July 18, 2025 • 61 mins
Rediscover the timeless allure of dramatic storytelling with "Classic Drama Audiobooks." This podcast brings full-length classic drama novels to life, immersing listeners in captivating tales of human emotion, conflict, and resolution. Perfect for book lovers and drama enthusiasts, each episode transports you into the heart of celebrated literary masterpieces. Experience the beauty of the written word, beautifully narrated for your listening pleasure.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Red Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Part one.
I had called upon my friend mister Sherlock Holmes one
day in the autumn of last year, and found him
in deep conversation with a very stout, florid faced, elderly
gentleman with fiery red hair, with an apology for my intrusion.
(00:23):
I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly
into the room and closed the door behind me. You
could not possibly have come at a better time, my
dear Watson, he said cordially. I was afraid that you
were engaged, so I am very much so then I
can wait in the next room. Not at all, this gentleman,
(00:46):
mister Wilson has been my partner and helper in many
of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt
that he will be of the utmost use to me
in yours. Also. The stout gentlemen half rose from his
chair and gave a bob of greeting with a quick,
little questioning glance from his small, fat encircled eyes. Try
(01:09):
the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and putting
his fingertips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods.
I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love
of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and
humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish
(01:31):
for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle.
And if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to
embellish so many of my own little adventures, your cases
have indeed been of greatest interest to me, I observed.
You will remember that I remarked the other day, just
(01:52):
before we went into the very simple problem presented by
Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects extraordinary combinations, we
must go to life itself, which is always far more
daring than any effort of the imagination, A proposition which
I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor, But
(02:16):
none the less, you must come round to my view,
for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact
on you until your reason breaks down under them and
acknowledges me to be right. Now, mister JOBEZ Wilson here
has been good enough to call upon me this morning
(02:37):
and to bring a narrative which promises to be one
of the most singular which I have listened to for
some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest
and most unique things are very often connected not with
the larger but with these smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed,
(02:58):
where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime
has been committed. As far as I have heard, it
is impossible for me to say whether the present case
is an instance of crime or not. But the course
of events is certainly among the most singular that I
have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you would have
(03:20):
the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you
not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard
the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of
the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail
from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard
some slight indication of the course of events, I am
(03:44):
able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar
cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance,
I am forced to admit that the facts are, to
the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed
out his chest with an appearance of some little pride,
and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside
(04:07):
pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement
column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened
out upon his knee. I took a good look at
the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion,
to read the indications which might be presented by his
dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However,
(04:31):
by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being
an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He
wore rather backy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not over
clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a
(04:51):
drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and a
square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament.
A frayed top hat, and a faded brown overcoat with
a wrinkled velvet color lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether,
look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man,
(05:13):
save his blazing red head and the expression of extreme
chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's quick eye
took in my occupation, and he shook his head with
a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the
obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor,
(05:37):
that he takes snuff, that he is a freemason, that
he has been to China, and that he has done
a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else,
mister job. As Wilson started up in his chair with
his forefinger upon the paper, put his eyes upon my companion.
(05:58):
All when the name of good fortune, did you do
you know all that? Mister Holmes? He asked, how did
you know, for example, that I did manual labor? It's
true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carpenter.
Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand is quite
a size larger than your left. You have worked with it,
(06:19):
and the muscles are more developed. Well. The snuff, then,
and the freemasonry. I won't insult your intelligence by telling
you how I read that, especially as rather against the
strict rules of your order, you use an arc and
compass breastpin. Oh, of course I forgot that. But the writting.
(06:41):
What else can be indicated by that right cuff so
very shiny for five inches, and the left one with
the smooth patch near the elbow where you rested upon
the desk. Well, but China, the fish that you have
tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been
(07:03):
done in China. I have made a small study of
tattoo marks, and have even contributed to the literature of
the subject. The trick of staining the fish's scales of
a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When in addition,
I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain,
(07:24):
the matter becomes even more simple. Mister Jabez Wilson laughed heavily.
I never said he. I thought at first that you
had done something clever, But I see that there was
nothing in it. After all, I begin to think, Watson,
said Holmes, that I make a mistake in explaining omne
(07:48):
ignotum pro magnifico, you know, and my poor little reputation,
such as it is, will suffer shipwrecked if I am
so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Miss Wilson, Yes,
I have got it now, he answered, with his thick
red finger planted half way down the column. Here it is,
(08:09):
this is what we get at all. You just read
it for yourself. Sir. I took the paper from him
and read as follows to the Red Headed League. On
account of the bequest of the late Essekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA,
there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member
(08:31):
of the League to a salary of four pounds a
week for purely nominal services. All Red Headed men who
are sound in body and mind and above the age
of twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person on
Monday at eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices
of the League, seven Pope's Court, Fleet Street. What on
(08:55):
earth does this mean? I ejaculated after I had twice
read over the extra extraordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled
in his chair, as was his habit when in high spirits.
It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?
Said he? And now, mister Wilson, off you go with
(09:16):
scratch and tell us all about yourself, your household, and
the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You
will first make a note doctor of the paper and
the date m It is the Morning Chronicle of April
twenty seven, eighteen ninety Just two months ago. Very good now,
(09:36):
mister Wilson. Well, it is just as I've been telling you,
mister Sherlock Holmes said, job as Wilson mopping his forehead.
I have a small pawnbroker's business at Cobourg Square near
the city. It is not a very large affair, and
of late years it has not done more than just
(09:56):
give me a living. I used to be able to
keep two assistants, but now I only keep one, and
I would have a job to pay him, but that
he is willing to come for half wages so as
to learn the business. What is the name of this
obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. His name is Vincent Espalding.
(10:17):
And he's not such a youth either. It's hard to
say his age. I should not wish a smart assistant,
mister Holmes, and I know very well that he could
better himself and earn twice what I am able to
give him. But after all, if he is satisfied, why
should I put ideas in his head? Why? Indeed, you
(10:39):
seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under
the full market price. It is not a common experience
among employers in this age. I don't know that your
assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement. Oh he
has his faults too, said mister Wilson. Never was such
(11:00):
a fellow for photography, snapping away with a camera when
he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving
down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole
to develop his pictures. That is his main fault. But
on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice
in him. He is still with you, I presume, yes, sir.
(11:21):
He and a girl of fourteen who does a bit
of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That's all
I have in the house where I am a widower
and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir,
the three of us, and we keep a roof over
our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more.
The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spalding.
(11:47):
He came down into the office just this day, eight
weeks with this very paper in his hand, and he says,
I wish to the Lord, mister Wilson, that I was
a red headed man. Why is that, I asked, Why,
says he, here's another vacancy on the League of the
red headed men. It's worth quite a little fortune to
(12:09):
any man who gets it. And I understand that there
are more vacancies than there are men, so that the
trustees are at their wits end what to do with
the money. If my hair would only change color, here's
a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.
Why what is it? Then? I asked? You. See, mister Holmes,
(12:31):
I'm a very stay at home man, and as my
business came to me instead of my having to go
to it, I was often weeks on end without putting
my foot over the door. Met in that way, I
don't know much of what was going on outside, and
I was always glad of a bit of news. Have
you never heard of the League of the red headed Men?
(12:53):
He asked, with his eyes open. Never. Why I wonder
at that? For you are eligible yourself for one of
the vacancies. And what are they worth? I asked, Oh,
merely a couple of hundred a year. But the work
is slight and it need not interfere very much with
(13:14):
one's other occupations. Well, you can easily think that that
made me pick up my ears, for the business has
not been over good for some years, and an extra
couple of hundred would have been very handy. Tell me
all about it, said I, well, said he, showing me
the advertisement. You can see for yourself that the league
(13:37):
has a vacancy, and there is the address where you
should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out,
the league was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins,
who was very peculiar in his ways. He himself was
red headed, and he had a great sympathy for all
red headed men. So when he died, it was found
(14:00):
that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands
of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the
providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of
that color. From all I hear, it is splendid pay
and very little to do. But said I, there would
be millions of red headed men who would apply, not
(14:22):
so many as you might think, He answered, you see,
it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men.
This American had started from London when he was young,
and he wanted to do the old town a good turn.
Then again, I have heard it is of no use
your replying if your hair is light red or dark red,
(14:44):
or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if
you cared to apply, mister Wilson, you would just walk in.
But perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to
put yourself out of the way for the sake of
a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentleman,
as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is
(15:05):
of a very full and rich tint. So that it
seemed to me that if there was to be any
competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance
as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding
seemed to know so much about it that I thought
he might prove useful. So I ordered him to put
up the shutters for the day and to come right
(15:28):
away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday,
So we shut the business up and started off for
the address that was given us in the advertisement. I
never hoped to see such a sight as that, again,
mister Holmes, from north, southeast and west, every man who
had a shade of red in his hair had tramped
(15:48):
into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street was
choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked like
a coaster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that
there was so many in the whole country as were
brought together by that single advertisement. Every shade of color.
They were straw, lemon, orange, brick, irish setter, liver clay.
(16:13):
But as Spalding said, there were not many who had
the real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how
many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair.
But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did
it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled
and butted until he got me through the crowd and
(16:36):
right up to the steps which led to the office.
There was a double stream upon the stair, some going
up in hope and some coming back dejected. But we
wedged in as well as we could and found ourselves
in the office. Your experience has been a most entertaining one,
remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed his memory
(17:00):
with a huge, pincious snuff. Pray, continue your very interesting statement.
There was nothing in the office but a couple of
wooden chairs and a deal table, behind which sat a
small man with a head that was even redder than mine.
He said a few words to each candidate as he
came up, and then he always managed to find some
(17:22):
fault in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy
did not seem to be such a very easy matter
after all. However, when our turn came, the little man
was much more favorable to me than to any of
the others, and he closed the door as we entered,
so that he might have a private word with us.
(17:45):
This is mister Jopas Wilson, said my assistant, and he
is willing to fill a vacancy in the league, and
he is admirably suited for it. The other answered, he
has every requirement. I cannot recall when I I have
seen anything so fine. He took a step backward, cocked
(18:05):
his head on one side, and gazed at my hair
until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward,
wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my success.
It would be injustice to hesitate, said he you will, however,
I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.
(18:28):
With that, he seized my hair in both his hands
and tugged until I yelled with the pain. There is
water in your eyes, said he as he released me.
I perceive that all is as it should be, but
we have to be careful, for we have twice been
deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could tell
(18:49):
you tales of cobbler's wax which would discust you with
human nature. He stepped over to the window and shouted
through it at the top of his voice that the
vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below,
and the folk all trooped away in different directions, until
there was not a red head to be seen except
(19:11):
my own and that of the manager. My name said,
He is mister Duncan Ross, and I am myself one
of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor.
Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family?
I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately.
Dear me, he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed,
(19:37):
I am sorry to hear you say that the fund was,
of course for the propagation and spread of the Redheads,
as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate
that you should be a bachelor. My face lengthened at this,
mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to
have the vacancy after all. But after thinking it over
(19:59):
for few minutes, he said that it would be all
right in the case of another, said he. The objection
might be fatal, but we must stretch a point in
favor of a man with such a head of hair
as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon
your new duties. Well, it is a little awkward, for
(20:21):
I have a business already, said I. Oh, never mind
about that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding. I should be
able to look after that for you. What would be
the ours, I asked, ten to two. Now upon broker's
business is mostly done of an evening, mister Holmes, especially
Thursday and Friday evenings, which is just before payday, So
(20:45):
it would suit me very well to earn a little
in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was
a good man and that he would see to anything
that turned up. That would suit me very well, said I.
And the pay is four pounds a week, and the
work is purely nominal. What do you call purely nominal? Well,
(21:10):
you have to be in the office, or at least
in the building the whole time. If you leave, you
forfeit your whole position forever. The will is very clear
upon that point. You don't comply with the conditions if
you budge from the office during that time. It's only
four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,
(21:32):
said I. No excuse will avail, said mister duncan Ross,
neither sickness, nor business nor anything else. There you must
stay or you lose your billet. And the work is
to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There is the first
volume of it in that press. You must find your
(21:54):
own inche pins and blotting paper. But we provide this
table and chair. Will you be ready to morrow? Certainly?
I answered, then, good bye, mister Javes Wilson, and let
me congratulate you once more on the important position which
you have been fortunate enough to gain. He bowed me
(22:16):
out of the room, and I went home with my assistant,
hardly knowing what to say or do. I was so
pleased at my own good fortune. End of Part one,
Part two. Well, I thought over the matter all day,
and by evening I was in low spirits again, for
(22:37):
I had quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must
be some great hoax or fraud. Though what its object
might be, I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past
belief that any one could make such a will, or
that they would pay such a sum for doing anything
so simple as copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spaulding
(23:01):
did what he could to cheer me up, but by
bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However,
in the morning I determined to have a look at
it anyhow so I bought a penny bottle of ink,
and with a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper,
I started off for Pope's court. Well, to my surprise
(23:25):
and delight, everything was as right as possible. The table
was set out ready for me, and mister Duncan Ross
was there to see that I got fairly to work.
He started me off upon the letter A, and then
he left me, but he would drop in from time
to time to see that all was right with me.
(23:47):
At two o'clock he bade me good day, complimented me
upon the amount that I had written, and locked the
door of the office after me. This went on day
after day, mister Holmes, and on Saturday, the manager came
in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my week's work.
(24:07):
It was the same next week, and the same the
week after. Every morning I was there at ten, and
every afternoon I left it two by degrees. Mister Duncan
Ross took to coming in only once of a morning,
and then after a time he did not come in
at all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave
(24:29):
the room for an instant, for I was not sure
when he might come. And the billet was such a
good one and suited me so well that I would
not risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away
like this, and I had written about abbots and archery,
and armor, and architecture and attica, and hoped with diligence
(24:51):
that I might get on to the bees before very long.
It cost me something in foolscap and I had pretty
nearly filled a shop with my writings, And then suddenly
the whole business came to an end. To an end, yes, sir,
and no later than this morning. I went to my
work as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was
(25:13):
shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered
on to the middle of the panel with a tack.
Here it is, and you can read for yourself. He
held up a piece of white cardboard about the size
of a sheet of notepaper. It read, in this fashion,
the Red Headed League is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen nineteen.
(25:38):
Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the
rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the
affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both
burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see
that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing
(26:00):
up to the roots of his flaming head. If you
can do nothing better than laugh at me, I can
go elsewhere. No, no, cried Holmes, shoving him back into
the chair from which he had half risen. I really
wouldn't miss your case for the world. It is most
refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you will excuse my
(26:22):
saying so, something just a little funny about it. Pray
what steps did you take when you found the card
upon the door? I was staggered, sir. I did not
know what to do. Then I called at the offices round,
but none of them seemed to know anything. About it.
Finally I went to the landlord, who is an accountant
(26:44):
living on the ground floor, and I asked him if
he could tell me what had become of the red
headed league. He said that he had never heard of
any such body. Then I asked him who mister Duncan
Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Well,
said I, the gentleman at number four, what the red
(27:07):
headed man? Yes, oh, said he. His name was William Morris.
He was a solicitor and was using my room as
a temporary convenience until his new premises were ready. He
moved out yesterday. Where could I find him? Oh, at
his new offices. He did tell me the dress, Yes,
(27:31):
seventeen King Edward Street, near Saint Paul's. I started off,
mister Holmes, But when I had got to that address,
it was a manufactory of artificial knee caps, and no
one in it had ever heard of either mister William
Morris or mister Duncan Ross. And what did you do, then,
(27:53):
asked Holmes. I went home to Saxe Coburg Square and
I took the advice of my assistant, but he could
not help me in any way. He could only say
that if I waited, I should hear my post. But
that was not quite good enough, mister Holmes. I did
not wish to lose such a place without a struggle.
(28:15):
So as I had heard that you were good enough
to give advice to poor folk who were in need
of it, I came right away to you, and you
did very wisely, said Holmes. Your case is an exceedingly
remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it.
From what you have told me, I think that it
(28:37):
is possible that graver issues hanging from it then might
at first sight a peer grave enough, said mister job
As Wilson. Why I have lost four pounds a week?
As far as you are personally concerned, remarked Holmes, I
do not see that you have any grievance against this
extraordinary league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand,
(29:02):
richer by some thirty pounds, to say nothing of the
minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which
comes under the letter A. You have lost nothing by them, no, sir,
But I want to find out about them, and who
they are, and what their object was in playing this prank.
(29:23):
If it was a prank upon me, it was a
pretty expensive joke for them, for it cost them two
and thirty pounds. We shall endeavor to clear up these
points for you. And first, one or two questions, mister Wilson,
this assistant of yours who first called your attention to
the advertisement? How long has he been with you? About
(29:45):
a month? Then? How did he come in answer to
an advertisement? Was he the only applicant? No? I had
a dozen? Why did you pick him? Because he was
handy and would come cheap at half wages? In fact? Yes?
What is he like? This? Vincent Spalding? Small stout, built,
(30:09):
very quick in his ways, no hair on his face,
though he's not short of thirty, has a white splash
of acid upon his forehead. Holmes sat up in his
chair in considerable excitement. I thought as much, said he.
Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for
(30:30):
ear rings? Yes, sir, he told me that a gipsy
had done it for him when he was a lad, hm,
said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. He is still
with you? Oh? Yes, sir, I have only just left him.
And has your business been attended to in your absence?
(30:51):
Nothing to complain of, sir, There's never very much to
do of a morning. That will do, mister Wilson, I
shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the
subject in the course of a day or two. Today
is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may
come to a conclusion. Well, Watson set Holmes, when our
(31:14):
visitor had left us, what do you make of it all?
I make nothing of it, I answered, frankly. It is
a most mysterious business. As a rule, said Holmes, the
more bizarre a thing is, the less mysterious it proves
to be. It is your commonplace featureless crimes, which are
(31:36):
really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most
difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this matter.
What are you going to do? Then? I asked to smoke?
He answered, it is quite a three pipe problem. And
I beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes.
(31:59):
He curled himself up in his chair, with his thin
knees drawn up to his hawk like nose, and there
he sat, with his eyes closed and his black clay
pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird.
I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped
a sleep and indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly
(32:22):
sprang out of his chair with the gesture of a
man who has made up his mind, and put his
pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Sataste plays at the Saint
James Hall this afternoon. He remarked, what do you think, Watson?
Could your patience spare you for a few hours. I
have nothing to do today. My practice is never very absorbing.
(32:47):
Then put on your hat and come. I am going
through the city first, and we can have some lunch
on the way. I observe that there is a good
deal of German music on the program, which is rather
more to my taste than Italian or French. It is introspective,
and I want to introspect. Come along. We traveled by
(33:11):
the underground as far as Aldersgate, and a short walk
took us to Saxe Coburg Square, the scene of the
singular story which we had listened to in the morning.
It was a poky, little shabby, genteel place where four
lines of dingy, two storied brick houses looked out into
(33:31):
a small, railed in enclosure, where a lawn of weedy
grass and a few clumps of faded Laurel Bushes made
a hard fight against a smoke laden and uncongenial atmosphere,
three gilt balls and a brown board with job as
Wilson in white letters. Upon a corner house announced the
(33:52):
place where our red headed client carried on his business.
Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it, with his hat
on one side, and looked all over with his eyes
shining brightly between puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up
the street and then down again to the corner, still
looking keenly at the houses. Finally he returned to the pawnbrokers, and,
(34:16):
having thumped vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two
or three times, he went up to the door and knocked.
It was instantly opened by a bright looking, clean shaven
young fellow, who asked him to step in. Thank you,
said Holmes. I only wish to ask you how you
would go from here to the strand third right, fourth left,
(34:39):
answered the assistant, promptly closing the door. Smart fellow that
observed Holmes as we walked away. He is, in my judgment,
the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring, I
am not sure that he has not a claim to
be third. I have known something of him before, evidently,
(35:01):
said I, mister Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal
in this mystery of the Red Headed League. I am
sure that you inquired your way merely in order that
you might see him, not him? What then, the knees
of his trousers? And what did you see? What I
expected to see? Why did you beat the pavement? My
(35:25):
dear doctor, This is a time for observation, not talk.
We are spies in an enemy's country. We know something
of saxe Coburg Square. Let us now explore the parts
which lie behind it. The road in which we found
ourselves as we turned round the corner from the retired
(35:46):
Saxe Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it
as the front of a picture does to the back.
It was one of the main arteries which conveyed the
traffic of the city to the north and west. The
roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing
at a double tide inward and outward, while the footpaths
(36:10):
were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was
difficult to realize as we looked at the line of
fine shops and stately business premises that they really abutted
on the other side with the faded and stagnant square
which we had just quitted. Let me see, said Holmes,
(36:32):
standing at the corner and glancing along the line. I
should like just to remember the order of the houses here.
It is a hobby of mine to have an exact
knowledge of London. There is Mortimer's, the Tobacconist, the little
newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank,
(36:53):
the vegetarian restaurant, and McFarland's carriage building depot. That raise
us right on to the other block. And now, doctor,
we've done our work, so it's time we had some play,
a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off
to violin Land. We're all a sweetness and delicacy and harmony,
(37:17):
and there are no redheaded clients to vex us with
their conundrums. End of Part two, Part three. My friend
was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a very
(37:38):
capable performer, but a composer of no ordinary merit. All
the afternoon he sat in the stalls, wrapped in the
most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in
time to the music, while his gently smiling face and
his languid, dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Homes
(38:00):
the sleuth hound Holmes, the relentless, keen witted, ready handed
criminal agent, as it was possible to conceive in his
singular character, the dual nature alternately asserted itself, and his
extreme exactness and astuteness represented, as I have often thought,
(38:20):
the reaction against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally
predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him
from extreme languor to devouring energy, And as I knew well,
he was never so truly formidable as when for days
(38:41):
on end he had been lounging in his armchair amid
his improvisations and his black letter editions. Then it was
that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him,
and that his brilliant reasoning power would rise to the
level of intuition wish, until those who were unacquainted with
(39:02):
his methods would look askance at him as on a
man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When
I saw him that afternoon, so enwrapped in the music
at Saint James's Hall. I felt that an evil time
it might be coming upon those whom he had set
himself to hunt down. You want to go home, no doubt, doctor,
(39:26):
he remarked, as we emerged. Yes, it would be as well,
and I have some business to do which will take
some hours. This business at Coburg Square is serious? Why serious?
A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason
to believe that we shall be in time to stop it.
(39:49):
But today, being Saturday, rather complicates the matters. I shall
want your help tonight at what time ten will be
early enough. I shall be in Baker Street at ten
very well, And I say, doctor, there may be some
little danger, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket.
(40:12):
He waved his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared
in an instant among the crowd. I trust that I
am not more dense than my neighbors. But I was
always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in
my dealings with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what
(40:33):
he had heard, I had seen what he had seen,
And yet from his words it was evident that he
saw clearly not only what had happened but what was
about to happen? While to me the whole business was
still confused and grotesque. As I drove home to my
house in Kensington, I thought over it all, from the
(40:56):
extraordinary story of the red headed copier of the Encyclopedia,
down to the visit to Saxe Coburg Square and the
ominous words with which he had parted from me. What
was this nocturnal expedition and why should I go armed?
Where were we going and what were we to do?
(41:16):
I had the hint from Holmes that this smooth faced
pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable man, a man who might
play a deep game. I tried to puzzle it out,
but gave it up in despair and set the matter
aside until nights should bring an explanation. It was a
quarter past nine when I started from home and made
(41:40):
my way across the park and so through Oxford Street
to Baker Street. Two Hansoms were standing at the door,
and as I entered the passage I heard the sound
of voices from above. On entering his room, I found
Holmes in animated conversation with two men, one of whom
I reckonedognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent, while
(42:04):
the other was a long, thin, sad faced man with
a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock coat. Ah
our party is complete, said Holmes, buttoning up his pea
jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Watson,
I think you know, mister Jones of Scotland Yard. Let
(42:24):
me introduce you to mister Merriwether, who is to be
our companion in tonight's adventure. We're hunting in couples again, doctor,
you see, said Jones in his consequential way. Our friend
here is a wonderful man for starting a chase. All
he wants is an old dog to help him to
do the running down. I hope a wild goose may
(42:48):
not prove to be the end of our chase, observed
mister Merriweather gloomily. You may place considerable confidence in mister Holmes, Sir,
said the police agent loftily. He has his own little methods,
which are, if he won't mind my saying so, just
stay little too theoretical and fantastic. But he has the
(43:10):
makings of a detective in him. It is not too
much to say that once or twice, as in that
business of the soulto murder and the agra treasure. He
has been more nearly correct than the official force. Oh,
if you say so, mister Jones, it is all right,
said the stranger, with deference. Still, I confess that I
(43:32):
miss my rubber. It is the first Saturday night for
seven and twenty years that I have not had my rubber.
I think you will find, said Sherlock Holmes, that you
will play for a higher stake to night than you
have ever done yet, and that the play will be
more exciting for you, mister Meriwether. The stake will be
(43:54):
some thirty thousand pounds, and for you, Jones, it will
be the man upon on whom you wish to lay
your hands, John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher and forger.
He's a young man, mister Meriwether, but he is at
the head of his profession. And I would rather have
my bracelets on him than any criminal in London. He's
(44:19):
a remarkable man, is young John Clay. His grandfather was
a royal duke, and he himself has been to Eton
and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers,
and though we meet signs of him at every turn.
We never know where to find the man himself. He'll
(44:39):
crack a crib in Scotland one week and be raising
money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. I've
been on his track for years and have never set
eyes on him yet. I hope that I may have
the pleasure of introducing you tonight. I've had one or
two little turns also with mister John Play, and I
(45:01):
agree with you that he is at the head of
his profession. It is past ten, however, and quite time
that we started. If you two will take the first,
handsome Watson, and I will follow in the second. Sherlock
Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive, and
lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he
(45:23):
had heard in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless
labyrinth of gas lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street.
We are close there now, my friend remarked. This fellow
Merriweather is a bank director and personally interested in the matter.
I thought it is well to have Jones with us. Also,
(45:46):
he is not a bad fellow. Though an absolute imbecile
in his profession, he has one positive virtue. He is
as brave as a bulldog, and as tenacious as a
lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are,
and they are waiting for us. We had reached the
(46:06):
same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in
the morning. Our calves were dismissed, and following the guidance
of mister Merriweather, we passed down a narrow passage and
through a side door which he opened for us. Within
there was a small corridor which ended in a very
massive iron gate. This also was opened and led down
(46:30):
a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another
formidable gate. Mister Merriweather stopped to light a lantern, and
then conducted us down a dark, earth smelling passage, And
so after opening a third door into a huge vault
or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and
(46:53):
massive boxes. You were not very vulnerable from above, Holmes remarked,
as he had held up the lantern and gazed about him.
Nor from below, said mister Merriwether, striking his stick upon
the flags which lined the floor. Why dear me, it
sounds quite hollow, he remarked, looking up in surprise. I
(47:14):
must really ask you to be a little more quiet,
said Holmes. Severely, you have already imperiled the whole success
of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have
the goodness to sit down upon one of these boxes,
and not to interfere. The solemn mister Meriwether perched himself
(47:35):
upon a crate, with a very injured expression upon his face,
while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor, and
with the lantern and the magnifying lins, began to examine
minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed
to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again
(47:56):
and put his glass to his pocket. We have at
least an hour before us, he remarked, for they can
hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely
in bed. Then they will not lose a minute, for
the sooner they do their work, the longer they will
have for their escape. We are at present, doctor, as
no doubt you have divined in the cellar of the
(48:18):
city branch of one of the principal London banks. Mister
Meriwether is the chairman of directors, and he will explain
to you that there are reasons why the more daring
criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar.
At present it is our French gold, whispered the director.
(48:39):
We have had several warnings that an attempt might be
made upon it your French gold. Yes, we had occasion
some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed for
that purpose thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France.
It has become known that we have never had occasion
(49:00):
to unpack the money, and that it is still lying
in our cellar. The crate upon which I sit contains
two thousand napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our
reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is
usually kept in a single branch office. And the directors
have had misgivings upon the subject, which were very well justified,
(49:24):
observed Holmes. And now it is time that we arranged
our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters
will come to a head. In the meantime, mister Meriwether,
we must put the screen over that dark lantern and
sit in the dark. I am afraid so I had
(49:45):
brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I
thought that as we were a PARTI carree, you might
have your rubber after all, But I see that the
enemy's preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk
the presence of a life. And first of all, we
must choose our possessions. These are daring men, and though
(50:07):
we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do
us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand
behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those? Then,
when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly.
If they fire, Watson have no compunction about shooting them down.
(50:31):
I placed my revolver cocked up on the top of
the wooden case behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the
slide across the front of his lantern and left us
in pitch darkness, such an absolute darkness as I have
never before experienced. The smell of hot metal remained to
assure us that the light was still there, ready to
(50:54):
flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my
nerves worked up to a pitch of expancy, there was
something depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom and in
the cold, dank air of the vault. They have but
one retreat, whispered Holmes, that is back through the house
(51:15):
into Saxe Coburg Square. I hope that you have done
what I asked you, Jones. I am an inspector and
two officers waiting at the front door. Then we have
stopped all the holes, and now we must be silent
and wait. What a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards,
(51:39):
it was but an hour and a quarter. Yet it
appeared to me that the night must have almost gone,
and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were
weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position.
Yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch
of tension, and my hearing was so acute that I
(52:00):
could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions,
but I could distinguish the deeper, heavier in breadth of
the bulky Jones from the thin sighing note of the
bank director. From my position, I could look over the
case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes
caught the glint of a light. At first it was
(52:24):
but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it
leathened out until it became a yellow line, and then,
without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open,
and hand appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt
about in the center of the little area of light.
(52:45):
For a minute or more, the hand, with its writhing fingers,
protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as
suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again, save
the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones.
Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, tearing sound,
(53:10):
one of the broad white stones turned over upon its
side and left a square, gaping hole through which streamed
the light of a lantern. Over the edge, there peeped
a clean cut, boyish face which looked keenly about it,
and then, with a hand on either side of the aperture,
(53:31):
drew itself shoulder high and waist high, until one knee
rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood at
the side of the hole and was hauling after him
a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale
face and a shock of very red hair. It's all clear,
(53:52):
he whispered, Have you the chisel and the bags, Great Scott, jump, Archie, jump,
and I'll swing for it. Shirl Holmes had sprung out
and seized the intruder by the collar. The other dived
down the hole, and I heard the sound of rending
cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed
(54:15):
down the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes's hunting crop
came down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked
upon the stone floor. It's no use, John Clay, said Holmes, flandly,
you have no chance at all, so I see the
other answered with the utmost coolness. I fancy that my
(54:37):
pal is all right, though I see you have got
his coat tails. There are three men waiting for him
at the door, said Holmes. Oh, indeed, you seem to
have done the thing very completely. I must compliment you,
and I you, Holmes answered, Your red headed idea was
very new and effective. You'll see your palagan presently, said Jones.
(55:02):
He's quickerly climbing down holes than I am. Just hold
out while I fix the derbies. I beg that you
will not touch me with your filthy hands, remarked our prisoner,
as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You may not
be aware that I have royal blood in my veins.
Have the goodness also when you address me, always to
(55:24):
say sir and please all right, said Jones, with a
stare and a snigger. Well, would you please, sir march
upstairs where we can get a cab to carry your
highness to the police station. That is better, said John
Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to the three
(55:48):
of us, and walked quietly off in the custody of
the detective. Really, mister Holmes, said mister Merriwether, as we
followed them from the cellar. I do not know how
the bank can thank you, will repay you. There is
no doubt that you have detected and defeated, in the
most complete manner, one of the most determined attempts at
(56:08):
bank robbery that has ever come within my experience. I
have had one or two little scores of my own
to settle with, mister John Clay, said Holmes. I have
been at some small expense over this matter, which I
shall expect the bank to refund. But beyond that I
am amply repaid by having had an experience which is
(56:31):
in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable
narrative of the red Headed League, you see, Watson, he
explained in the early hours of the morning, as we
sat over a glass of whiskey and soda in Baker Street.
It was perfectly obvious from the first that the only
(56:51):
possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement
of the league and the copying of the encyclopedia must
be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out of
the way for a number of hours every day. It
was a curious way of managing it, but really it
(57:12):
would be difficult to suggest a better The method was
no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color
of his accomplice's hair. The four pounds a week was
a lure which must draw him. And what was it
to them who were playing for thousands? They put in
the advertisement. One rogue has the temporary office, the other
(57:35):
rogue incites the man to apply for it, and together
they managed to secure his absence every morning in the week.
From the time that I heard of the assistant having
come for half wages, it was obvious to me that
he had some strong motive for securing the situation. But
how could you guess what the motive was? Had there
(57:57):
been a woman in the house, I should have suspected
did a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of
the question. The man's business was a small one, and
there was nothing in his house which could account for
such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were
at It must then be something out of the house.
(58:19):
What could it be? I thought of the assistant's fundness
for photography and his trick of vanishing into the cellar
the cellar. There was the end of this tangled clue
that I made my inquiries as to this mysterious assistant
and found that I had to deal with one of
(58:40):
the coolest and most daring criminals in London. He was
doing something in the cellar, something which took many hours
a day from months on end. What could it be?
Once more, I could think of nothing, say that he
was running a tunnel to some other building. So far
(59:00):
I had got. When we went to visit the scene
of action, I surprised you by beating upon the pavement
with my stick. I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched
out in front or behind. It was not in front.
Then I rang the bell, and as I hoped the
assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we
(59:23):
had never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly
looked at his face. His knees were what I wished
to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled
and stained they were. They spoke of those hours of burrowing.
The only remaining point was what were they burrowing? For?
(59:46):
I walked round the corner, saw the city in suburban
bank about it on our friend's premises, and felt that
I had solved my problem. When you drove home after
the concert, I called upon Scotland Yard, upon the chairman
of the bank directors, with the result that you have
seen And how could you tell that they would make
(01:00:08):
their attempt tonight? I asked, Well, when they closed their
league offices, that was a sign that they cared no
longer about mister job As Wilson's presence. In other words,
that they had completed their tunnel, but it was essential
that they should use it soon, as it might be
(01:00:29):
discovered or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit
them better than any other day, as it would give
them two days for their escape. For all these reasons
I expected them to come tonight you reasoned it out beautifully,
I exclaimed, in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain,
(01:00:52):
and yet every link rings true. It saved me from anyui,
he answered, yawning. Alas I all ready feeling closing and
upon me. My life is spent in one long effort
to escape from the commonplaces of existence. Ah, these little
problems help me to do so. And you are a
(01:01:14):
benefactor of the race, said I. He shrugged his shoulders. Well, perhaps,
after all, it is of some little use, he remarked. Long,
serrier lou sit too, as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George
sand end of Part three, End of The Red Headed
(01:01:36):
League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Red Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Part one.
I had called upon my friend mister Sherlock Holmes one
day in the autumn of last year, and found him
in deep conversation with a very stout, florid faced, elderly
gentleman with fiery red hair, with an apology for my intrusion.
(00:23):
I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly
into the room and closed the door behind me. You
could not possibly have come at a better time, my
dear Watson, he said cordially. I was afraid that you
were engaged, so I am very much so then I
can wait in the next room. Not at all, this gentleman,
(00:46):
mister Wilson has been my partner and helper in many
of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt
that he will be of the utmost use to me
in yours. Also. The stout gentlemen half rose from his
chair and gave a bob of greeting with a quick,
little questioning glance from his small, fat encircled eyes. Try
(01:09):
the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and putting
his fingertips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods.
I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love
of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and
humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish
(01:31):
for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle.
And if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to
embellish so many of my own little adventures, your cases
have indeed been of greatest interest to me, I observed.
You will remember that I remarked the other day, just
(01:52):
before we went into the very simple problem presented by
Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects extraordinary combinations, we
must go to life itself, which is always far more
daring than any effort of the imagination, A proposition which
I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor, But
(02:16):
none the less, you must come round to my view,
for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact
on you until your reason breaks down under them and
acknowledges me to be right. Now, mister JOBEZ Wilson here
has been good enough to call upon me this morning
(02:37):
and to bring a narrative which promises to be one
of the most singular which I have listened to for
some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest
and most unique things are very often connected not with
the larger but with these smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed,
(02:58):
where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime
has been committed. As far as I have heard, it
is impossible for me to say whether the present case
is an instance of crime or not. But the course
of events is certainly among the most singular that I
have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you would have
(03:20):
the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you
not merely because my friend doctor Watson has not heard
the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of
the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail
from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard
some slight indication of the course of events, I am
(03:44):
able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar
cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance,
I am forced to admit that the facts are, to
the best of my belief unique. The portly client puffed
out his chest with an appearance of some little pride,
and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside
(04:07):
pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement
column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened
out upon his knee. I took a good look at
the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion,
to read the indications which might be presented by his
dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However,
(04:31):
by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being
an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He
wore rather backy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not over
clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a
(04:51):
drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and a
square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament.
A frayed top hat, and a faded brown overcoat with
a wrinkled velvet color lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether,
look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man,
(05:13):
save his blazing red head and the expression of extreme
chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's quick eye
took in my occupation, and he shook his head with
a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the
obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor,
(05:37):
that he takes snuff, that he is a freemason, that
he has been to China, and that he has done
a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else,
mister job. As Wilson started up in his chair with
his forefinger upon the paper, put his eyes upon my companion.
(05:58):
All when the name of good fortune, did you do
you know all that? Mister Holmes? He asked, how did
you know, for example, that I did manual labor? It's
true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carpenter.
Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand is quite
a size larger than your left. You have worked with it,
(06:19):
and the muscles are more developed. Well. The snuff, then,
and the freemasonry. I won't insult your intelligence by telling
you how I read that, especially as rather against the
strict rules of your order, you use an arc and
compass breastpin. Oh, of course I forgot that. But the writting.
(06:41):
What else can be indicated by that right cuff so
very shiny for five inches, and the left one with
the smooth patch near the elbow where you rested upon
the desk. Well, but China, the fish that you have
tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been
(07:03):
done in China. I have made a small study of
tattoo marks, and have even contributed to the literature of
the subject. The trick of staining the fish's scales of
a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When in addition,
I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain,
(07:24):
the matter becomes even more simple. Mister Jabez Wilson laughed heavily.
I never said he. I thought at first that you
had done something clever, But I see that there was
nothing in it. After all, I begin to think, Watson,
said Holmes, that I make a mistake in explaining omne
(07:48):
ignotum pro magnifico, you know, and my poor little reputation,
such as it is, will suffer shipwrecked if I am
so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Miss Wilson, Yes,
I have got it now, he answered, with his thick
red finger planted half way down the column. Here it is,
(08:09):
this is what we get at all. You just read
it for yourself. Sir. I took the paper from him
and read as follows to the Red Headed League. On
account of the bequest of the late Essekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA,
there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member
(08:31):
of the League to a salary of four pounds a
week for purely nominal services. All Red Headed men who
are sound in body and mind and above the age
of twenty one years are eligible. Apply in person on
Monday at eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices
of the League, seven Pope's Court, Fleet Street. What on
(08:55):
earth does this mean? I ejaculated after I had twice
read over the extra extraordinary announcement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled
in his chair, as was his habit when in high spirits.
It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?
Said he? And now, mister Wilson, off you go with
(09:16):
scratch and tell us all about yourself, your household, and
the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You
will first make a note doctor of the paper and
the date m It is the Morning Chronicle of April
twenty seven, eighteen ninety Just two months ago. Very good now,
(09:36):
mister Wilson. Well, it is just as I've been telling you,
mister Sherlock Holmes said, job as Wilson mopping his forehead.
I have a small pawnbroker's business at Cobourg Square near
the city. It is not a very large affair, and
of late years it has not done more than just
(09:56):
give me a living. I used to be able to
keep two assistants, but now I only keep one, and
I would have a job to pay him, but that
he is willing to come for half wages so as
to learn the business. What is the name of this
obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. His name is Vincent Espalding.
(10:17):
And he's not such a youth either. It's hard to
say his age. I should not wish a smart assistant,
mister Holmes, and I know very well that he could
better himself and earn twice what I am able to
give him. But after all, if he is satisfied, why
should I put ideas in his head? Why? Indeed, you
(10:39):
seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under
the full market price. It is not a common experience
among employers in this age. I don't know that your
assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement. Oh he
has his faults too, said mister Wilson. Never was such
(11:00):
a fellow for photography, snapping away with a camera when
he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving
down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole
to develop his pictures. That is his main fault. But
on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice
in him. He is still with you, I presume, yes, sir.
(11:21):
He and a girl of fourteen who does a bit
of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That's all
I have in the house where I am a widower
and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir,
the three of us, and we keep a roof over
our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more.
The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spalding.
(11:47):
He came down into the office just this day, eight
weeks with this very paper in his hand, and he says,
I wish to the Lord, mister Wilson, that I was
a red headed man. Why is that, I asked, Why,
says he, here's another vacancy on the League of the
red headed men. It's worth quite a little fortune to
(12:09):
any man who gets it. And I understand that there
are more vacancies than there are men, so that the
trustees are at their wits end what to do with
the money. If my hair would only change color, here's
a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.
Why what is it? Then? I asked? You. See, mister Holmes,
(12:31):
I'm a very stay at home man, and as my
business came to me instead of my having to go
to it, I was often weeks on end without putting
my foot over the door. Met in that way, I
don't know much of what was going on outside, and
I was always glad of a bit of news. Have
you never heard of the League of the red headed Men?
(12:53):
He asked, with his eyes open. Never. Why I wonder
at that? For you are eligible yourself for one of
the vacancies. And what are they worth? I asked, Oh,
merely a couple of hundred a year. But the work
is slight and it need not interfere very much with
(13:14):
one's other occupations. Well, you can easily think that that
made me pick up my ears, for the business has
not been over good for some years, and an extra
couple of hundred would have been very handy. Tell me
all about it, said I, well, said he, showing me
the advertisement. You can see for yourself that the league
(13:37):
has a vacancy, and there is the address where you
should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out,
the league was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins,
who was very peculiar in his ways. He himself was
red headed, and he had a great sympathy for all
red headed men. So when he died, it was found
(14:00):
that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands
of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the
providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of
that color. From all I hear, it is splendid pay
and very little to do. But said I, there would
be millions of red headed men who would apply, not
(14:22):
so many as you might think, He answered, you see,
it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men.
This American had started from London when he was young,
and he wanted to do the old town a good turn.
Then again, I have heard it is of no use
your replying if your hair is light red or dark red,
(14:44):
or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if
you cared to apply, mister Wilson, you would just walk in.
But perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to
put yourself out of the way for the sake of
a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentleman,
as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is
(15:05):
of a very full and rich tint. So that it
seemed to me that if there was to be any
competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance
as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding
seemed to know so much about it that I thought
he might prove useful. So I ordered him to put
up the shutters for the day and to come right
(15:28):
away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday,
So we shut the business up and started off for
the address that was given us in the advertisement. I
never hoped to see such a sight as that, again,
mister Holmes, from north, southeast and west, every man who
had a shade of red in his hair had tramped
(15:48):
into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street was
choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked like
a coaster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that
there was so many in the whole country as were
brought together by that single advertisement. Every shade of color.
They were straw, lemon, orange, brick, irish setter, liver clay.
(16:13):
But as Spalding said, there were not many who had
the real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how
many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair.
But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did
it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled
and butted until he got me through the crowd and
(16:36):
right up to the steps which led to the office.
There was a double stream upon the stair, some going
up in hope and some coming back dejected. But we
wedged in as well as we could and found ourselves
in the office. Your experience has been a most entertaining one,
remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed his memory
(17:00):
with a huge, pincious snuff. Pray, continue your very interesting statement.
There was nothing in the office but a couple of
wooden chairs and a deal table, behind which sat a
small man with a head that was even redder than mine.
He said a few words to each candidate as he
came up, and then he always managed to find some
(17:22):
fault in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy
did not seem to be such a very easy matter
after all. However, when our turn came, the little man
was much more favorable to me than to any of
the others, and he closed the door as we entered,
so that he might have a private word with us.
(17:45):
This is mister Jopas Wilson, said my assistant, and he
is willing to fill a vacancy in the league, and
he is admirably suited for it. The other answered, he
has every requirement. I cannot recall when I I have
seen anything so fine. He took a step backward, cocked
(18:05):
his head on one side, and gazed at my hair
until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward,
wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my success.
It would be injustice to hesitate, said he you will, however,
I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.
(18:28):
With that, he seized my hair in both his hands
and tugged until I yelled with the pain. There is
water in your eyes, said he as he released me.
I perceive that all is as it should be, but
we have to be careful, for we have twice been
deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could tell
(18:49):
you tales of cobbler's wax which would discust you with
human nature. He stepped over to the window and shouted
through it at the top of his voice that the
vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below,
and the folk all trooped away in different directions, until
there was not a red head to be seen except
(19:11):
my own and that of the manager. My name said,
He is mister Duncan Ross, and I am myself one
of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor.
Are you a married man, mister Wilson, have you a family?
I answered that I had not. His face fell immediately.
Dear me, he said, gravely, that is very serious. Indeed,
(19:37):
I am sorry to hear you say that the fund was,
of course for the propagation and spread of the Redheads,
as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate
that you should be a bachelor. My face lengthened at this,
mister Holmes, for I thought that I was not to
have the vacancy after all. But after thinking it over
(19:59):
for few minutes, he said that it would be all
right in the case of another, said he. The objection
might be fatal, but we must stretch a point in
favor of a man with such a head of hair
as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon
your new duties. Well, it is a little awkward, for
(20:21):
I have a business already, said I. Oh, never mind
about that, mister Wilson, said Vincent Spalding. I should be
able to look after that for you. What would be
the ours, I asked, ten to two. Now upon broker's
business is mostly done of an evening, mister Holmes, especially
Thursday and Friday evenings, which is just before payday, So
(20:45):
it would suit me very well to earn a little
in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was
a good man and that he would see to anything
that turned up. That would suit me very well, said I.
And the pay is four pounds a week, and the
work is purely nominal. What do you call purely nominal? Well,
(21:10):
you have to be in the office, or at least
in the building the whole time. If you leave, you
forfeit your whole position forever. The will is very clear
upon that point. You don't comply with the conditions if
you budge from the office during that time. It's only
four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,
(21:32):
said I. No excuse will avail, said mister duncan Ross,
neither sickness, nor business nor anything else. There you must
stay or you lose your billet. And the work is
to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There is the first
volume of it in that press. You must find your
(21:54):
own inche pins and blotting paper. But we provide this
table and chair. Will you be ready to morrow? Certainly?
I answered, then, good bye, mister Javes Wilson, and let
me congratulate you once more on the important position which
you have been fortunate enough to gain. He bowed me
(22:16):
out of the room, and I went home with my assistant,
hardly knowing what to say or do. I was so
pleased at my own good fortune. End of Part one,
Part two. Well, I thought over the matter all day,
and by evening I was in low spirits again, for
(22:37):
I had quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must
be some great hoax or fraud. Though what its object
might be, I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past
belief that any one could make such a will, or
that they would pay such a sum for doing anything
so simple as copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spaulding
(23:01):
did what he could to cheer me up, but by
bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However,
in the morning I determined to have a look at
it anyhow so I bought a penny bottle of ink,
and with a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper,
I started off for Pope's court. Well, to my surprise
(23:25):
and delight, everything was as right as possible. The table
was set out ready for me, and mister Duncan Ross
was there to see that I got fairly to work.
He started me off upon the letter A, and then
he left me, but he would drop in from time
to time to see that all was right with me.
(23:47):
At two o'clock he bade me good day, complimented me
upon the amount that I had written, and locked the
door of the office after me. This went on day
after day, mister Holmes, and on Saturday, the manager came
in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my week's work.
(24:07):
It was the same next week, and the same the
week after. Every morning I was there at ten, and
every afternoon I left it two by degrees. Mister Duncan
Ross took to coming in only once of a morning,
and then after a time he did not come in
at all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave
(24:29):
the room for an instant, for I was not sure
when he might come. And the billet was such a
good one and suited me so well that I would
not risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away
like this, and I had written about abbots and archery,
and armor, and architecture and attica, and hoped with diligence
(24:51):
that I might get on to the bees before very long.
It cost me something in foolscap and I had pretty
nearly filled a shop with my writings, And then suddenly
the whole business came to an end. To an end, yes, sir,
and no later than this morning. I went to my
work as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was
(25:13):
shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered
on to the middle of the panel with a tack.
Here it is, and you can read for yourself. He
held up a piece of white cardboard about the size
of a sheet of notepaper. It read, in this fashion,
the Red Headed League is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen nineteen.
(25:38):
Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the
rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the
affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both
burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see
that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing
(26:00):
up to the roots of his flaming head. If you
can do nothing better than laugh at me, I can
go elsewhere. No, no, cried Holmes, shoving him back into
the chair from which he had half risen. I really
wouldn't miss your case for the world. It is most
refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you will excuse my
(26:22):
saying so, something just a little funny about it. Pray
what steps did you take when you found the card
upon the door? I was staggered, sir. I did not
know what to do. Then I called at the offices round,
but none of them seemed to know anything. About it.
Finally I went to the landlord, who is an accountant
(26:44):
living on the ground floor, and I asked him if
he could tell me what had become of the red
headed league. He said that he had never heard of
any such body. Then I asked him who mister Duncan
Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Well,
said I, the gentleman at number four, what the red
(27:07):
headed man? Yes, oh, said he. His name was William Morris.
He was a solicitor and was using my room as
a temporary convenience until his new premises were ready. He
moved out yesterday. Where could I find him? Oh, at
his new offices. He did tell me the dress, Yes,
(27:31):
seventeen King Edward Street, near Saint Paul's. I started off,
mister Holmes, But when I had got to that address,
it was a manufactory of artificial knee caps, and no
one in it had ever heard of either mister William
Morris or mister Duncan Ross. And what did you do, then,
(27:53):
asked Holmes. I went home to Saxe Coburg Square and
I took the advice of my assistant, but he could
not help me in any way. He could only say
that if I waited, I should hear my post. But
that was not quite good enough, mister Holmes. I did
not wish to lose such a place without a struggle.
(28:15):
So as I had heard that you were good enough
to give advice to poor folk who were in need
of it, I came right away to you, and you
did very wisely, said Holmes. Your case is an exceedingly
remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it.
From what you have told me, I think that it
(28:37):
is possible that graver issues hanging from it then might
at first sight a peer grave enough, said mister job
As Wilson. Why I have lost four pounds a week?
As far as you are personally concerned, remarked Holmes, I
do not see that you have any grievance against this
extraordinary league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand,
(29:02):
richer by some thirty pounds, to say nothing of the
minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which
comes under the letter A. You have lost nothing by them, no, sir,
But I want to find out about them, and who
they are, and what their object was in playing this prank.
(29:23):
If it was a prank upon me, it was a
pretty expensive joke for them, for it cost them two
and thirty pounds. We shall endeavor to clear up these
points for you. And first, one or two questions, mister Wilson,
this assistant of yours who first called your attention to
the advertisement? How long has he been with you? About
(29:45):
a month? Then? How did he come in answer to
an advertisement? Was he the only applicant? No? I had
a dozen? Why did you pick him? Because he was
handy and would come cheap at half wages? In fact? Yes?
What is he like? This? Vincent Spalding? Small stout, built,
(30:09):
very quick in his ways, no hair on his face,
though he's not short of thirty, has a white splash
of acid upon his forehead. Holmes sat up in his
chair in considerable excitement. I thought as much, said he.
Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for
(30:30):
ear rings? Yes, sir, he told me that a gipsy
had done it for him when he was a lad, hm,
said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. He is still
with you? Oh? Yes, sir, I have only just left him.
And has your business been attended to in your absence?
(30:51):
Nothing to complain of, sir, There's never very much to
do of a morning. That will do, mister Wilson, I
shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the
subject in the course of a day or two. Today
is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may
come to a conclusion. Well, Watson set Holmes, when our
(31:14):
visitor had left us, what do you make of it all?
I make nothing of it, I answered, frankly. It is
a most mysterious business. As a rule, said Holmes, the
more bizarre a thing is, the less mysterious it proves
to be. It is your commonplace featureless crimes, which are
(31:36):
really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most
difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this matter.
What are you going to do? Then? I asked to smoke?
He answered, it is quite a three pipe problem. And
I beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes.
(31:59):
He curled himself up in his chair, with his thin
knees drawn up to his hawk like nose, and there
he sat, with his eyes closed and his black clay
pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird.
I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped
a sleep and indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly
(32:22):
sprang out of his chair with the gesture of a
man who has made up his mind, and put his
pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Sataste plays at the Saint
James Hall this afternoon. He remarked, what do you think, Watson?
Could your patience spare you for a few hours. I
have nothing to do today. My practice is never very absorbing.
(32:47):
Then put on your hat and come. I am going
through the city first, and we can have some lunch
on the way. I observe that there is a good
deal of German music on the program, which is rather
more to my taste than Italian or French. It is introspective,
and I want to introspect. Come along. We traveled by
(33:11):
the underground as far as Aldersgate, and a short walk
took us to Saxe Coburg Square, the scene of the
singular story which we had listened to in the morning.
It was a poky, little shabby, genteel place where four
lines of dingy, two storied brick houses looked out into
(33:31):
a small, railed in enclosure, where a lawn of weedy
grass and a few clumps of faded Laurel Bushes made
a hard fight against a smoke laden and uncongenial atmosphere,
three gilt balls and a brown board with job as
Wilson in white letters. Upon a corner house announced the
(33:52):
place where our red headed client carried on his business.
Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it, with his hat
on one side, and looked all over with his eyes
shining brightly between puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up
the street and then down again to the corner, still
looking keenly at the houses. Finally he returned to the pawnbrokers, and,
(34:16):
having thumped vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two
or three times, he went up to the door and knocked.
It was instantly opened by a bright looking, clean shaven
young fellow, who asked him to step in. Thank you,
said Holmes. I only wish to ask you how you
would go from here to the strand third right, fourth left,
(34:39):
answered the assistant, promptly closing the door. Smart fellow that
observed Holmes as we walked away. He is, in my judgment,
the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring, I
am not sure that he has not a claim to
be third. I have known something of him before, evidently,
(35:01):
said I, mister Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal
in this mystery of the Red Headed League. I am
sure that you inquired your way merely in order that
you might see him, not him? What then, the knees
of his trousers? And what did you see? What I
expected to see? Why did you beat the pavement? My
(35:25):
dear doctor, This is a time for observation, not talk.
We are spies in an enemy's country. We know something
of saxe Coburg Square. Let us now explore the parts
which lie behind it. The road in which we found
ourselves as we turned round the corner from the retired
(35:46):
Saxe Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it
as the front of a picture does to the back.
It was one of the main arteries which conveyed the
traffic of the city to the north and west. The
roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing
at a double tide inward and outward, while the footpaths
(36:10):
were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was
difficult to realize as we looked at the line of
fine shops and stately business premises that they really abutted
on the other side with the faded and stagnant square
which we had just quitted. Let me see, said Holmes,
(36:32):
standing at the corner and glancing along the line. I
should like just to remember the order of the houses here.
It is a hobby of mine to have an exact
knowledge of London. There is Mortimer's, the Tobacconist, the little
newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank,
(36:53):
the vegetarian restaurant, and McFarland's carriage building depot. That raise
us right on to the other block. And now, doctor,
we've done our work, so it's time we had some play,
a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off
to violin Land. We're all a sweetness and delicacy and harmony,
(37:17):
and there are no redheaded clients to vex us with
their conundrums. End of Part two, Part three. My friend
was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a very
(37:38):
capable performer, but a composer of no ordinary merit. All
the afternoon he sat in the stalls, wrapped in the
most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in
time to the music, while his gently smiling face and
his languid, dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Homes
(38:00):
the sleuth hound Holmes, the relentless, keen witted, ready handed
criminal agent, as it was possible to conceive in his
singular character, the dual nature alternately asserted itself, and his
extreme exactness and astuteness represented, as I have often thought,
(38:20):
the reaction against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally
predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him
from extreme languor to devouring energy, And as I knew well,
he was never so truly formidable as when for days
(38:41):
on end he had been lounging in his armchair amid
his improvisations and his black letter editions. Then it was
that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him,
and that his brilliant reasoning power would rise to the
level of intuition wish, until those who were unacquainted with
(39:02):
his methods would look askance at him as on a
man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When
I saw him that afternoon, so enwrapped in the music
at Saint James's Hall. I felt that an evil time
it might be coming upon those whom he had set
himself to hunt down. You want to go home, no doubt, doctor,
(39:26):
he remarked, as we emerged. Yes, it would be as well,
and I have some business to do which will take
some hours. This business at Coburg Square is serious? Why serious?
A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason
to believe that we shall be in time to stop it.
(39:49):
But today, being Saturday, rather complicates the matters. I shall
want your help tonight at what time ten will be
early enough. I shall be in Baker Street at ten
very well, And I say, doctor, there may be some
little danger, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket.
(40:12):
He waved his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared
in an instant among the crowd. I trust that I
am not more dense than my neighbors. But I was
always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in
my dealings with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what
(40:33):
he had heard, I had seen what he had seen,
And yet from his words it was evident that he
saw clearly not only what had happened but what was
about to happen? While to me the whole business was
still confused and grotesque. As I drove home to my
house in Kensington, I thought over it all, from the
(40:56):
extraordinary story of the red headed copier of the Encyclopedia,
down to the visit to Saxe Coburg Square and the
ominous words with which he had parted from me. What
was this nocturnal expedition and why should I go armed?
Where were we going and what were we to do?
(41:16):
I had the hint from Holmes that this smooth faced
pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable man, a man who might
play a deep game. I tried to puzzle it out,
but gave it up in despair and set the matter
aside until nights should bring an explanation. It was a
quarter past nine when I started from home and made
(41:40):
my way across the park and so through Oxford Street
to Baker Street. Two Hansoms were standing at the door,
and as I entered the passage I heard the sound
of voices from above. On entering his room, I found
Holmes in animated conversation with two men, one of whom
I reckonedognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent, while
(42:04):
the other was a long, thin, sad faced man with
a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock coat. Ah
our party is complete, said Holmes, buttoning up his pea
jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Watson,
I think you know, mister Jones of Scotland Yard. Let
(42:24):
me introduce you to mister Merriwether, who is to be
our companion in tonight's adventure. We're hunting in couples again, doctor,
you see, said Jones in his consequential way. Our friend
here is a wonderful man for starting a chase. All
he wants is an old dog to help him to
do the running down. I hope a wild goose may
(42:48):
not prove to be the end of our chase, observed
mister Merriweather gloomily. You may place considerable confidence in mister Holmes, Sir,
said the police agent loftily. He has his own little methods,
which are, if he won't mind my saying so, just
stay little too theoretical and fantastic. But he has the
(43:10):
makings of a detective in him. It is not too
much to say that once or twice, as in that
business of the soulto murder and the agra treasure. He
has been more nearly correct than the official force. Oh,
if you say so, mister Jones, it is all right,
said the stranger, with deference. Still, I confess that I
(43:32):
miss my rubber. It is the first Saturday night for
seven and twenty years that I have not had my rubber.
I think you will find, said Sherlock Holmes, that you
will play for a higher stake to night than you
have ever done yet, and that the play will be
more exciting for you, mister Meriwether. The stake will be
(43:54):
some thirty thousand pounds, and for you, Jones, it will
be the man upon on whom you wish to lay
your hands, John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher and forger.
He's a young man, mister Meriwether, but he is at
the head of his profession. And I would rather have
my bracelets on him than any criminal in London. He's
(44:19):
a remarkable man, is young John Clay. His grandfather was
a royal duke, and he himself has been to Eton
and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers,
and though we meet signs of him at every turn.
We never know where to find the man himself. He'll
(44:39):
crack a crib in Scotland one week and be raising
money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. I've
been on his track for years and have never set
eyes on him yet. I hope that I may have
the pleasure of introducing you tonight. I've had one or
two little turns also with mister John Play, and I
(45:01):
agree with you that he is at the head of
his profession. It is past ten, however, and quite time
that we started. If you two will take the first,
handsome Watson, and I will follow in the second. Sherlock
Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive, and
lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he
(45:23):
had heard in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless
labyrinth of gas lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street.
We are close there now, my friend remarked. This fellow
Merriweather is a bank director and personally interested in the matter.
I thought it is well to have Jones with us. Also,
(45:46):
he is not a bad fellow. Though an absolute imbecile
in his profession, he has one positive virtue. He is
as brave as a bulldog, and as tenacious as a
lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are,
and they are waiting for us. We had reached the
(46:06):
same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in
the morning. Our calves were dismissed, and following the guidance
of mister Merriweather, we passed down a narrow passage and
through a side door which he opened for us. Within
there was a small corridor which ended in a very
massive iron gate. This also was opened and led down
(46:30):
a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another
formidable gate. Mister Merriweather stopped to light a lantern, and
then conducted us down a dark, earth smelling passage, And
so after opening a third door into a huge vault
or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and
(46:53):
massive boxes. You were not very vulnerable from above, Holmes remarked,
as he had held up the lantern and gazed about him.
Nor from below, said mister Merriwether, striking his stick upon
the flags which lined the floor. Why dear me, it
sounds quite hollow, he remarked, looking up in surprise. I
(47:14):
must really ask you to be a little more quiet,
said Holmes. Severely, you have already imperiled the whole success
of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have
the goodness to sit down upon one of these boxes,
and not to interfere. The solemn mister Meriwether perched himself
(47:35):
upon a crate, with a very injured expression upon his face,
while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor, and
with the lantern and the magnifying lins, began to examine
minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed
to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again
(47:56):
and put his glass to his pocket. We have at
least an hour before us, he remarked, for they can
hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely
in bed. Then they will not lose a minute, for
the sooner they do their work, the longer they will
have for their escape. We are at present, doctor, as
no doubt you have divined in the cellar of the
(48:18):
city branch of one of the principal London banks. Mister
Meriwether is the chairman of directors, and he will explain
to you that there are reasons why the more daring
criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar.
At present it is our French gold, whispered the director.
(48:39):
We have had several warnings that an attempt might be
made upon it your French gold. Yes, we had occasion
some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed for
that purpose thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France.
It has become known that we have never had occasion
(49:00):
to unpack the money, and that it is still lying
in our cellar. The crate upon which I sit contains
two thousand napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our
reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is
usually kept in a single branch office. And the directors
have had misgivings upon the subject, which were very well justified,
(49:24):
observed Holmes. And now it is time that we arranged
our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters
will come to a head. In the meantime, mister Meriwether,
we must put the screen over that dark lantern and
sit in the dark. I am afraid so I had
(49:45):
brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I
thought that as we were a PARTI carree, you might
have your rubber after all, But I see that the
enemy's preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk
the presence of a life. And first of all, we
must choose our possessions. These are daring men, and though
(50:07):
we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do
us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand
behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those? Then,
when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly.
If they fire, Watson have no compunction about shooting them down.
(50:31):
I placed my revolver cocked up on the top of
the wooden case behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the
slide across the front of his lantern and left us
in pitch darkness, such an absolute darkness as I have
never before experienced. The smell of hot metal remained to
assure us that the light was still there, ready to
(50:54):
flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my
nerves worked up to a pitch of expancy, there was
something depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom and in
the cold, dank air of the vault. They have but
one retreat, whispered Holmes, that is back through the house
(51:15):
into Saxe Coburg Square. I hope that you have done
what I asked you, Jones. I am an inspector and
two officers waiting at the front door. Then we have
stopped all the holes, and now we must be silent
and wait. What a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards,
(51:39):
it was but an hour and a quarter. Yet it
appeared to me that the night must have almost gone,
and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were
weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position.
Yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch
of tension, and my hearing was so acute that I
(52:00):
could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions,
but I could distinguish the deeper, heavier in breadth of
the bulky Jones from the thin sighing note of the
bank director. From my position, I could look over the
case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes
caught the glint of a light. At first it was
(52:24):
but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it
leathened out until it became a yellow line, and then,
without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open,
and hand appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt
about in the center of the little area of light.
(52:45):
For a minute or more, the hand, with its writhing fingers,
protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as
suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again, save
the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones.
Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, tearing sound,
(53:10):
one of the broad white stones turned over upon its
side and left a square, gaping hole through which streamed
the light of a lantern. Over the edge, there peeped
a clean cut, boyish face which looked keenly about it,
and then, with a hand on either side of the aperture,
(53:31):
drew itself shoulder high and waist high, until one knee
rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood at
the side of the hole and was hauling after him
a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale
face and a shock of very red hair. It's all clear,
(53:52):
he whispered, Have you the chisel and the bags, Great Scott, jump, Archie, jump,
and I'll swing for it. Shirl Holmes had sprung out
and seized the intruder by the collar. The other dived
down the hole, and I heard the sound of rending
cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed
(54:15):
down the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes's hunting crop
came down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked
upon the stone floor. It's no use, John Clay, said Holmes, flandly,
you have no chance at all, so I see the
other answered with the utmost coolness. I fancy that my
(54:37):
pal is all right, though I see you have got
his coat tails. There are three men waiting for him
at the door, said Holmes. Oh, indeed, you seem to
have done the thing very completely. I must compliment you,
and I you, Holmes answered, Your red headed idea was
very new and effective. You'll see your palagan presently, said Jones.
(55:02):
He's quickerly climbing down holes than I am. Just hold
out while I fix the derbies. I beg that you
will not touch me with your filthy hands, remarked our prisoner,
as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You may not
be aware that I have royal blood in my veins.
Have the goodness also when you address me, always to
(55:24):
say sir and please all right, said Jones, with a
stare and a snigger. Well, would you please, sir march
upstairs where we can get a cab to carry your
highness to the police station. That is better, said John
Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to the three
(55:48):
of us, and walked quietly off in the custody of
the detective. Really, mister Holmes, said mister Merriwether, as we
followed them from the cellar. I do not know how
the bank can thank you, will repay you. There is
no doubt that you have detected and defeated, in the
most complete manner, one of the most determined attempts at
(56:08):
bank robbery that has ever come within my experience. I
have had one or two little scores of my own
to settle with, mister John Clay, said Holmes. I have
been at some small expense over this matter, which I
shall expect the bank to refund. But beyond that I
am amply repaid by having had an experience which is
(56:31):
in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable
narrative of the red Headed League, you see, Watson, he
explained in the early hours of the morning, as we
sat over a glass of whiskey and soda in Baker Street.
It was perfectly obvious from the first that the only
(56:51):
possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement
of the league and the copying of the encyclopedia must
be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out of
the way for a number of hours every day. It
was a curious way of managing it, but really it
(57:12):
would be difficult to suggest a better The method was
no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color
of his accomplice's hair. The four pounds a week was
a lure which must draw him. And what was it
to them who were playing for thousands? They put in
the advertisement. One rogue has the temporary office, the other
(57:35):
rogue incites the man to apply for it, and together
they managed to secure his absence every morning in the week.
From the time that I heard of the assistant having
come for half wages, it was obvious to me that
he had some strong motive for securing the situation. But
how could you guess what the motive was? Had there
(57:57):
been a woman in the house, I should have suspected
did a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of
the question. The man's business was a small one, and
there was nothing in his house which could account for
such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were
at It must then be something out of the house.
(58:19):
What could it be? I thought of the assistant's fundness
for photography and his trick of vanishing into the cellar
the cellar. There was the end of this tangled clue
that I made my inquiries as to this mysterious assistant
and found that I had to deal with one of
(58:40):
the coolest and most daring criminals in London. He was
doing something in the cellar, something which took many hours
a day from months on end. What could it be?
Once more, I could think of nothing, say that he
was running a tunnel to some other building. So far
(59:00):
I had got. When we went to visit the scene
of action, I surprised you by beating upon the pavement
with my stick. I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched
out in front or behind. It was not in front.
Then I rang the bell, and as I hoped the
assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we
(59:23):
had never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly
looked at his face. His knees were what I wished
to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled
and stained they were. They spoke of those hours of burrowing.
The only remaining point was what were they burrowing? For?
(59:46):
I walked round the corner, saw the city in suburban
bank about it on our friend's premises, and felt that
I had solved my problem. When you drove home after
the concert, I called upon Scotland Yard, upon the chairman
of the bank directors, with the result that you have
seen And how could you tell that they would make
(01:00:08):
their attempt tonight? I asked, Well, when they closed their
league offices, that was a sign that they cared no
longer about mister job As Wilson's presence. In other words,
that they had completed their tunnel, but it was essential
that they should use it soon, as it might be
(01:00:29):
discovered or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit
them better than any other day, as it would give
them two days for their escape. For all these reasons
I expected them to come tonight you reasoned it out beautifully,
I exclaimed, in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain,
(01:00:52):
and yet every link rings true. It saved me from anyui,
he answered, yawning. Alas I all ready feeling closing and
upon me. My life is spent in one long effort
to escape from the commonplaces of existence. Ah, these little
problems help me to do so. And you are a
(01:01:14):
benefactor of the race, said I. He shrugged his shoulders. Well, perhaps,
after all, it is of some little use, he remarked. Long,
serrier lou sit too, as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George
sand end of Part three, End of The Red Headed
(01:01:36):
League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel