Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, 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, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to `
` recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend `
` Dr. 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 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 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 `
` endeavoured, 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, by my inspection. Our visitor `
` bore every mark of being an average commonplace British `
` tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey `
` shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, `
` unbuttoned in the front, and a 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 collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, `
` look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save `
` his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and `
` discontent upon his features. `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes' 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 `
` labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has `
` been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of `
` writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." `
` `
` Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger `
` upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. `
` `
` "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. `
` Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did `
` manual labour. It's as 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, 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." `
` `
` "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" `
` `
` "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 rest it upon the desk?" `
` `
` "Well, but China?" `
` `
` "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right `
` wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small `
` study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature `
` of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a `
` delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I `
` see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter `
` becomes even more simple." `
` `
` Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, 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 ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my `
` poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I `
` am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger `
` planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began `
` it 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 `
` Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now `
` another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a `
` salary of 4 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, 7 `
` Pope's Court, Fleet Street." `
` `
` "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice `
` read over the 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, Mr. Wilson, off you go at 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." `
` `
` "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months `
` ago." `
` `
` "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" `
` `
` "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock `
` Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small `
` pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a `
` very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than `
` just 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 Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, `
` either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter `
` assistant, Mr. 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 seem most fortunate in having an employ� 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 Mr. Wilson. "Never was such 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. 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, for 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. `
` Spaulding, 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, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' `
` `
` "'Why that?' I asks. `
` `
` "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the `
` Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to 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 colour, here's `
` a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' `
` `
` "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am 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-mat. In that way I didn'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?' 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 one's other `
` occupations.' `
` `
` "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick 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 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 was himself `
` red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; `
` so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous `
` fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the `
`
` 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, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to `
` recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend `
` Dr. 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 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 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 `
` endeavoured, 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, by my inspection. Our visitor `
` bore every mark of being an average commonplace British `
` tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey `
` shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, `
` unbuttoned in the front, and a 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 collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, `
` look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save `
` his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and `
` discontent upon his features. `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes' 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 `
` labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has `
` been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of `
` writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." `
` `
` Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger `
` upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. `
` `
` "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. `
` Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did `
` manual labour. It's as 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, 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." `
` `
` "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" `
` `
` "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 rest it upon the desk?" `
` `
` "Well, but China?" `
` `
` "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right `
` wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small `
` study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature `
` of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a `
` delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I `
` see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter `
` becomes even more simple." `
` `
` Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, 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 ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my `
` poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I `
` am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger `
` planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began `
` it 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 `
` Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now `
` another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a `
` salary of 4 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, 7 `
` Pope's Court, Fleet Street." `
` `
` "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice `
` read over the 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, Mr. Wilson, off you go at 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." `
` `
` "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months `
` ago." `
` `
` "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" `
` `
` "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock `
` Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small `
` pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a `
` very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than `
` just 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 Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, `
` either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter `
` assistant, Mr. 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 seem most fortunate in having an employ� 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 Mr. Wilson. "Never was such 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. 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, for 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. `
` Spaulding, 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, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' `
` `
` "'Why that?' I asks. `
` `
` "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the `
` Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to 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 colour, here's `
` a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' `
` `
` "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am 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-mat. In that way I didn'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?' 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 one's other `
` occupations.' `
` `
` "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick 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 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 was himself `
` red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; `
` so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous `
` fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the `
`