.439 partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, 17 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:14.680 and I have no doubt that he will be of 18 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.439 the utmost use to me in yours. Also. The stout 19 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.120 gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob 20 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.719 of greeting with a quick little questioning glance from his small, 21 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:31.480 fat encircled eyes. Try the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into 22 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:34.359 his arm chair and putting his finger tips together, as 23 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.680 was his custom when in judicial moods. I know, my 24 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:41.319 dear Watson, that you share my love of all that 25 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.879 is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of 26 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:49.040 every day life. You have shown your relish for it 27 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:52.319 by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle. And 28 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:56.280 if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish 29 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:01.120 so many of my own little adventures, your cases have 30 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:05.560 indeed been of the greatest interest to me, I observed. 31 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.680 You will remember that I remarked the other day, just 32 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.639 before we went into the very simple problem presented by 33 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:16.560 Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, 34 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.280 we must go to life itself, which is always far 35 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:24.280 more daring than any effort of the imagination, a proposition 36 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:28.639 which I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor, 37 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.360 But none the less, you must come round to my view, 38 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.840 for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact 39 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:38.039 on you until your reason breaks down under them and 40 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:43.360 acknowledges me to be right. Now, mister Jabez Wilson here 41 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:45.719 has been good enough to call upon me this morning 42 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:49.120 and to begin a narrative which promises to be one 43 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.680 of the most singular which I have listened to for 44 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.840 some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest 45 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:58.960 and most unique things are very often connected not with 46 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:03.400 the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, 47 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:06.159 where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime 48 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:10.360 has been committed. As far as I have heard, it 49 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:13.080 is impossible for me to say whether the present case 50 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:16.000 is an instance of crime or not. But the course 51 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.840 of events is certainly among the most singular that I 52 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.639 have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you would have 53 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.400 the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you 54 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.360 not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard 55 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.840 the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of 56 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.199 the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail 57 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:40.599 from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard 58 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.719 some slight indication in the course of events, I am 59 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.560 able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar 60 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.960 cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance, 61 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.680 I am forced to admit that the facts are, to 62 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:58.560 the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed 63 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:01.400 out his chest with an appearance of some little pride, 64 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.080 and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside 65 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:09.080 pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement 66 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:12.439 column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened 67 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:14.840 out upon his knee. I took a good look at 68 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:17.839 the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion, 69 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:21.240 to read the indications which might be presented by his 70 00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:26.360 dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However, 71 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:30.480 by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being 72 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:37.800 an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He 73 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:42.279 wore rather baggy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not over 74 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:46.199 clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a 75 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:50.240 drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and a 76 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.639 square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. 77 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.240 A frayed top hat, and a faded brown overcoat with 78 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.240 a wrinkled velvet collar lay up on a chair beside him. 79 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.279 Altogether look as I would. There was nothing remarkable about 80 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:10.120 the man save his blazing red head and the expression 81 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:16.959 of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's 82 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:19.800 quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his 83 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:25.279 head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. 84 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:28.560 Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time 85 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.040 done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is 86 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:35.360 a freemason, that he has been in China, and that 87 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.519 he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I 88 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:43.079 can deduce nothing else, mister job As Wilson started up 89 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.959 in his chair with his forefinger upon the paper, but 90 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.279 his eyes upon my companion. How in the name of 91 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.720 good fortune did you know all that, mister Holmes, he asked, 92 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.600 How did you know, for example, that I did manual labor. 93 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:00.480 It's as true as gospel, for I began as a 94 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:05.360 ship's carpenter. Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand 95 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.279 is quite a size larger than your left. You have 96 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:12.920 worked with it, and the muscles are more developed. Well. 97 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:18.160 The snuff, then, and the freemasonry. I won't insult your 98 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:21.600 intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as 99 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:25.639 rather against the strict rules of your order. You use 100 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:30.839 an arc and compass breastpin. Ah, of course I forgot that. 101 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:35.639 But the writing what else can be indicated by that 102 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:39.199 right cuff so very shiny for five inches, and the 103 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.000 left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where 104 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:48.360 you rested upon the desk. Well, but China, the fish 105 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:51.639 that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could 106 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.240 only have been done in China. I have made a 107 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.800 small study of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to 108 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:01.240 the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the 109 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:06.160 fish's scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, 110 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:09.600 in addition, I see a Chinese coin hanging from your 111 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:14.839 watch chain, the matter becomes even more simple. Mister job, 112 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:20.120 as Wilson laughed heavily, Well, I never said he. I 113 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.920 thought at first that you had done something clever, But 114 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.959 I see that there was nothing in it. After all. 115 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.680 I begin to think, Watson, said Holmes, that I make 116 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:34.720 a mistake in explaining omnae ignotum pro magnifico. You know, 117 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.680 and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will 118 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.040 suffer shipwreck if I am so candid. Can you not 119 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:47.439 find the advertisement? Mister Wilson, Yes, I have got it now, 120 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:50.639 he answered, with his thick red finger planted half way 121 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:53.920 down the column. Here it is, this is what began 122 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:58.399 at all. You just read it for yourself, sir. I 123 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:03.920 took the paper from him, and as follows to the 124 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.759 Red Headed League. On account of the bequest of the 125 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:12.680 late Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S A. There 126 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:16.120 is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of 127 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.199 the League to a salary of four pounds a week 128 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:23.639 for purely nominal services. All Red Headed men who are 129 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.360 sound in body and mind and above the age of 130 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:30.399 twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person on Monday 131 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:34.080 at eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of 132 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:39.759 the League, seven Popes Court, Fleet Street. What on earth 133 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.039 does this mean? I ejaculated after I had twice read 134 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:48.440 over the extraordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, 135 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:53.120 as was his habit when in high spirits. It is 136 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.919 a little off the beaten track, isn't it? Said he? 137 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:59.519 And now, mister Wilson, off you go at scratch and 138 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:03.279 tell us all about yourself, your household, and the effect 139 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.600 which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first 140 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.519 make a note doctor of the paper and the date. 141 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:16.440 It is the Morning Chronicle of April twenty seventh, eighteen ninety, 142 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:23.840 just two months ago. Very good, now, mister Wilson, Well 143 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.120 it is just as I have been telling you, mister 144 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:30.720 Sherlock Holmes said job as Wilson mopping his forehead. I 145 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:34.600 have a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the city. 146 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:38.240 It's not a very large affair, and of late years 147 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:40.639 it has not done more than just give me a living. 148 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.360 I used to be able to keep two assistants, but 149 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:46.840 now I only keep one, and I would have a 150 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:49.080 job to pay him, but that he is willing to 151 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.480 come for half wages so as to learn the business. 152 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:57.559 What is the name of this obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. 153 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.919 His name is Vincent Spalding, and he's not such a 154 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.120 youth either. It's hard to say his age. I should 155 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:08.120 not wish a smarter assistant, mister Holmes, and I know 156 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:10.840 very well that he could better himself and earn twice 157 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.039 what I am able to give him. But after all, 158 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:16.720 if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in 159 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:21.879 his head? Why? Indeed, you seem most fortunate in having 160 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:25.320 an employee who comes under the full market price. It 161 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.600 is not a common experience among employers in this age. 162 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.759 I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable 163 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:37.440 as your advertisement. Oh he has his faults too, said 164 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:41.879 mister Wilson. Never was such a fellow for photography, snapping 165 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.240 away with a camera when he ought to be improving 166 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.320 his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like 167 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:50.480 a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That 168 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.039 is his main fault. But on the whole he's a 169 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:57.200 good worker. There's no vice in him. He is still 170 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:00.879 with you, I presume, yes, sir. He and a girl 171 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.200 of fourteen who does a bit of simple cooking and 172 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.080 keeps the place clean. That's all I have in the house, 173 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.799 for I am a widower and never had any family. 174 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:12.960 We live very quietly, sir, the three of us, and 175 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:15.279 we keep a roof over our heads and pay our 176 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:19.440 debts if we do nothing more. The first thing that 177 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:23.120 put us out was that advertisement. Spalding, he came down 178 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.000 into the office just this day, eight weeks with this 179 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:30.039 very paper in his hand, and he says, I wish 180 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:32.279 to the Lord mister Wilson, that I was a red 181 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:38.120 headed man. Why's that? I asks? Why? Says he? Here's 182 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.080 another vacancy on the League of the Red Headed Men. 183 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:43.919 It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who 184 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.399 gets it. And I understand that there are more vacancies 185 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.879 than there are men, so that the trustees are at 186 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:53.399 their wits end what to do with the money. If 187 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.320 my hair would only change color, here's a nice little 188 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:00.200 crib all ready for me to step into. Why what 189 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.480 is it? Then? I asked? You, See, mister Holmes, I 190 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.879 am a very stay at home man, and as my 191 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.360 business came to me instead of my having to go 192 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.120 to it, I was often three weeks on end without 193 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:14.080 putting my foot over the door mat. In that way, 194 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.440 I didn't know much of what was going on outside, 195 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:20.480 and I was always glad of a bit of news. 196 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:23.480 Have you never heard of the League of the Red 197 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:29.320 Headed Men? He asked, with his eyes open. Never. Why 198 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.519 I wonder at that? For you are eligible yourself for 199 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:38.360 one of the vacancies. And what are they worth? I asked, Oh, 200 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.600 merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work 201 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:43.480 is slight and it need not interfere very much with 202 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.639 one's other occupations. Well, you can easily think that that 203 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:50.320 made me prick up my ears, for the business has 204 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.080 not been over good for some years, and an extra 205 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:57.559 couple of hundred would have been very handy. Tell me 206 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:01.240 all about it, said I. Well, well said he, showing 207 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:04.639 me the advertisement. You can see for yourself that the 208 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.759 league has a vacancy, and there is the address where 209 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.039 you should apply for particulars. As far as I can 210 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:14.080 make out, the league was founded by an American millionaire, 211 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:18.840 Ezekiah Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He 212 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.679 was himself red headed, and he had a great sympathy 213 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.559 for all red headed men. So when he died, it 214 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:27.159 was found that he had left his enormous fortune in 215 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:31.000 the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest 216 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:34.000 to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair 217 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:37.120 is of that color. From all I hear, it is 218 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:43.159 splendid pay and very little to do. But said I, 219 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.080 there would be millions of red headed men who would apply. 220 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:51.080 Not so many as you might think, he answered, you see, 221 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:54.279 it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men. 222 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.799 This American had started from London when he was young, 223 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:00.240 and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. 224 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:03.240 Then again, I have heard it is no use your 225 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.279 applying if your hair is light red or dark red, 226 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:13.240 or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if 227 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.360 you cared to apply, mister Wilson, you would just walk in. 228 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.279 But perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to 229 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.320 put yourself out of the way for the sake of 230 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:25.399 a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentlemen, 231 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.840 as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is 232 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:30.679 of a very full and rich tint. So that it 233 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.840 seemed to me that if there was to be any 234 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:35.159 competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance 235 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:39.360 as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding 236 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.600 seemed to know so much about it that I thought 237 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:44.360 he might prove useful. So I just ordered him to 238 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:46.720 put up the shutters for the day and to come 239 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:50.519 right away with me. He was very willing to have 240 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:53.360 a holiday, so we shut the business up and started 241 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:56.039 off for the address that was given us in the advertisement. 242 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.519 I never hoped to see such a sight as that. Again, 243 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:05.639 mister Holmes from north, south, east and west. Every man 244 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.799 who had a shade of red in his hair had 245 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:12.120 tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street 246 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:15.720 was choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked 247 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:20.159 like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought 248 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.360 there were so many in the whole country as were 249 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.600 brought together by that single advertisement. Every shade of color. 250 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:32.480 They were straw, lemon, orange, brick, irish setter, liver clay. 251 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:36.200 But as Balding said, there were not many who had 252 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:42.000 the real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how 253 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:44.720 many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair. 254 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.879 But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did 255 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:50.960 it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled 256 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:53.600 and butted until he got me through the crowd and 257 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.519 right up to the steps which led to the office. 258 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.759 There was a double stream upon the stairs, some going 259 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.000 up in hope and some coming back dejected. But we 260 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.720 wedged in as well as we could, and soon found 261 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:11.559 ourselves in the office. Your experience has been a most 262 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:16.120 entertaining one, remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed 263 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:20.039 his memory with a huge pinch of snuff, pray continue 264 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:25.320 your very interesting statement. There was nothing in the office 265 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:28.200 but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table, 266 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.519 behind which sat a small man with a head that 267 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:35.080 was even redder than mine. He said a few words 268 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:37.960 to each candidate as he came up, and then he 269 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.960 always managed to find some fault in them which would 270 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.799 disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to be 271 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.559 such a very easy matter after all. However, when our 272 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:51.120 turn came, the little man was much more favorable to 273 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.679 me than to any of the others, and he closed 274 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.960 the door as we entered, so that he might have 275 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.720 a private word with us. This is mister JOHNS. Bes Wilson, 276 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:03.679 said my assistant, and he is willing to fill a 277 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:09.000 vacancy in the league, and he is admirably suited for it. 278 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:13.880 The other answered, he has every requirement. I cannot recall 279 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.240 when I have seen anything so fine. He took a 280 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:21.000 step backward, cocked his head on one side, and gazed 281 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:25.279 at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly 282 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:29.880 he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly 283 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:35.559 on my success. It would be injustice to hesitate, said he. 284 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.759 You will, However, I am sure excuse me for taking 285 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:42.759 an obvious precaution. With that, he seized my hair in 286 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:46.039 both his hands and tugged until I yelled with the pain. 287 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.559 There is water in your eyes, said he as he 288 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:54.400 released me. I perceive that all is as it should be, 289 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:57.200 but we have to be careful, for we have twice 290 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:01.599 been deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could 291 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:04.720 tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would disgust you 292 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:08.079 with human nature. He stepped over to the window and 293 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:10.559 shouted through it at the top of his voice that 294 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:15.039 the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up 295 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:18.839 from below, and the folk all trooped away in different directions, 296 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:21.440 until there was not a red head to be seen 297 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:27.200 except my own and that of the manager. My name said, 298 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:30.599 He is mister Duncan Ross, and I am myself one 299 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:34.200 of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 300 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:37.480 Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family? 301 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:43.319 I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately. 302 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.680 Dear me, he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed, 303 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:51.039 I am sorry to hear you say that the fund 304 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.960 was of course, for the propagation and spread of the redheads, 305 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.720 as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate 306 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:02.759 that you should be a bachelor. My face lengthened at this, 307 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.200 mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to 308 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:08.440 have the vacancy after all. But after thinking it over 309 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.319 for a few minutes, he said that it would be 310 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.599 all right in the case of another, said he, the 311 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.480 objection might be fatal, but we must stretch a point 312 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.839 in favor of a man with such a head of 313 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.039 hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter 314 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:27.599 upon your new duties? Well, it is a little awkward, 315 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:31.240 for I have a business already, said I. Oh, never 316 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:35.039 mind about that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding, I should 317 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:38.720 be able to look after that for you. What would 318 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:44.720 be the hours, I asked, ten to two. Now, a 319 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:48.680 pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, mister Holmes, 320 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.720 especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just before pay day, 321 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:55.279 So it would suit me very well to earn a 322 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:58.319 little in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant 323 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:00.400 was a good man, and that he would see to 324 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:04.920 anything that turned up that would suit me very well, 325 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:09.160 said I. And the pay is four pounds a week, 326 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:14.599 and the work is purely nominal. What do you call 327 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:18.599 purely nominal? Well, you have to be in the office, 328 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:21.559 or at least in the building the whole time. If 329 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.039 you leave, you forfeit your whole position forever. The will 330 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:28.200 is very clear upon that point. You don't comply with 331 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:31.160 the conditions if you budge from the office during that time. 332 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:35.240 It's only four hours a day, and I should not 333 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:40.480 think of leaving, said I. No excuse will avail, said 334 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:44.599 mister duncan Ross, neither sickness, nor business nor anything else. 335 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:48.920 There you must stay or you lose your billet. And 336 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:54.480 the work is to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There 337 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.160 is the first volume of it in that press. You 338 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:00.279 must find your own ink, pens and blotting paper, but 339 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:03.440 we provide this table and chair. Will you be ready 340 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:12.240 to morrow? Certainly? I answered, Then, good bye, mister Jobez Wilson, 341 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:15.160 and let me congratulate you once more on the important 342 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:19.319 position which you have been fortunate enough to gain. He 343 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:21.640 bowed me out of the room, and I went home 344 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:25.000 with my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do 345 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:29.559 I was so pleased at my own good fortune. Well, 346 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.720 I thought over the matter all day, and by evening 347 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:35.480 I was in low spirits again, for I had quite 348 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:38.440 persuaded myself that the whole affair must be some great 349 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:42.079 hoax or fraud. Though what its object might be, I 350 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:46.839 could not imagine. It seemed altogether past belief that any 351 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:49.359 one could make such a will, or that they would 352 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:52.319 pay such a sum for doing anything so simple as 353 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:57.400 copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spaulding did what he 354 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.960 could to cheer me up, but by bedtime I had 355 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:03.519 reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However, in the 356 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:06.240 morning I determined to have a look at it anyhow 357 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.759 so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with 358 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:12.960 a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I 359 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:18.640 started off for Pope's court. Well, to my surprise and delight, 360 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:22.359 everything was as right as possible. The table was set 361 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:25.039 out ready for me, and mister Duncan Ross was there 362 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:28.599 to see that I got fairly to work. He started 363 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:31.319 me off upon the letter A, and then he left me, 364 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:33.880 But he would drop in from time to time to 365 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.000 see that all was right with me. At two o'clock 366 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:40.160 he bade me good day, complimented me upon the amount 367 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:42.519 that I had written, and locked the door of the 368 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:47.720 office after me. This went on day after day, mister Holmes, 369 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:51.000 and on Saturday the manager came in and planked down 370 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:55.039 four golden sovereigns for my week's work. It was the 371 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:58.799 same next week, and the same the week after. Every 372 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.640 morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I 373 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:05.960 left at two. By degrees, mister Duncan Ross took to 374 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.799 coming in only once of a morning, and then after 375 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:11.359 a time he did not come in at all. Still, 376 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:13.559 of course, I never dared to leave the room for 377 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:16.359 an instant, for I was not sure when he might come. 378 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.839 And the billet was such a good one and suited 379 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.400 me so well that I would not risk the loss 380 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:26.759 of it. Eight weeks passed away like this, and I 381 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:31.960 had written about abbots and archery, and armor, and architecture 382 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:35.720 and attica, and hoped with diligence that I might get 383 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:38.960 on to the bees before very long. It cost me 384 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:42.039 something in fool's cap, and I had pretty nearly filled 385 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:46.160 a shelf with my writings, And then suddenly the whole 386 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:51.759 business came to an end, to an end, yes, sir, 387 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:54.920 and no later than this morning. I went to my 388 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.359 work as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was 389 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:00.960 shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered 390 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.640 on to the middle of the panel with attack. Here 391 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:08.559 it is, and you can read for yourself. He held 392 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:11.039 up a piece of white cardboard about the size of 393 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:14.599 a sheet of note paper. It read, in this fashion, 394 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:21.079 the Red Headed League is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen ninety 395 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:26.359 Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 396 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.680 rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the 397 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:33.480 affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both 398 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:38.039 burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see 399 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:42.039 that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing 400 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:44.839 up to the roots of his flaming head. If you 401 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.920