WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:05.480 The red headed league. I had called upon my friend 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.439 mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of last year, 3 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:12.919 and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, 4 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:18.839 florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair, with an 5 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:22.239 apology for my intrusion. I was about to withdraw when 6 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:25.559 Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the 7 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:29.480 door behind me. You could not possibly have come at 8 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:34.439 a better time, my dear Watson, he said cordially. I 9 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.119 was afraid that you were engaged, so I am very 10 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.600 much so then I can wait in the next room. 11 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:46.000 Not at all this gentleman, mister Wilson has been my 12 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:49.399 partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, 13 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:51.679 and I have no doubt that he will be of 14 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:56.439 the utmost use to me in yours. Also. The stout 15 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.119 gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob 16 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:02.719 of greeting with a quick, little questioning glance from his small, 17 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:08.519 fat encircled eyes. Try the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into 18 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:11.359 his arm chair and putting his finger tips together, as 19 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:15.680 was his custom when in judicial moods. I know, my 20 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.319 dear Watson, that you share my love of all that 21 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:21.879 is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of 22 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:26.040 every day life. You have shown your relish for it 23 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:29.319 by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle. And 24 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:33.239 if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish 25 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:38.120 so many of my own little adventures, your cases have 26 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.519 indeed been of the greatest interest to me. I observed. 27 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:45.680 You will remember that I remarked the other day, just 28 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:48.680 before we went into the very simple problem presented by 29 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:53.560 Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, 30 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.239 we must go to life itself, which is always far 31 00:01:56.280 --> 00:02:01.280 more daring than any effort of the imagination, A proposition 32 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:05.640 which I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor, 33 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.360 But none the less, you must come round to my view, 34 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.879 for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact 35 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:15.039 on you until your reason breaks down under them and 36 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:20.360 acknowledges me to be right. Now, mister JOBEZ Wilson here 37 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.719 has been good enough to call upon me this morning 38 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:26.159 and to begin a narrative which promises to be one 39 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:28.680 of the most singular which I have listened to for 40 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:32.840 some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest 41 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.960 and most unique things are very often connected not with 42 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:40.400 the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, 43 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:43.120 where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime 44 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.319 has been committed. As far as I have heard, it 45 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.080 is impossible for me to say whether the present case 46 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:52.960 is an instance of crime or not. But the course 47 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.840 of events is certainly among the most singular that I 48 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:00.639 have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you would have 49 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:04.400 the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you 50 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:07.360 not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard 51 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.840 the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of 52 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.199 the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail 53 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:17.639 from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard 54 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:20.680 some slight indication in the course of events, I am 55 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.520 able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar 56 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.960 cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance, 57 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.680 I am forced to admit that the facts are, to 58 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:35.520 the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed 59 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:38.280 out his chest with an appearance of some little pride, 60 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:42.000 and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside 61 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:46.080 pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement 62 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:49.439 column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened 63 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.879 out upon his knee. I took a good look at 64 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:54.879 the man and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion, 65 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.240 to read the indications which might be presented by his 66 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:03.360 dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However, 67 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:07.479 by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being 68 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:14.800 an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He 69 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:19.279 wore rather baggy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not over 70 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:23.160 clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a 71 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:27.240 drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and a 72 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.639 square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. 73 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:35.240 A frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with 74 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:40.079 a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, 75 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.680 look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man, 76 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:47.920 save his blazing red head and the expression of extreme 77 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:54.759 chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's quick eye 78 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.279 took in my occupation, and he shook his head with 79 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:02.839 a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the 80 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:06.680 obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor, 81 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.279 that he takes snuff, that he is a freemason, that 82 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.040 he has been in China, and that he has done 83 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.800 a considerable amount of writing lately. I can deduce nothing else, 84 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.920 mister job As Wilson started up in his chair with 85 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:24.680 his forefinger upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. 86 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:28.399 How in the name of good fortune did you know 87 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:32.079 all that, mister Holmes, he asked, how did you know, 88 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:35.600 for example, that I did manual labor. It's as true 89 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:40.439 as gospel, for I began as a ship's carpenter. Your hands, 90 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:43.360 my dear sir, your right hand is quite a size 91 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:46.519 larger than your left. You have worked with it, and 92 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.480 the muscles are more developed. Well. The snuff, then, and 93 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:56.439 the freemasonry. I won't insult your intelligence by telling you 94 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.519 how I read that, especially as rather against the strict 95 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:06.600 rules of your order, you use an arc and compass breastpin. Ah. 96 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:11.360 Of course I forgot that. But the writing, what else 97 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:14.439 can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny 98 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.519 for five inches, and the left one with the smooth 99 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:22.120 patch near the elbow where you rested upon the desk. Well, 100 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:27.439 but China, the fish that you have tattooed immediately above 101 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:30.360 your right wrist could only have been done in China. 102 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.399 I have made a small study of tattoo marks, and 103 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:37.160 have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That 104 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.199 trick of staining the fish's scales of a delicate pink 105 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:44.720 is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I see 106 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:48.000 a Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain, the matter 107 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:54.519 becomes even more simple. Mister job as Wilson laughed heavily. Well, 108 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:58.319 I never said he. I thought at first that you 109 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.879 had done something clever, But I see that there was 110 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:04.920 nothing in it. After all, I begin to think, Watson, 111 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:09.240 said Holmes, that I make a mistake in explaining omnae 112 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:13.959 ignotum pro magnifico. You know, and my poor little reputation, 113 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:17.120 such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am 114 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:23.279 so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, mister Wilson, Yes, 115 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:26.000 I have got it now, he answered, with his thick 116 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:29.439 red finger planted half way down the column. Here it is, 117 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:32.600 this is what began it all. You just read it 118 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:36.800 for yourself, sir. I took the paper from him and 119 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:43.560 read as follows to the Red Headed League. On account 120 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:49.120 of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USSA. 121 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:53.000 There is now another vacancy open which entitles a member 122 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.959 of the League to a salary of four pounds a 123 00:07:55.959 --> 00:08:00.240 week for purely nominal services. All Red Headed men, men 124 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:02.920 who are sound in body and mind and above the 125 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:06.839 age of twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person 126 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:10.399 on Monday at eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the 127 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:15.959 offices of the League, seven Popes Court, Fleet Street. What 128 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.319 on earth does this mean? I ejaculated after I had 129 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:24.759 twice read over the extraordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled 130 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.079 in his chair, as was his habit when in high spirits. 131 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.159 It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it? 132 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:35.960 Said he? And now, mister Wilson, off you go at 133 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.679 scratch and tell us all about yourself, your household, and 134 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:44.000 the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You 135 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.000 will first make a note doctor of the paper and 136 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:52.360 the date. It is the Morning Chronicle of April twenty seventh, 137 00:08:52.480 --> 00:09:00.840 eighteen ninety, just two months ago. Very good, now, mister Wilson, well, 138 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.120 it is just as I have been telling you, mister 139 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:07.720 Sherlock Holmes said, job as Wilson mopping his forehead. I 140 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:11.600 have a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square near the city. 141 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:15.240 It's not a very large affair, and of late years 142 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:17.639 it has not done more than just give me a living. 143 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:21.360 I used to be able to keep two assistants, but 144 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.840 now I only keep one, and I would have a 145 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.080 job to pay him, but that he is willing to 146 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.840 come for half wages so as to learn the business. 147 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:34.480 What is the name of this obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. 148 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.919 His name is Vincent Spalding, and he's not such a 149 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.120 youth either. It's hard to say his age. I should 150 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.120 not wish a smarter assistant, mister Holmes, and I know 151 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.840 very well that he could better himself and earn twice 152 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:51.000 what I am able to give him. But after all, 153 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.679 if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in 154 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:58.919 his head? Why? Indeed, you seem most fortunate in having 155 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:02.320 an employee who ca under the full market price. It 156 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.480 is not a common experience among employers in this age. 157 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:08.759 I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable 158 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:14.440 as your advertisement. Oh he has his faults too, said 159 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:18.879 mister Wilson. Never was such a fellow for photography, snapping 160 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:21.200 away with a camera when he ought to be improving 161 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:24.279 his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like 162 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:27.480 a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That 163 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:30.039 is his main fault. But on the whole he's a 164 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:34.200 good worker. There's no vice in him. He is still 165 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:37.879 with you, I presume, yes, sir. He and a girl 166 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.159 of fourteen who does a bit of simple cooking and 167 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:43.080 keeps the place clean. That's all I have in the house, 168 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.799 for I am a widower and never had any family. 169 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.960 We live very quietly, sir, the three of us, and 170 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:52.240 we keep a roof over our heads and pay our 171 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:56.440 debts if we do nothing more. The first thing that 172 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.000 put us out was that advertisement. Spalding. He came down 173 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:03.000 into the office just this day, eight weeks with this 174 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:07.039 very paper in his hand, and he says, I wish 175 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.320 to the Lord mister Wilson, that I was a red 176 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:14.840 headed man. Why is that, I asks, Why? Says he, 177 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:18.080 here's another vacancy on the league of the red headed men. 178 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.919 It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who 179 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:24.360 gets it. And I understand that there are more vacancies 180 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.840 than there are men, so that the trustees are at 181 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.399 their wits end what to do with the money. If 182 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:33.279 my hair would only change color, here's a nice little 183 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.080 crib all ready for me to step into. Why what 184 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.440 is it? Then? I asked? You. See, mister Holmes, I 185 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.879 am a very stay at home man, and as my 186 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.320 business came to me instead of my having to go 187 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.120 to it, I was often three weeks on end without 188 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:51.080 putting my foot over the door mat. In that way, 189 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.440 I didn't know much of what was going on outside, 190 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:55.399 and I was always glad of a bit of news. 191 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:01.080 Have you never heard of the league the Red Headed Men? 192 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:06.919 He asked, with his eyes open. Never. Why I wonder 193 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:09.879 at that? For you are eligible yourself for one of 194 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:15.480 the vacancies, and what are they worth? I asked, Oh, 195 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.600 merely a couple of hundred a year. But the work 196 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:20.440 is slight and it need not interfere very much with 197 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:24.639 one's other occupations. Well, you can easily think that that 198 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:27.320 made me prick up my ears, for the business has 199 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.080 not been over good for some years, and an extra 200 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:34.559 couple of hundred would have been very handy, tell me 201 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:38.360 all about it, said I. Well, said he, showing me 202 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:42.000 the advertisement. You can see for yourself that the league 203 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.840 has a vacancy, and there is the address where you 204 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:48.559 should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, 205 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:52.559 the league was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins, 206 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.480 who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself 207 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.120 red headed, and he had a great sympathy for all 208 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.159 red headed men. So when he died, it was found 209 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.600 that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands 210 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:08.519 of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the 211 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:11.279 providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of 212 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:14.919 that color. From all I hear, it is splendid pay 213 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:20.919 and very little to do. But said I, there would 214 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:24.639 be millions of red headed men who would apply, Not 215 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.039 so many as you might think, he answered, you see, 216 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:31.240 it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men. 217 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:34.799 This American had started from London when he was young, 218 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.159 and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. 219 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:40.240 Then again I have heard it is no use your 220 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:43.240 applying if your hair is light red or dark red, 221 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:50.240 or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now if 222 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:53.360 you cared to apply. Mister Wilson, you would just walk in, 223 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.279 but perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to 224 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.320 put yourself out of the way for the sake of 225 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.399 a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentlemen, 226 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:04.840 as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is 227 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.679 of a very full and rich tint. So that it 228 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.799 seemed to me that if there was to be any 229 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.159 competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance 230 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:16.360 as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding 231 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:18.639 seemed to know so much about it that I thought 232 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.360 he might prove useful. So I just ordered him to 233 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.679 put up the shutters for the day and to come 234 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:27.480 right away with me. He was very willing to have 235 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:30.320 a holiday, so we shut the business up and started 236 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.039 off for the address that was given us in the advertisement. 237 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.480 I never hoped to see such a sight as that again, 238 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:42.639 mister Holmes, from north, south, east and west, every man 239 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.799 who had a shade of red in his hair had 240 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:49.159 tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street 241 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.720 was choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked 242 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:57.159 like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought 243 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:59.360 there were so many in the whole country as were 244 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:03.600 brought together by that single advertisement. Every shade of color. 245 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:09.480 They were straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish setter, liver clay. 246 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:13.200 But as Spalding said, there were not many who had 247 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:18.960 the real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how 248 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.720 many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair. 249 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.879 But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did 250 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.919 it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled 251 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.559 and butted until he got me through the crowd and 252 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:34.440 right up to the steps which led to the office. 253 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.759 There was a double stream upon the stair, some going 254 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:41.000 up in hope and some coming back dejected. But we 255 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.720 wedged in as well as we could, and soon found 256 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:48.519 ourselves in the office. Your experience has been a most 257 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:53.120 entertaining one, remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed 258 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:57.039 his memory with a huge pinch of snuff. Pray, continue 259 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:02.320 your very interesting statement. There was nothing in the office 260 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:05.200 but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table, 261 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.519 behind which sat a small man with a head that 262 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.080 was even redder than mine. He said a few words 263 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.960 to each candidate as he came up, and then he 264 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:17.919 always managed to find some fault in them which would 265 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:21.799 disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to be 266 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:25.519 such a very easy matter after all. However, when our 267 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.120 turn came, the little man was much more favorable to 268 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:30.679 me than to any of the others, and he closed 269 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.919 the door as we entered, so that he might have 270 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:38.120 a private word with us. This is mister job as Wilson, said, 271 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:41.240 my assistant, and he is willing to fill a vacancy 272 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.960 in the league, and he is admirably suited for it. 273 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:50.840 The other answered, he has every requirement. I cannot recall 274 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:54.240 when I have seen anything so fine. He took a 275 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:57.960 step backward, cocked his head on one side, and gazed 276 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:02.240 at my hair until I felt quite bash Then suddenly 277 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:06.880 he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly 278 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:12.559 on my success. It would be injustice to hesitate, said he. 279 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.759 You will, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking 280 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:19.759 an obvious precaution. With that, he seized my hair in 281 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:23.079 both his hands and tugged until I yelled with the pane. 282 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.559 There is water in your eyes, said he as he 283 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:31.359 released me. I perceive that all is as it should be, 284 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.200 but we have to be careful, for we have twice 285 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:38.559 been deceived by wigs, and once by paint. I could 286 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.720 tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would disgust you 287 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.079 with human nature. He stepped over to the window and 288 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.559 shouted through it at the top of his voice that 289 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:52.000 the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up 290 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:55.839 from below, and the folk all trooped away in different directions, 291 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.440 until there was not a red head to be seen 292 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:04.160 except my own and that of the manager. My name said, 293 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:07.599 He is mister Duncan Ross, and I am myself one 294 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:11.200 of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 295 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.480 Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family? 296 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:20.279 I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately. 297 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.680 Dear me, he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed, 298 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:28.359 I am sorry to hear you say that the fund was, 299 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.920 of course for the propagation and spread of the Redheads, 300 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:35.720 as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate 301 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:39.759 that you should be a bachelor. My face lengthened at this, 302 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.200 mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to 303 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.440 have the vacancy after all. But after thinking it over 304 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.279 for a few minutes. He said that it would be 305 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:51.599 all right in the case of another, said he. The 306 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.480 objection might be fatal, but we must stretch a point 307 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.839 in favor of a man with such a head of 308 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.960 hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter 309 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.559 upon your new duties? Well, it is a little awkward, 310 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:08.240 for I have a business already, said I. Oh, never 311 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:12.000 mind about that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding. I should 312 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:15.720 be able to look after that for you. What would 313 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:21.720 be the hours, I asked, ten to two. Now, a 314 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:25.640 pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, mister Holmes, 315 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:29.720 especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just before pay day. 316 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.279 So it would suit me very well to earn a 317 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:35.279 little in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant 318 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:37.400 was a good man and that he would see to 319 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:41.880 anything that turned up. That would suit me very well, 320 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:46.160 said I. And the pay is four pounds a week, 321 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:51.599 and the work is purely nominal. What do you call 322 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:55.599 purely nominal? Well, you have to be in the office, 323 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:58.599 or at least in the building the whole time. If 324 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:01.759 you leave, you forfeit your your whole position forever the 325 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:04.920 will is very clear upon that point. You don't comply 326 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:07.559 with the conditions if you budge from the office during 327 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:11.880 that time. It's only four hours a day, and I 328 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:17.000 should not think of leaving, said I. No excuse will avail, 329 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:21.599 said mister duncan Ross, neither sickness, nor business nor anything else. 330 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.880 There you must stay or you lose your billet. And 331 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:31.480 the work is to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There 332 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:34.119 is the first volume of it in that press. You 333 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:37.279 must find your own ink, pens and blotting paper, but 334 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:40.440 we provide this table and chair. Will you be ready 335 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:49.200 to morrow? Certainly? I answered, then, good bye, mister Jabez Wilson, 336 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:52.160 and let me congratulate you once more on the important 337 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:56.279 position which you have been fortunate enough to gain. He 338 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:58.640 bowed me out of the room, and I went home 339 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:02.000 with my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do. 340 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:06.559 I was so pleased at my own good fortune. Well, 341 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.720 I thought over the matter all day, and by evening 342 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:12.519 I was in low spirits again, for I had quite 343 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:15.400 persuaded myself that the whole affair must be some great 344 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.079 hoax or fraud. Though what its object might be I 345 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:24.039 could not imagine, it seemed altogether past belief that anyone 346 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:26.680 could make such a will, or that they would pay 347 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:29.759 such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying 348 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:34.680 out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spaulding did what he could 349 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:37.559 to cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned 350 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:40.880 myself out of the whole thing. However, in the morning 351 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.000 I determined to have a look at it anyhow so 352 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:46.839 I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a 353 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:49.920 quill pen and seven sheets of fool's cap paper, I 354 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.640 started off for Pope's court. Well. To my surprise and delight, 355 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.319 everything was as right as possible. The table was set 356 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:02.039 out ready for me, and mister Duncan Ross was there 357 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:05.599 to see that I got fairly to work. He started 358 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.319 me off upon the letter A, and then he left me, 359 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:10.880 but he would drop in from time to time to 360 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:14.000 see that all was right with me. At two o'clock 361 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:17.160 he bade me good day, complimented me upon the amount 362 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.519 that I had written, and locked the door of the 363 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:24.720 office after me. This went on day after day, mister Holmes, 364 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:27.960 and on Saturday the manager came in and planked down 365 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:32.039 four golden sovereigns for my week's work. It was the 366 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.799 same next week, and the same the week after. Every 367 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:38.640 morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I 368 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.960 left at two. By degrees, mister Duncan Ross took to 369 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.759 coming in only once of a morning, and then after 370 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.359 a time he did not come in at all. Still, 371 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:50.559 of course, I never dared to leave the room for 372 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:53.359 an instant, for I was not sure when he might come. 373 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.839 And the billet was such a good one and suited 374 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.400 me so well that I would not risk the loss 375 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:03.759 of it. Eight weeks passed away like this, and I 376 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:08.960 had written about abbots and archery, and armor, and architecture 377 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:12.720 and attica, and hoped with diligence that I might get 378 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:15.960 on to the bees before very long. It cost me 379 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:19.039 something in fool's cap, and I had pretty nearly filled 380 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:23.160 a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole 381 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:28.759 business came to an end. To an end, yes, sir, 382 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.920 and no later than this morning. I went to my 383 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.359 work as usual at ten o'clock, But the door was 384 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.960 shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered 385 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:40.640 on to the middle of the panel with attack. Here 386 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:45.559 it is, and you can read for yourself. He held 387 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:48.039 up a piece of white cardboard about the size of 388 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:51.599 a sheet of note paper. It read, in this fashion, 389 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:58.119 the Red Headed League is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen ninety 390 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:03.359 Sirlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 391 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:06.680 rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the 392 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.480 affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both 393 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:15.079 burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see 394 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:19.000 that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing 395 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:21.839 up to the roots of his flaming head. If you 396 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.920 can do nothing better than laugh at me, I can 397 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:28.960 go elsewhere. No no, cried Holmes, shoving him back into 398 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:32.000 the chair from which he had half risen. I really 399 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:34.880 wouldn't miss your case for the world. It is most 400 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:38.599 refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you will excuse my 401 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:42.319