October 1, 2025 • 40 mins
Solve crimes with the great detective in "Sherlock Holmes Short Stories." Featuring classic tales by Arthur Conan Doyle, this podcast brings you the brilliant deductions and thrilling adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the world of Holmes, these timeless mysteries will keep you captivated.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The stockbroker's clerk. Shortly after my marriage, I had bought
a connection in the Paddington district. Old mister Farquhar, from
whom I purchased it, had at one time an excellent
general practice, but his age and an affliction of the
nature of Saint Vitus's dance from which he suffered, had
very much thinned it. The public not unnaturally, goes on
(00:23):
the principle that he who would heal others must himself
be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of
the man whose own case is beyond the reach of
his drugs. Thus, as my predecessor weakened, his practice declined,
until when I purchased it from him it had sunk
from twelve hundred to little more than three hundred a year.
(00:46):
I had confidence, however, in my own youth and energy,
and was convinced that in a very few years the
concern would be as flourishing as ever. For three months
after taking over the practice, I was kept very closely
at work and saw little of my friend Sherlock Holmes,
for I was too busy to visit Baker Street, and
he seldom went anywhere himself save upon professional business. I
(01:09):
was surprised therefore, when one morning in June, as I
sat reading the British Medical Journal after breakfast, I heard
a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat
strident tones of my old companion's voice. Ah, my dear Watson,
said he striding into the room. I am very delighted
to see you. I trust that missus Watson has entirely
(01:31):
recovered from all the little excitements connected with our adventure
of the Sign of the Foe. Thank you. We're both
doing very well, said I, shaking him warmly by the hand.
And I hope also, he continued, sitting down in the
rocking chair, that the cares of medical practice have not
entirely obliterated the interest to which you used to take
(01:53):
in our little deductive problems. On the contrary, I answered,
it was only last night that I was looking over
my old notes and classifying some of our past results.
I trust that you don't consider your collection closed, not
at all. I should wish nothing better than to have
some more of such experiences to day, for example, yes,
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to day if you like, and as far off as Birmingham, certainly,
if you wish it, and the practice I do my neighbors.
When he goes, he's always ready to work off the debt. Hah,
nothing could be better, said Holmes, leaning back in his
chair and looking keenly at me from under his half
(02:36):
closed lids. I perceive that you have been unwell lately.
Summer colds are always a little trying. I was confined
to the house by a severe chill for three days
last week. I thought, however, that I had cast off
every trace of it. So you have you look remarkably robust.
How then did you know it, my dear fellow, You
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know my methods. You deduced it, then, certainly? And from what?
From your slippers? I glanced down at the new patent
leathers which I was wearing. How on earth I began?
But Holmes answered my question before it was asked. Your
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slippers are new, He said, you could not have had
them more than a few weeks. The soules which you
are at this moment presenting to me are slightly scorched.
For a moment I thought they might have got wet
and been burned in the drying. But near the instep
there is a small circular wafer of paper with the
shopman's hieroglyphics upon it. Damp would of course have removed this.
(03:46):
You had then been sitting with your feet outstretched to
the fire, which a man would hardly do even in
so wet a june as this, if he were in
his full health. Like all Holmes's reason, the thing seemed
simplicity itself. When it was once explained. He read the
thought upon my features, and his smile had a tinge
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of bitterness. I am afraid that I rather give myself
away when I explain, said he. Results, without causes are
much more impressive. You are ready to come to Birmingham, then,
certainly what is the case? You shall hear it all
in the train. My client is outside in a four wheeler.
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Can you come at once? In an instant, I scribbled
a note to my neighbor, rushed upstairs to explain the
matter to my wife, and joined Holmes upon the doorstep.
Your neighbor is a doctor, said he, nodding at the
brass plate. Yes, he bought a practice as I did,
an old established one, just the same as mine. Both
(04:53):
have been ever since the houses were built. Ah, then
you got hold of the best of the two. I
think I did. But how do you know by the
steps my boy, yours are worn three inches deeper than his.
But this gentleman in the cab is my client, mister
hall Pyecroft. Allow me to introduce you to him. Whip
(05:14):
your horse up, cabby, for we have only just time
to catch our train. The man whom I found myself
facing was a well built, fresh complexioned young fellow with
a frank, honest face and a slight, crisp yellow mustache.
He wore a very shiny top hat and a neat
suit of sober black, which made him look what he was,
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A smart young city man of the class who had
been labeled cockneys, but who give us our crack volunteer regiments,
and who turn out more fine athletes and sportsmen than
any body of men in these islands. His round, ruddy
face was naturally full of cheeriness, but the corners of
his mouth seemed to me to be pulled down in
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a half comical distress. It was not, however, until we
were all in our first class carriage and well started
upon our journey to Birmingham, that I was able to
learn what the trouble was which had driven him to
Sherlock Holmes. We have a clear run here of seventy minutes.
Holmes remarked, I want you, mister Hall Pycroft, to tell
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my friend your very interesting experience, exactly as you have
told it to me, or with more detail, if possible.
It will be of use to me to hear the
succession of events again. It is a case, Watson, which
may prove to have something in it, or may prove
to have nothing, but which at least presents those unusual
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and utree features which are as dear to you as
they are to me. Now, mister Pycroft, I shall not
interrupt you again. Our young companion looked at me with
a twinkle in his eye. The worst of the story
is said he that I should show myself up as
such a confounded fool. Of course it may work out
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all right, and I don't see that I could have
done otherwise. But if I've lost my crib and got
nothing in exchange, I shall feel what a soft johnny
I've been. I'm not very good at telling a story,
Dr Watson, but it is like this with me. I
used to have a billet at Cox and Woodhouses of
Drapers Gardens, but they were let in early in the
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spring through the Venezuelan loane. There's no doubt you remember,
and came a nasty cropper. I've been with him five years,
and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when
the smash came. But of course week clerks were all
turned adrift for twenty seven of us. I tried here
and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps
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on the same lay as myself, and it was a
perfect frost. For a long time. I've been taking three
pounds a week at Coxon's, and I'd saved about seventy
of them. But I soon worked my way through that
and out the other end. I was fairly at the
end of my tether at last, and could hardly find
the stamps to answer the advertisements, all the envelopes to
stick them to. I'd worn up my boots paddling up
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off his stairs, and are seen just as far from
getting a billet as ever. At last I saw vacancy
at Mawson and Williams, the great stock broking firm in
Lombard Street. I dare say e c is not much
in your line, but I can tell you that this
is about the richest house in London. The advertisement was
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to be answered by a letter only. I sent him
my testimonial an application, but without the least hope of
getting in back. Came an answer by return saying if
I would appear next Monday, I might take over my
new duties at once, provided that my appearance was satisfactory.
No one knows how these things are worked. Some people
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say that the manager just plunges his hand into the
heap and takes the first that comes. Anyhow, it was
my innings that time, and I don't have a wish
to feel better pleased. The screw was a power the
week rise, and the dew is just about the same
as at Coxwain's. And now I come to the queer
part of the business. I was in Diggings out Amstead Way,
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seventeen potters Terrace, Well. I was sitting doing a smoke
that very evening, after I had been promised the appointment,
when up came my landlady with a card which had
Arthur Pinner, financial Agent printed upon it. I never heard
the name before and could not imagine what he wanted
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with me, but of course I asked her to show
him up In he walked a middle size dark haired,
dark eyed, black bearded man with a touch of the
sheeny about his nose. He had a brisk kind of
way with him, and he spoke sharply, like a man
who knew the valley of time. Mister old by Craft,
I believe, said he. Yes, sir, I answered, pushing a
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chair towards him, lately engaged at Coxon and Woodhouse's. Yes, sir,
now on the staff of Morson's. Quite so will, said he.
The fact is that I have heard some really extraordinary
stories about your financial ability. You remember Parker, who used
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to be Coxwain's manager. You can never say enough about it.
Of course, I was pleased to hear this. I'd always
been pretty sharp in the office, but I never dreamed
that I was talked about in the city in this fashion.
You have a good memory, said he, pretty fair, I
answered modestly. Have you kept in touch with the market
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while you've been out of work? He asked, yes, I
read the stock exchange list every morning. Now that shows
real application, he cried, This is the way to prosper.
You won't mind me testing you, will you let me
see our airshes one hundred and six and a quarter
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two hundred and five and seven eighths and New Zealand
consolidated one hundred and four and British brokenhels seven to
seven and six. Wonderful, he cried, with his hands up.
This quite fits in with all that i'd heard. My boy,
my boy, you're very much too good to be a
clerk at Morson's. This outburst rather astonish me. As you
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can think, well, said I. Other people don't think quite
so much of me as you seem to do, mister Pinner.
I had hard enough fight to get this berth, and
I'm very glad to have it. Pooh man, you should
soar above it. You're not in your true sphere. Now,
I'll tell you how it stands with me. What I
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have to offer is little enough when measured by your ability,
but when compared with Morsons, it's light to dark. Let
me see, when do you go to Mawson's on Monday? Ah?
I think I would risk a little sporting flutter that
you don't go there at all, not go to Morson's, No, sir,
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that day you'll be the business manager of the Franco
Midland Hardware Company Limited, with a hundred and thirty four
branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting
one in Brussels and one in San Remo. This took
my breath away. I never heard of it, said I
very likely not. It has been kept very quiet, for
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the capital was all privately subscribed, and it's too good
a thing to let the public into. My brother Harry
Pinner is promoter and joins the board after allotment as
managing director. He knew I was in the swim down here,
and asked me to pick up a good man, cheap,
a young pushing man with plenty of snap about him.
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Parker spoke of you, and that brought me here to night.
We can only offer you a beggarly five hundred to
start with, five hundred a year, I shouted, only there
at the beginning. But you ought to have an overriding
commission of one percent on all business done by your agents,
and you may take my word for it that this
will come to more than your salary. But I know
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nothing about hardware, Tuck, my boy, You know about figures.
My head buzzed and I could hardly sit still in
my chair. But suddenly a little chill of doubt came
upon me. I must be frank with you, said I.
Mawson only gives me two hundred. But Mawson is safe. Now.
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Really I know so little about your company that ah, smart, smart,
he cried, in a kind of ecstasy of delight. You
are the very man for us. You are not to
be talked over, and quite right too. Now here's a
note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that
we can do business, you may just slip it into
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your pocket as an advance upon your salary. This is
very handsome, said I. When should I take over my
new duties? Be in Birmingham to morrow at one? Said he.
I have a note in my pocket here which you
will take to my brother. You'll find him at one
twenty six B Corporation Street, where the temporary offices of
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the company are situated. Of course he must confirm your engagement,
but between ourselves it will be all right. Really, I
hardly know how to express my gratitude, mister Pinner, said I,
not at all, my boy. You've only got your desserts.
There are one or two small things, mere formalities, which
I must arrange with you. You have a bit of
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paper beside you there, kindly write upon it. I am
perfectly willing to act as business manager to the Franco
Midland Hardware Company Limited, at a minimum salary of five
hundred pounds. I did as he asked, and he put
the paper in his pocket. There is one other detail,
said he, What do you intend to do about Morsons.
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I had forgotten all about Morsons in my joy. I'll
write and resign, said I, precisely what I don't want
you to do. I had a row over you with
Mawson's manager. I've gone up to ask him about you,
and he was very offensive, accused me of coaxing you
away from the service of the firm, and that sort
of thing. At last, I've fairly lost my temper. If
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you want good men, you should pay them a good price,
said I. He would rather have our small price than
your big one, said he. I'll lay you a fiver,
said I that when he has my offer, you'll never
so much as hear from him again. Done, said he.
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We picked him out of the gutter and he won't
leave us so easily. Those were his very words. The
impudent scoundrel. I cried, I've never so much as seen
him in my life. Why should I consider him in
any way. I shall certainly not write if you would
rather I didn't. Good that's a promise, said he, rising
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from his chair. Well, I'm delighted to have got so
good a man from my brother. Here's your advance of
a one hundred pounds, and here is a letter. Make
a note of the address one twenty six B Corporation Street,
and remember that one o'clock tomorrow is your appointment. Good night,
and may you have all a fortune that you deserve.
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That's just about all that passed between us, as near
as I can remember. You can imagine Dr Watson, how
pleased I was at such an extraordinary bit of good fortune.
I sat up after night I give myself over it.
And next day I was off to Birmingham in a
train that would take me in plenty time for my appointment.
I took my things to a hotel in New Street,
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and then I made my way to the address which
had given me. It was a quarter of an hour
before my time. I thought that would make no difference.
One twenty six B was a passage between two large
shops which led to a winding stone stair from which
there were many flats. Let us offices to companies or
professional men. The names of the occupants were painted at
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the bottom on the wall, but there was no such
name as the Franco Midland Hardware Company. I stood for
a few minutes with my eye in my boots, wondering
whether the whole thing was an elaborate oaks or not.
When up came a man and addressed me. He was
very like the chap i'd seen the night before, the
same figure and voice, but he was clean shaven and
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his hair was lighter. Are you mister Allpiecraft, he asked? Yes,
said I, oh, I was expecting you, but you're a
trifle before your time. I had a note from my
brother this morning in which he sang your praises very loudly.
I was just looking for the offices when you came.
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We have not got our name up yet, for we
only secured these temporary premises last week. Come up with
me and we'll talk the matter over. I followed him
to the top of a very loft stare, and there,
right under the slates were a couple of empty, dusty
little rooms, uncarpeted and uncurtained, into which he led me.
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I thought of a great office with shining tables, and
rows of clerks such as I was used to, and
I dare say I stayed rather straight at the two
deal chairs and one little table, which with a ledger
and a waste paper basket made up the whole furniture.
Don't be disheartened, mister Pycroft, said my new acquaintance, seeing
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the length of my face. Rome was not built in
a day, and we have lots of money at our backs,
though we don't cut much dash yet in offices. Pray,
sit down and let me have your letter. I gave
it to him, and he read it over very carefully.
You seem to have made a vast impression upon my brother, Arthur,
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said he, and I know that he is a pretty
shrewd judge. He swears by London, you know, and eye
by Burningham. But this time I shall follow his advice. Pray,
consider yourself definitely engaged. What are my duties, I asked.
You will eventually manage the great depot in Paris, which
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will pour a flood of English crockery into the shops
of one hundred and thirty four agents in France. The
purchase will be completed in a week, and meanwhile you'll
remain in Birmingham, may make yourself useful. How for answer,
he took a big red book out of a draw
This is a directory of Paris, said he, with the
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trades after the names of the people. I'll want you
to take it own with you and to mark off
all the hardware sellers with their addresses. It will be
of the greatest use to me to have them. Surely
they are classified lists, I suggested, not reliable ones. Their
system is different from ours. Stick at it and let
me have the list by Monday at twelve. Good day,
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mister Pyecroft. If you continue to show zeal And intelligence,
you'll find the company a good master. I went back
to the hotel with a big book under my arm,
and with very conflicting feelings in my breast. On the
one hand, I was definitely engaged, and I had hundred
pounds in my pocket. On the other, the look of
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the offices, the absence of name on the wall, another
of the points which would strike a businessman, had left
a bad impression as to the position of my employers. However,
come what might, I had my money, so I settled
down to my task. All Sunday I was kept hard
at work, and yet by Monday, I had only got
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as far as h I went round to my employer,
found him in the same dismantled kind of room, and
was told to keep at it until Wednesday and then
come again. On Wednesday. It was still unfinished, so I
am at douay until Friday, nay is yesterday. Then I
brought it round to mister Harry Pinner. Thank you very much,
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said I fear that I underrated the difficulty of the task.
This list will be of very material assistance to me.
It took some time, said I, and now said he.
I want you to make a list of the furniture shops,
for they all sell crockery very good. And you can
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come up to morrow evening at seven and let me
know how you're getting on. Don't overwork yourself. A couple
of hours at day's music all in the evening would
do you no arm after your labors. He laughed as
he spoke, and I saw with a thrill that his
second tooth, upon the left hand side, had been very
badly stuffed with gold. Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with delight,
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and I stared with astonishment at our client. You may
well look surprised doctor Watson. But it is this way,
said he. When I was speaking to the other chap
in London at the time that he laughed at my
not going to Morson's, I appened to notice that his
tooth was stuffed in this very identical fashion. The glint
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of the gold in each case caught my eye. You see,
when I put that, with the voice and figure being
the same, and only those things altered which might be
changed by a razor or a wig, I could not
doubt that it was the same man. Of course, you
expect two brothers to be alike, but not that they
should have the same tooth stuffed in the same way.
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He bowed me out, and I found myself in the street,
hardly knowing whether I was on my head or my heels.
Back I went to my hotel, put my head in
a basin of cold water and try to think it out.
Why had he sent me from London to Birmingham, Why
had he got there before me, and why had he
written a letter from himself to himself. It was altogether
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too much for me, and I could make no sense
of it. And then suddenly it struck me that what
was dark to me might be very light to mister
Sherlock Holmes. I had just time to get up to
town by the night train to see him this morning,
and to bring you both back with me to Birmingham.
There was a pause after the stockbroker's clerk had concluded
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his surprising experience. Then Sherlock Holmes cocked his eye at me,
leaning back on the cushions with a pleased and yet
critical face, like a connoisseur who has just taken his
first sip of a Comet vintage. Rather fine Watson, is
it not? Said he? There are points in it which
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please me. I think that you will agree with me
that an interview with mister Arthur Harry Pinner in the
temporary offices of the Franco Midland Hardware Company Limited would
be a rather interesting experience for both of us. But
how can we do it? I asked? Oh? Easily enough,
said Hall Pyecroft, cheerily. You are two friends of mine
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who are in want of a billet, and what could
be more natural than that I should bring you both
round to the managing director. Quite so, of course, said Holmes.
I should like to have a look at the gentleman
and see if I can make anything of his little game.
What qualities have you, my friend, which would make your
services so valuable? Or is it possible that he began
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biting his nails and staring blankly out of the window,
and we hardly drew another word from him until we
were in New Street at seven o'clock that evening. We
were walking the three of us down Corporation Street to
the company's offices. It is no use our being at
all before our time, said our client. He only comes
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there to see me, apparently, for the place is deserted
up to the very hour he names. That is suggestive,
remarked holmes By Jove. I told you so, cried the clerk.
That's ay walk ahead of us there He pointed to
a smallish, dark, well dressed man who was bustling along
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the other side of the road. As we watched him,
he looked across at a boy who was bawling out
the latest edition of the evening paper and running over
among the cabs and buses. He brought one from him, then,
clutching it in his hand, he vanished through a doorway.
There he goes, cried hall Pyecroft. These are the company's
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offices into which he is gone, come with me, and
I'll fix it up as easily as possible. Following his lead,
we ascended five stories until we found ourselves outside a
half open door, at which our client tapped a voice
within bade us enter, and we entered a bare, unfurnished room,
such as hall Pyecroft had described. At the single table
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sat the man whom we had seen in the street,
with his evening paper spread out in front of him,
And as he looked up at us, it seemed to
me that I had never looked upon a face which
bore such marks of grief, and of something beyond grief,
of a horror such as comes to a few men
in a line lifetime. His brow glistened with perspiration, his
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cheeks were of the dull, dead white of a fish's belly,
and his eyes were wild and staring. He looked at
his clerk as though he failed to recognize him, and
I could see, by the astonishment depicted upon our conductor's
face that this was, by no means the usual appearance
of his employer. You look ill, mister Pinner, he exclaimed. Yes,
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I'm not very well, answered the other, making obvious efforts
to pull himself together, and licking his dry lips before
he spoke, Who are these gentlemen whom you've brought with you.
One is mister Harris of Bermondsey, and the other is
mister Price of this town, said our clerk glibly. They're
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friends of mine and gentlemen of experience, but they've been
out of a place for some little time, and they
hoped that perhaps you might find an opening for them
in the company's employment. Very possibly, very possibly, cried mister Pinner,
with a ghastly smile. Yes, I have no doubt that
we shall be able to do something for you. What
is your particular, lie, mister Harris, I am an accountant,
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said Holmes. Ah, yes, we shall want something of the sort.
And you, mister Price, a clerk, said I. I have
every hope that the company may accommodate you. I will
let you know about it as soon as we come
to any conclusion. And now I beg that you will go,
for God's sake, leave me to myself. These last words
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were shut out of him, as though the constraint which
he was evidently setting upon himself had suddenly and utterly
burst asunder. Holmes and I glanced at each other and
Aul Pyecroft took a step towards the table. You forget,
mister Pinner, the army, and by appointment to receive some
directions from you, said he. Certainly, mister Pyecroft, certainly, the
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other resumed in a calmer tone. You may wait here
a moment, and there is no reason why your friends
should not wait with you. I will be entire at
your service in three minutes. If I may tresp us
upon your patience. So far he rose, with a very
courteous air, and bowing to us. He passed through a
door at the farther end of the room, which he
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closed behind him. What now, whispered Holmes, Is he giving
us a slip? Impossible, answered Pyecroft. Why so that door
leads into an inner room. There is no exit, none,
is it furnished, It was empty yesterday? Then what on
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earth can he be doing? There is something which I
don't understand in this manner. If ever a man was
three parts mad with terror, that's man's name is Pinna,
What can have put the shivers on him? He suspects
that we're detectives. I suggested, see it, I Croft, Holmes
shook his head. He did not turn pale. He was
(29:02):
pale when we entered the room, said he. It is
just possible that his words were interrupted by a sharp
rat tat from the direction of the inner door. What
the deuce is he knocking his own door for, cried
the clerk again, and much louder came the rat tat tat.
We all gazed expectantly at the closed door. Glancing at Holmes,
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I saw his face turn rigid, and he leaned forward
in intense excitement. Then suddenly came a low, guggling, gargling
sound and a brisk drumming upon woodwork. Holmes sprang frantically
across the room and pushed at the door. It was
fastened on the inner side. Following his example, we threw
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ourselves upon it with all our weight. One hinge snapped,
then the other, and down came the door, with a crash.
Rushing over it, we found ourselves in the inner room.
It was empty, but it was only for a moment
that we were at fault. At one corner, the corner
nearest the room which we had left, there was a
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second door. Homes sprang to it and pulled it open.
A coat and waistcoat were lying on the floor, and
from a hook behind the door, with his own braces
round his neck, was hanging the managing director of the
Franco Midland Hardware Company. His knees were drawn up, his
head hung at a dreadful angle to his body, and
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the clatter of his heels against the door made the
noise which had broken in upon our conversation. In an
instant I had caught him round the waist and held
him up, while Holmes and Pyecroft untied the elastic bands
which had disappeared between the livid creases of skin, and
we carried him into the other room, where he lay
with a clay colored face, puffing his purple lips in
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and out with every breath, a dreadful wreck of all
that he had been but five minutes before. What do
you think of him? Watson asked Holmes. I stooped over
him and examined him. His pulse was feeble and intermittent,
but his breathing grew longer, and there was a little
shivering of his eyelids, which showed a thin white slit
(31:12):
of ball beneath. It has been touch and go with him,
said I. But he'll live now. Just open that window
and hand me the water. Ceroff, I undered his collar,
poured the cold water over his face, and raised and
sank his arms until he drew a long, natural breath.
It's only a question of time, now, said I, as
(31:34):
I turned away from him. Holmes stood by the table,
with his hands deep in his trousers pockets and his
chin upon his breast. I suppose we ought to call
a police in now, said he. And yet I confess
that I'd like to give them a complete case when
they come. It's a blessed mystery to me, cried Pyecroft,
(31:55):
scratching his head. Whatever they wanted to bring me all
the way up here for? And then pooh, all that
is clear enough, said Holmes impatiently. It is this last
sudden move you can understand the rest. Then, I think
that it is fairly obvious. What do you say, Watson,
I shrugged my shoulders. I must confess I am out
(32:19):
of my debts, said I. Oh, surely, if you consider
the events at first, they can only point to one conclusion.
What do you make of them? Well, the whole thing
hinges upon two points. The first is the making of
pyecroft right declaration, by which he entered the service of
this preposterous company. Do you not see how very suggestive
(32:41):
that is? I am afraid I mister point well, why
did they want him to do it? Not as a
business matter? For these arrangements are usually verbal, and there
was no earthly business reason why this should be an exception.
Don't you see, my young friend, that they were very
anxious to obtain a specimen of your handwriting and had
(33:02):
no other way of doing it. And why? Quite so?
Why when we answer that we have made some progress
with our little problem, why there can be only one
adequate reason. Someone wanted to learn to imitate your writing
and had to procure a specimen of it first. And
(33:24):
now if we pass on to the second point, we
find that each throws light upon the other. That point
is the request made by Pinner that you should not
resign your place, but should leave the manager of his
important business in the full expectation that a mister hall Pyecroft,
whom he had never seen, was about to enter the
office upon the Monday morning. My God, cried our client,
(33:49):
What a blind beat love been? Now you see the
point about the handwriting. Suppose that some one turned up
in your place who wrote a completely different hand from
that in which you had applied for the vacancy. Of course,
the game would have been up, but in the interval
the rogue had learned to imitate you, and his position
was therefore secure. As I presume that nobody in the
(34:12):
office had ever set eyes upon you, not a soul,
groaned hal Pyecroft. Very good. Of course, it was of
the utmost importance to prevent you from thinking better of it,
and also to keep you from coming into contact with
any one who might tell you that your double was
at work in Mowson's office. Therefore they gave you a
(34:35):
handsome advance on your salary and ran you off to
the Midlands, where they gave you enough work to do
to prevent you going to London, where you might have
burst their little game up. That is all plain enough.
But why should this man pretend to be his own brother? Well,
that is pretty clear. Also. There are evidently only two
(34:57):
of them in it. The other is impersonating you at
the the office. This one acted as your engager, and
then found that he could not find you an employer
without admitting a third person into his plot. That he
was most unwilling to do. He changed his appearance as
far as he could, and trusted that the likeness which
(35:17):
you could not fail to observe, would be put down
to a family resemblance. But for the happy chance of
the gold stuffing, your suspicions would probably never have been aroused.
Hall Pyecroft shook his clinched hands in the air. Good lord,
he cried, while I have been fooled in this way.
What has this other Hall Pyecroft been doing at Mawson's.
(35:39):
What shall we do? Mister Holmes, tell me what to do.
We must wire to Morson's. They shut at twelve on Saturdays.
Never mind, there may be some door keeper or attendant. Ah, yes,
and I keep a permanent guard there on account of
the value of the securities that they old. I remember
hearing it talk in the city. Very good. We shall
(36:03):
wire to him and see if all is well. And
if a clerk of your name is working there. That
is clear enough. But what is not so clear as why,
at the sight of us one of the rogue should
instantly walk out of the room and hang himself. The
paper croaked a voice behind us. The man was sitting up,
(36:24):
blanched and ghastly, with returning reason in his eyes and hands,
which rubbed nervously at the broad red band which still
encircled his throat. The paper, of course, yelled Holmes, in
a paroxysm of excitement. Idiot that I was. I thought
so much of our visit that the paper had never
(36:45):
entered my head for an instant. To be sure the
secret must be there, he flattened it upon the table,
and a cry of triumph burst from his lips. Look
at this, Watson, he cried. It is a London paper,
an early edition of the Evening Standard. Here is what
we want. Look at the headlines crime in the city,
(37:09):
murder at Mawson and Williams, gigantic attempted robbery, capture of
the criminal. Here, Watson, we are all equally anxious to
hear it, so kindly read it aloud to us. It appeared,
from its position in the paper to have been the
one event of importance in town, and the account of
it ran in this way. A desperate attempt at robbery
(37:31):
culminating in the death of one man and the capture
of the criminal occurred this afternoon in the city. For
some time back, Mawson and Williams, the famous financial house,
have been the guardians of securities which amount in the
aggregate to a sum of considerably over a million sterling.
So conscious was the manager of the responsibility which devolved
upon him in consequence of the great interest at stake,
(37:53):
that safes of the very latest construction have been employed,
and an armed watchman has been left day and night
in the building. It appears that last week a new
clerk named hall Pyecroft was engaged by the firm. This
person appears to have been none other than Beddington, the
famous forger and cracksman, who, with his brother had only
(38:15):
recently emerged from a five year spell of penal servitude.
By some means which are not yet clear, he succeeded
in winning, under a false name, this official position in
the office, which he utilized in order to obtain moldings
of various locks and a thorough knowledge of the position
of the strong room and the safes. It is customary
(38:36):
at Mawson's for the clerks to leave at midday on Saturday.
Sergeant Tuson of the City Police was somewhat surprised, therefore,
to see a gentleman with a carpet bag come down
the steps at twenty minutes past one. His suspicions being aroused,
the sergeant followed the man, and with the aid of
Constable Pollock, succeeded after a most desperate resistance, in arresting him.
(38:59):
It was at once clear that a daring and gigantic
robbery had been committed. Nearly a hundred thousand pounds worth
of American Railway bonds, with a large amount of scrip
in mines and other companies, was discovered in the bag.
On examining the premises, the body of the unfortunate watchman
was found doubled up and thrust into the largest of
(39:20):
the safes, where it would not have been discovered until
Monday morning had it not been for the prompt action
of Sergeant Tewson. The man's skull had been shattered by
a blow from a poker delivered from behind. There could
be no doubt that Beddington had obtained entrance by pretending
that he had left something behind him, and having murdered
the watchman, rapidly rifled a large safe and then made
(39:42):
off with his booty. His brother, who usually works with him,
has not appeared in this job as far as can
at present be ascertained, although the police are making energetic
inquiries as to his whereabouts. Well, we may save the
police some little trouble in that direction, said Holmes, glancing
at the haggard figure huddled up by the window. Human
(40:05):
nature is a strange mixture, Watson. You see that even
a villain and murderer can inspire such affection that his
brother turns to suicide when he learns that his neck
is forfeited. However, we have no choice as to our action.
The doctor and I will remain on guard, mister Pyecroft,
if you will have the kindness to step out for
(40:26):
the police. End of the Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk
The stockbroker's clerk. Shortly after my marriage, I had bought
a connection in the Paddington district. Old mister Farquhar, from
whom I purchased it, had at one time an excellent
general practice, but his age and an affliction of the
nature of Saint Vitus's dance from which he suffered, had
very much thinned it. The public not unnaturally, goes on
(00:23):
the principle that he who would heal others must himself
be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of
the man whose own case is beyond the reach of
his drugs. Thus, as my predecessor weakened, his practice declined,
until when I purchased it from him it had sunk
from twelve hundred to little more than three hundred a year.
(00:46):
I had confidence, however, in my own youth and energy,
and was convinced that in a very few years the
concern would be as flourishing as ever. For three months
after taking over the practice, I was kept very closely
at work and saw little of my friend Sherlock Holmes,
for I was too busy to visit Baker Street, and
he seldom went anywhere himself save upon professional business. I
(01:09):
was surprised therefore, when one morning in June, as I
sat reading the British Medical Journal after breakfast, I heard
a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat
strident tones of my old companion's voice. Ah, my dear Watson,
said he striding into the room. I am very delighted
to see you. I trust that missus Watson has entirely
(01:31):
recovered from all the little excitements connected with our adventure
of the Sign of the Foe. Thank you. We're both
doing very well, said I, shaking him warmly by the hand.
And I hope also, he continued, sitting down in the
rocking chair, that the cares of medical practice have not
entirely obliterated the interest to which you used to take
(01:53):
in our little deductive problems. On the contrary, I answered,
it was only last night that I was looking over
my old notes and classifying some of our past results.
I trust that you don't consider your collection closed, not
at all. I should wish nothing better than to have
some more of such experiences to day, for example, yes,
(02:16):
to day if you like, and as far off as Birmingham, certainly,
if you wish it, and the practice I do my neighbors.
When he goes, he's always ready to work off the debt. Hah,
nothing could be better, said Holmes, leaning back in his
chair and looking keenly at me from under his half
(02:36):
closed lids. I perceive that you have been unwell lately.
Summer colds are always a little trying. I was confined
to the house by a severe chill for three days
last week. I thought, however, that I had cast off
every trace of it. So you have you look remarkably robust.
How then did you know it, my dear fellow, You
(03:01):
know my methods. You deduced it, then, certainly? And from what?
From your slippers? I glanced down at the new patent
leathers which I was wearing. How on earth I began?
But Holmes answered my question before it was asked. Your
(03:21):
slippers are new, He said, you could not have had
them more than a few weeks. The soules which you
are at this moment presenting to me are slightly scorched.
For a moment I thought they might have got wet
and been burned in the drying. But near the instep
there is a small circular wafer of paper with the
shopman's hieroglyphics upon it. Damp would of course have removed this.
(03:46):
You had then been sitting with your feet outstretched to
the fire, which a man would hardly do even in
so wet a june as this, if he were in
his full health. Like all Holmes's reason, the thing seemed
simplicity itself. When it was once explained. He read the
thought upon my features, and his smile had a tinge
(04:07):
of bitterness. I am afraid that I rather give myself
away when I explain, said he. Results, without causes are
much more impressive. You are ready to come to Birmingham, then,
certainly what is the case? You shall hear it all
in the train. My client is outside in a four wheeler.
(04:30):
Can you come at once? In an instant, I scribbled
a note to my neighbor, rushed upstairs to explain the
matter to my wife, and joined Holmes upon the doorstep.
Your neighbor is a doctor, said he, nodding at the
brass plate. Yes, he bought a practice as I did,
an old established one, just the same as mine. Both
(04:53):
have been ever since the houses were built. Ah, then
you got hold of the best of the two. I
think I did. But how do you know by the
steps my boy, yours are worn three inches deeper than his.
But this gentleman in the cab is my client, mister
hall Pyecroft. Allow me to introduce you to him. Whip
(05:14):
your horse up, cabby, for we have only just time
to catch our train. The man whom I found myself
facing was a well built, fresh complexioned young fellow with
a frank, honest face and a slight, crisp yellow mustache.
He wore a very shiny top hat and a neat
suit of sober black, which made him look what he was,
(05:35):
A smart young city man of the class who had
been labeled cockneys, but who give us our crack volunteer regiments,
and who turn out more fine athletes and sportsmen than
any body of men in these islands. His round, ruddy
face was naturally full of cheeriness, but the corners of
his mouth seemed to me to be pulled down in
(05:57):
a half comical distress. It was not, however, until we
were all in our first class carriage and well started
upon our journey to Birmingham, that I was able to
learn what the trouble was which had driven him to
Sherlock Holmes. We have a clear run here of seventy minutes.
Holmes remarked, I want you, mister Hall Pycroft, to tell
(06:18):
my friend your very interesting experience, exactly as you have
told it to me, or with more detail, if possible.
It will be of use to me to hear the
succession of events again. It is a case, Watson, which
may prove to have something in it, or may prove
to have nothing, but which at least presents those unusual
(06:39):
and utree features which are as dear to you as
they are to me. Now, mister Pycroft, I shall not
interrupt you again. Our young companion looked at me with
a twinkle in his eye. The worst of the story
is said he that I should show myself up as
such a confounded fool. Of course it may work out
(07:01):
all right, and I don't see that I could have
done otherwise. But if I've lost my crib and got
nothing in exchange, I shall feel what a soft johnny
I've been. I'm not very good at telling a story,
Dr Watson, but it is like this with me. I
used to have a billet at Cox and Woodhouses of
Drapers Gardens, but they were let in early in the
(07:22):
spring through the Venezuelan loane. There's no doubt you remember,
and came a nasty cropper. I've been with him five years,
and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when
the smash came. But of course week clerks were all
turned adrift for twenty seven of us. I tried here
and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps
(07:44):
on the same lay as myself, and it was a
perfect frost. For a long time. I've been taking three
pounds a week at Coxon's, and I'd saved about seventy
of them. But I soon worked my way through that
and out the other end. I was fairly at the
end of my tether at last, and could hardly find
the stamps to answer the advertisements, all the envelopes to
stick them to. I'd worn up my boots paddling up
(08:07):
off his stairs, and are seen just as far from
getting a billet as ever. At last I saw vacancy
at Mawson and Williams, the great stock broking firm in
Lombard Street. I dare say e c is not much
in your line, but I can tell you that this
is about the richest house in London. The advertisement was
(08:27):
to be answered by a letter only. I sent him
my testimonial an application, but without the least hope of
getting in back. Came an answer by return saying if
I would appear next Monday, I might take over my
new duties at once, provided that my appearance was satisfactory.
No one knows how these things are worked. Some people
(08:48):
say that the manager just plunges his hand into the
heap and takes the first that comes. Anyhow, it was
my innings that time, and I don't have a wish
to feel better pleased. The screw was a power the
week rise, and the dew is just about the same
as at Coxwain's. And now I come to the queer
part of the business. I was in Diggings out Amstead Way,
(09:10):
seventeen potters Terrace, Well. I was sitting doing a smoke
that very evening, after I had been promised the appointment,
when up came my landlady with a card which had
Arthur Pinner, financial Agent printed upon it. I never heard
the name before and could not imagine what he wanted
(09:30):
with me, but of course I asked her to show
him up In he walked a middle size dark haired,
dark eyed, black bearded man with a touch of the
sheeny about his nose. He had a brisk kind of
way with him, and he spoke sharply, like a man
who knew the valley of time. Mister old by Craft,
I believe, said he. Yes, sir, I answered, pushing a
(09:53):
chair towards him, lately engaged at Coxon and Woodhouse's. Yes, sir,
now on the staff of Morson's. Quite so will, said he.
The fact is that I have heard some really extraordinary
stories about your financial ability. You remember Parker, who used
(10:14):
to be Coxwain's manager. You can never say enough about it.
Of course, I was pleased to hear this. I'd always
been pretty sharp in the office, but I never dreamed
that I was talked about in the city in this fashion.
You have a good memory, said he, pretty fair, I
answered modestly. Have you kept in touch with the market
(10:35):
while you've been out of work? He asked, yes, I
read the stock exchange list every morning. Now that shows
real application, he cried, This is the way to prosper.
You won't mind me testing you, will you let me
see our airshes one hundred and six and a quarter
(10:55):
two hundred and five and seven eighths and New Zealand
consolidated one hundred and four and British brokenhels seven to
seven and six. Wonderful, he cried, with his hands up.
This quite fits in with all that i'd heard. My boy,
my boy, you're very much too good to be a
clerk at Morson's. This outburst rather astonish me. As you
(11:18):
can think, well, said I. Other people don't think quite
so much of me as you seem to do, mister Pinner.
I had hard enough fight to get this berth, and
I'm very glad to have it. Pooh man, you should
soar above it. You're not in your true sphere. Now,
I'll tell you how it stands with me. What I
(11:39):
have to offer is little enough when measured by your ability,
but when compared with Morsons, it's light to dark. Let
me see, when do you go to Mawson's on Monday? Ah?
I think I would risk a little sporting flutter that
you don't go there at all, not go to Morson's, No, sir,
(12:00):
that day you'll be the business manager of the Franco
Midland Hardware Company Limited, with a hundred and thirty four
branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting
one in Brussels and one in San Remo. This took
my breath away. I never heard of it, said I
very likely not. It has been kept very quiet, for
(12:20):
the capital was all privately subscribed, and it's too good
a thing to let the public into. My brother Harry
Pinner is promoter and joins the board after allotment as
managing director. He knew I was in the swim down here,
and asked me to pick up a good man, cheap,
a young pushing man with plenty of snap about him.
(12:41):
Parker spoke of you, and that brought me here to night.
We can only offer you a beggarly five hundred to
start with, five hundred a year, I shouted, only there
at the beginning. But you ought to have an overriding
commission of one percent on all business done by your agents,
and you may take my word for it that this
will come to more than your salary. But I know
(13:03):
nothing about hardware, Tuck, my boy, You know about figures.
My head buzzed and I could hardly sit still in
my chair. But suddenly a little chill of doubt came
upon me. I must be frank with you, said I.
Mawson only gives me two hundred. But Mawson is safe. Now.
(13:24):
Really I know so little about your company that ah, smart, smart,
he cried, in a kind of ecstasy of delight. You
are the very man for us. You are not to
be talked over, and quite right too. Now here's a
note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that
we can do business, you may just slip it into
(13:47):
your pocket as an advance upon your salary. This is
very handsome, said I. When should I take over my
new duties? Be in Birmingham to morrow at one? Said he.
I have a note in my pocket here which you
will take to my brother. You'll find him at one
twenty six B Corporation Street, where the temporary offices of
(14:07):
the company are situated. Of course he must confirm your engagement,
but between ourselves it will be all right. Really, I
hardly know how to express my gratitude, mister Pinner, said I,
not at all, my boy. You've only got your desserts.
There are one or two small things, mere formalities, which
I must arrange with you. You have a bit of
(14:29):
paper beside you there, kindly write upon it. I am
perfectly willing to act as business manager to the Franco
Midland Hardware Company Limited, at a minimum salary of five
hundred pounds. I did as he asked, and he put
the paper in his pocket. There is one other detail,
said he, What do you intend to do about Morsons.
(14:54):
I had forgotten all about Morsons in my joy. I'll
write and resign, said I, precisely what I don't want
you to do. I had a row over you with
Mawson's manager. I've gone up to ask him about you,
and he was very offensive, accused me of coaxing you
away from the service of the firm, and that sort
of thing. At last, I've fairly lost my temper. If
(15:18):
you want good men, you should pay them a good price,
said I. He would rather have our small price than
your big one, said he. I'll lay you a fiver,
said I that when he has my offer, you'll never
so much as hear from him again. Done, said he.
(15:38):
We picked him out of the gutter and he won't
leave us so easily. Those were his very words. The
impudent scoundrel. I cried, I've never so much as seen
him in my life. Why should I consider him in
any way. I shall certainly not write if you would
rather I didn't. Good that's a promise, said he, rising
(15:59):
from his chair. Well, I'm delighted to have got so
good a man from my brother. Here's your advance of
a one hundred pounds, and here is a letter. Make
a note of the address one twenty six B Corporation Street,
and remember that one o'clock tomorrow is your appointment. Good night,
and may you have all a fortune that you deserve.
(16:22):
That's just about all that passed between us, as near
as I can remember. You can imagine Dr Watson, how
pleased I was at such an extraordinary bit of good fortune.
I sat up after night I give myself over it.
And next day I was off to Birmingham in a
train that would take me in plenty time for my appointment.
I took my things to a hotel in New Street,
(16:44):
and then I made my way to the address which
had given me. It was a quarter of an hour
before my time. I thought that would make no difference.
One twenty six B was a passage between two large
shops which led to a winding stone stair from which
there were many flats. Let us offices to companies or
professional men. The names of the occupants were painted at
(17:07):
the bottom on the wall, but there was no such
name as the Franco Midland Hardware Company. I stood for
a few minutes with my eye in my boots, wondering
whether the whole thing was an elaborate oaks or not.
When up came a man and addressed me. He was
very like the chap i'd seen the night before, the
same figure and voice, but he was clean shaven and
(17:28):
his hair was lighter. Are you mister Allpiecraft, he asked? Yes,
said I, oh, I was expecting you, but you're a
trifle before your time. I had a note from my
brother this morning in which he sang your praises very loudly.
I was just looking for the offices when you came.
(17:49):
We have not got our name up yet, for we
only secured these temporary premises last week. Come up with
me and we'll talk the matter over. I followed him
to the top of a very loft stare, and there,
right under the slates were a couple of empty, dusty
little rooms, uncarpeted and uncurtained, into which he led me.
(18:10):
I thought of a great office with shining tables, and
rows of clerks such as I was used to, and
I dare say I stayed rather straight at the two
deal chairs and one little table, which with a ledger
and a waste paper basket made up the whole furniture.
Don't be disheartened, mister Pycroft, said my new acquaintance, seeing
(18:30):
the length of my face. Rome was not built in
a day, and we have lots of money at our backs,
though we don't cut much dash yet in offices. Pray,
sit down and let me have your letter. I gave
it to him, and he read it over very carefully.
You seem to have made a vast impression upon my brother, Arthur,
(18:51):
said he, and I know that he is a pretty
shrewd judge. He swears by London, you know, and eye
by Burningham. But this time I shall follow his advice. Pray,
consider yourself definitely engaged. What are my duties, I asked.
You will eventually manage the great depot in Paris, which
(19:13):
will pour a flood of English crockery into the shops
of one hundred and thirty four agents in France. The
purchase will be completed in a week, and meanwhile you'll
remain in Birmingham, may make yourself useful. How for answer,
he took a big red book out of a draw
This is a directory of Paris, said he, with the
(19:35):
trades after the names of the people. I'll want you
to take it own with you and to mark off
all the hardware sellers with their addresses. It will be
of the greatest use to me to have them. Surely
they are classified lists, I suggested, not reliable ones. Their
system is different from ours. Stick at it and let
me have the list by Monday at twelve. Good day,
(19:58):
mister Pyecroft. If you continue to show zeal And intelligence,
you'll find the company a good master. I went back
to the hotel with a big book under my arm,
and with very conflicting feelings in my breast. On the
one hand, I was definitely engaged, and I had hundred
pounds in my pocket. On the other, the look of
(20:18):
the offices, the absence of name on the wall, another
of the points which would strike a businessman, had left
a bad impression as to the position of my employers. However,
come what might, I had my money, so I settled
down to my task. All Sunday I was kept hard
at work, and yet by Monday, I had only got
(20:38):
as far as h I went round to my employer,
found him in the same dismantled kind of room, and
was told to keep at it until Wednesday and then
come again. On Wednesday. It was still unfinished, so I
am at douay until Friday, nay is yesterday. Then I
brought it round to mister Harry Pinner. Thank you very much,
(20:59):
said I fear that I underrated the difficulty of the task.
This list will be of very material assistance to me.
It took some time, said I, and now said he.
I want you to make a list of the furniture shops,
for they all sell crockery very good. And you can
(21:19):
come up to morrow evening at seven and let me
know how you're getting on. Don't overwork yourself. A couple
of hours at day's music all in the evening would
do you no arm after your labors. He laughed as
he spoke, and I saw with a thrill that his
second tooth, upon the left hand side, had been very
badly stuffed with gold. Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with delight,
(21:42):
and I stared with astonishment at our client. You may
well look surprised doctor Watson. But it is this way,
said he. When I was speaking to the other chap
in London at the time that he laughed at my
not going to Morson's, I appened to notice that his
tooth was stuffed in this very identical fashion. The glint
(22:03):
of the gold in each case caught my eye. You see,
when I put that, with the voice and figure being
the same, and only those things altered which might be
changed by a razor or a wig, I could not
doubt that it was the same man. Of course, you
expect two brothers to be alike, but not that they
should have the same tooth stuffed in the same way.
(22:24):
He bowed me out, and I found myself in the street,
hardly knowing whether I was on my head or my heels.
Back I went to my hotel, put my head in
a basin of cold water and try to think it out.
Why had he sent me from London to Birmingham, Why
had he got there before me, and why had he
written a letter from himself to himself. It was altogether
(22:47):
too much for me, and I could make no sense
of it. And then suddenly it struck me that what
was dark to me might be very light to mister
Sherlock Holmes. I had just time to get up to
town by the night train to see him this morning,
and to bring you both back with me to Birmingham.
There was a pause after the stockbroker's clerk had concluded
(23:09):
his surprising experience. Then Sherlock Holmes cocked his eye at me,
leaning back on the cushions with a pleased and yet
critical face, like a connoisseur who has just taken his
first sip of a Comet vintage. Rather fine Watson, is
it not? Said he? There are points in it which
(23:30):
please me. I think that you will agree with me
that an interview with mister Arthur Harry Pinner in the
temporary offices of the Franco Midland Hardware Company Limited would
be a rather interesting experience for both of us. But
how can we do it? I asked? Oh? Easily enough,
said Hall Pyecroft, cheerily. You are two friends of mine
(23:53):
who are in want of a billet, and what could
be more natural than that I should bring you both
round to the managing director. Quite so, of course, said Holmes.
I should like to have a look at the gentleman
and see if I can make anything of his little game.
What qualities have you, my friend, which would make your
services so valuable? Or is it possible that he began
(24:16):
biting his nails and staring blankly out of the window,
and we hardly drew another word from him until we
were in New Street at seven o'clock that evening. We
were walking the three of us down Corporation Street to
the company's offices. It is no use our being at
all before our time, said our client. He only comes
(24:36):
there to see me, apparently, for the place is deserted
up to the very hour he names. That is suggestive,
remarked holmes By Jove. I told you so, cried the clerk.
That's ay walk ahead of us there He pointed to
a smallish, dark, well dressed man who was bustling along
(24:56):
the other side of the road. As we watched him,
he looked across at a boy who was bawling out
the latest edition of the evening paper and running over
among the cabs and buses. He brought one from him, then,
clutching it in his hand, he vanished through a doorway.
There he goes, cried hall Pyecroft. These are the company's
(25:19):
offices into which he is gone, come with me, and
I'll fix it up as easily as possible. Following his lead,
we ascended five stories until we found ourselves outside a
half open door, at which our client tapped a voice
within bade us enter, and we entered a bare, unfurnished room,
such as hall Pyecroft had described. At the single table
(25:43):
sat the man whom we had seen in the street,
with his evening paper spread out in front of him,
And as he looked up at us, it seemed to
me that I had never looked upon a face which
bore such marks of grief, and of something beyond grief,
of a horror such as comes to a few men
in a line lifetime. His brow glistened with perspiration, his
(26:04):
cheeks were of the dull, dead white of a fish's belly,
and his eyes were wild and staring. He looked at
his clerk as though he failed to recognize him, and
I could see, by the astonishment depicted upon our conductor's
face that this was, by no means the usual appearance
of his employer. You look ill, mister Pinner, he exclaimed. Yes,
(26:27):
I'm not very well, answered the other, making obvious efforts
to pull himself together, and licking his dry lips before
he spoke, Who are these gentlemen whom you've brought with you.
One is mister Harris of Bermondsey, and the other is
mister Price of this town, said our clerk glibly. They're
(26:48):
friends of mine and gentlemen of experience, but they've been
out of a place for some little time, and they
hoped that perhaps you might find an opening for them
in the company's employment. Very possibly, very possibly, cried mister Pinner,
with a ghastly smile. Yes, I have no doubt that
we shall be able to do something for you. What
is your particular, lie, mister Harris, I am an accountant,
(27:12):
said Holmes. Ah, yes, we shall want something of the sort.
And you, mister Price, a clerk, said I. I have
every hope that the company may accommodate you. I will
let you know about it as soon as we come
to any conclusion. And now I beg that you will go,
for God's sake, leave me to myself. These last words
(27:32):
were shut out of him, as though the constraint which
he was evidently setting upon himself had suddenly and utterly
burst asunder. Holmes and I glanced at each other and
Aul Pyecroft took a step towards the table. You forget,
mister Pinner, the army, and by appointment to receive some
directions from you, said he. Certainly, mister Pyecroft, certainly, the
(27:55):
other resumed in a calmer tone. You may wait here
a moment, and there is no reason why your friends
should not wait with you. I will be entire at
your service in three minutes. If I may tresp us
upon your patience. So far he rose, with a very
courteous air, and bowing to us. He passed through a
door at the farther end of the room, which he
(28:17):
closed behind him. What now, whispered Holmes, Is he giving
us a slip? Impossible, answered Pyecroft. Why so that door
leads into an inner room. There is no exit, none,
is it furnished, It was empty yesterday? Then what on
(28:38):
earth can he be doing? There is something which I
don't understand in this manner. If ever a man was
three parts mad with terror, that's man's name is Pinna,
What can have put the shivers on him? He suspects
that we're detectives. I suggested, see it, I Croft, Holmes
shook his head. He did not turn pale. He was
(29:02):
pale when we entered the room, said he. It is
just possible that his words were interrupted by a sharp
rat tat from the direction of the inner door. What
the deuce is he knocking his own door for, cried
the clerk again, and much louder came the rat tat tat.
We all gazed expectantly at the closed door. Glancing at Holmes,
(29:26):
I saw his face turn rigid, and he leaned forward
in intense excitement. Then suddenly came a low, guggling, gargling
sound and a brisk drumming upon woodwork. Holmes sprang frantically
across the room and pushed at the door. It was
fastened on the inner side. Following his example, we threw
(29:47):
ourselves upon it with all our weight. One hinge snapped,
then the other, and down came the door, with a crash.
Rushing over it, we found ourselves in the inner room.
It was empty, but it was only for a moment
that we were at fault. At one corner, the corner
nearest the room which we had left, there was a
(30:07):
second door. Homes sprang to it and pulled it open.
A coat and waistcoat were lying on the floor, and
from a hook behind the door, with his own braces
round his neck, was hanging the managing director of the
Franco Midland Hardware Company. His knees were drawn up, his
head hung at a dreadful angle to his body, and
(30:29):
the clatter of his heels against the door made the
noise which had broken in upon our conversation. In an
instant I had caught him round the waist and held
him up, while Holmes and Pyecroft untied the elastic bands
which had disappeared between the livid creases of skin, and
we carried him into the other room, where he lay
with a clay colored face, puffing his purple lips in
(30:51):
and out with every breath, a dreadful wreck of all
that he had been but five minutes before. What do
you think of him? Watson asked Holmes. I stooped over
him and examined him. His pulse was feeble and intermittent,
but his breathing grew longer, and there was a little
shivering of his eyelids, which showed a thin white slit
(31:12):
of ball beneath. It has been touch and go with him,
said I. But he'll live now. Just open that window
and hand me the water. Ceroff, I undered his collar,
poured the cold water over his face, and raised and
sank his arms until he drew a long, natural breath.
It's only a question of time, now, said I, as
(31:34):
I turned away from him. Holmes stood by the table,
with his hands deep in his trousers pockets and his
chin upon his breast. I suppose we ought to call
a police in now, said he. And yet I confess
that I'd like to give them a complete case when
they come. It's a blessed mystery to me, cried Pyecroft,
(31:55):
scratching his head. Whatever they wanted to bring me all
the way up here for? And then pooh, all that
is clear enough, said Holmes impatiently. It is this last
sudden move you can understand the rest. Then, I think
that it is fairly obvious. What do you say, Watson,
I shrugged my shoulders. I must confess I am out
(32:19):
of my debts, said I. Oh, surely, if you consider
the events at first, they can only point to one conclusion.
What do you make of them? Well, the whole thing
hinges upon two points. The first is the making of
pyecroft right declaration, by which he entered the service of
this preposterous company. Do you not see how very suggestive
(32:41):
that is? I am afraid I mister point well, why
did they want him to do it? Not as a
business matter? For these arrangements are usually verbal, and there
was no earthly business reason why this should be an exception.
Don't you see, my young friend, that they were very
anxious to obtain a specimen of your handwriting and had
(33:02):
no other way of doing it. And why? Quite so?
Why when we answer that we have made some progress
with our little problem, why there can be only one
adequate reason. Someone wanted to learn to imitate your writing
and had to procure a specimen of it first. And
(33:24):
now if we pass on to the second point, we
find that each throws light upon the other. That point
is the request made by Pinner that you should not
resign your place, but should leave the manager of his
important business in the full expectation that a mister hall Pyecroft,
whom he had never seen, was about to enter the
office upon the Monday morning. My God, cried our client,
(33:49):
What a blind beat love been? Now you see the
point about the handwriting. Suppose that some one turned up
in your place who wrote a completely different hand from
that in which you had applied for the vacancy. Of course,
the game would have been up, but in the interval
the rogue had learned to imitate you, and his position
was therefore secure. As I presume that nobody in the
(34:12):
office had ever set eyes upon you, not a soul,
groaned hal Pyecroft. Very good. Of course, it was of
the utmost importance to prevent you from thinking better of it,
and also to keep you from coming into contact with
any one who might tell you that your double was
at work in Mowson's office. Therefore they gave you a
(34:35):
handsome advance on your salary and ran you off to
the Midlands, where they gave you enough work to do
to prevent you going to London, where you might have
burst their little game up. That is all plain enough.
But why should this man pretend to be his own brother? Well,
that is pretty clear. Also. There are evidently only two
(34:57):
of them in it. The other is impersonating you at
the the office. This one acted as your engager, and
then found that he could not find you an employer
without admitting a third person into his plot. That he
was most unwilling to do. He changed his appearance as
far as he could, and trusted that the likeness which
(35:17):
you could not fail to observe, would be put down
to a family resemblance. But for the happy chance of
the gold stuffing, your suspicions would probably never have been aroused.
Hall Pyecroft shook his clinched hands in the air. Good lord,
he cried, while I have been fooled in this way.
What has this other Hall Pyecroft been doing at Mawson's.
(35:39):
What shall we do? Mister Holmes, tell me what to do.
We must wire to Morson's. They shut at twelve on Saturdays.
Never mind, there may be some door keeper or attendant. Ah, yes,
and I keep a permanent guard there on account of
the value of the securities that they old. I remember
hearing it talk in the city. Very good. We shall
(36:03):
wire to him and see if all is well. And
if a clerk of your name is working there. That
is clear enough. But what is not so clear as why,
at the sight of us one of the rogue should
instantly walk out of the room and hang himself. The
paper croaked a voice behind us. The man was sitting up,
(36:24):
blanched and ghastly, with returning reason in his eyes and hands,
which rubbed nervously at the broad red band which still
encircled his throat. The paper, of course, yelled Holmes, in
a paroxysm of excitement. Idiot that I was. I thought
so much of our visit that the paper had never
(36:45):
entered my head for an instant. To be sure the
secret must be there, he flattened it upon the table,
and a cry of triumph burst from his lips. Look
at this, Watson, he cried. It is a London paper,
an early edition of the Evening Standard. Here is what
we want. Look at the headlines crime in the city,
(37:09):
murder at Mawson and Williams, gigantic attempted robbery, capture of
the criminal. Here, Watson, we are all equally anxious to
hear it, so kindly read it aloud to us. It appeared,
from its position in the paper to have been the
one event of importance in town, and the account of
it ran in this way. A desperate attempt at robbery
(37:31):
culminating in the death of one man and the capture
of the criminal occurred this afternoon in the city. For
some time back, Mawson and Williams, the famous financial house,
have been the guardians of securities which amount in the
aggregate to a sum of considerably over a million sterling.
So conscious was the manager of the responsibility which devolved
upon him in consequence of the great interest at stake,
(37:53):
that safes of the very latest construction have been employed,
and an armed watchman has been left day and night
in the building. It appears that last week a new
clerk named hall Pyecroft was engaged by the firm. This
person appears to have been none other than Beddington, the
famous forger and cracksman, who, with his brother had only
(38:15):
recently emerged from a five year spell of penal servitude.
By some means which are not yet clear, he succeeded
in winning, under a false name, this official position in
the office, which he utilized in order to obtain moldings
of various locks and a thorough knowledge of the position
of the strong room and the safes. It is customary
(38:36):
at Mawson's for the clerks to leave at midday on Saturday.
Sergeant Tuson of the City Police was somewhat surprised, therefore,
to see a gentleman with a carpet bag come down
the steps at twenty minutes past one. His suspicions being aroused,
the sergeant followed the man, and with the aid of
Constable Pollock, succeeded after a most desperate resistance, in arresting him.
(38:59):
It was at once clear that a daring and gigantic
robbery had been committed. Nearly a hundred thousand pounds worth
of American Railway bonds, with a large amount of scrip
in mines and other companies, was discovered in the bag.
On examining the premises, the body of the unfortunate watchman
was found doubled up and thrust into the largest of
(39:20):
the safes, where it would not have been discovered until
Monday morning had it not been for the prompt action
of Sergeant Tewson. The man's skull had been shattered by
a blow from a poker delivered from behind. There could
be no doubt that Beddington had obtained entrance by pretending
that he had left something behind him, and having murdered
the watchman, rapidly rifled a large safe and then made
(39:42):
off with his booty. His brother, who usually works with him,
has not appeared in this job as far as can
at present be ascertained, although the police are making energetic
inquiries as to his whereabouts. Well, we may save the
police some little trouble in that direction, said Holmes, glancing
at the haggard figure huddled up by the window. Human
(40:05):
nature is a strange mixture, Watson. You see that even
a villain and murderer can inspire such affection that his
brother turns to suicide when he learns that his neck
is forfeited. However, we have no choice as to our action.
The doctor and I will remain on guard, mister Pyecroft,
if you will have the kindness to step out for
(40:26):
the police. End of the Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk
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