Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the `
` interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of `
` that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to `
` do.' `
` `
` "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who `
` would apply.' `
` `
` "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is `
` really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had `
` started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the `
` old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your `
` applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but `
` real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. `
` Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be `
` worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a `
` few hundred pounds.' `
` `
` "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, `
` that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed `
` to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I `
` stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent `
` Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might `
` prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for `
` the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to `
` have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for `
` the address that was given us in the advertisement. `
` `
` "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From `
` north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in `
` his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. `
` Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court `
` looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought `
` there were so many in the whole country as were brought together `
` by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they `
` were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; `
` but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real `
` vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I `
` would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear `
` of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and `
` pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up `
` to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream `
` upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back `
` dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found `
` ourselves in the office." `
` `
` "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked `
` Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge `
` pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." `
` `
` "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs `
` and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that `
` was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate `
` as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in `
` them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem `
` to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn `
` came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of `
` the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he `
` might have a private word with us. `
` `
` "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is `
` willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' `
` `
` "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has `
` every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so `
` fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and `
` gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he `
` plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my `
` success. `
` `
` "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, `
` however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' `
` With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I `
` yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as `
` he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we `
` have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and `
` once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which `
` would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the `
` window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the `
` vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, `
` and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there `
` was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the `
` manager. `
` `
` "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of `
` the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are `
` you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' `
` `
` "I answered that I had not. `
` `
` "His face fell immediately. `
` `
` "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am `
` sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the `
` propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their `
` maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a `
` bachelor.' `
` `
` "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was `
` not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for `
` a few minutes he said that it would be all right. `
` `
` "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be `
` fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a `
` head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your `
` new duties?' `
` `
` "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' `
` said I. `
` `
` "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. `
` 'I should be able to look after that for you.' `
` `
` "'What would be the hours?' I asked. `
` `
` "'Ten to two.' `
` `
` "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. `
` Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just `
` before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in `
` the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, `
` and that he would see to anything that turned up. `
` `
` "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' `
` `
` "'Is 4 pounds a week.' `
` `
` "'And the work?' `
` `
` "'Is purely nominal.' `
` `
` "'What do you call purely nominal?' `
` `
` "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the `
` building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole `
` position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You `
` don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office `
` during that time.' `
` `
` "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' `
` said I. `
` `
` "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness `
` nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose `
` your billet.' `
` `
` "'And the work?' `
` `
` "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first `
` volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and `
` blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be `
` ready to-morrow?' `
` `
` "'Certainly,' I answered. `
` `
` "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you `
` once more on the important position which you have been fortunate `
` enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with `
` my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased `
` at my own good fortune. `
` `
` "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in `
` low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the `
` whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its `
` object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past `
` belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay `
` such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the `
` 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to `
` cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the `
` whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look `
` at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a `
` quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for `
` Pope's Court. `
` `
` "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as `
` possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross `
` was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off `
` upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from `
` time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he `
` bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had `
` written, and locked the door of the office after me. `
` `
` "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the `
` manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my `
` week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week `
` after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I `
` left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only `
` once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at `
` all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an `
` instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet `
` was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk `
` the loss of it. `
` `
` "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about `
` Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and `
` hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very `
` long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly `
` filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole `
` business came to an end." `
` `
` "To an end?" `
`
` interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of `
` that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to `
` do.' `
` `
` "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who `
` would apply.' `
` `
` "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is `
` really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had `
` started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the `
` old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your `
` applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but `
` real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. `
` Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be `
` worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a `
` few hundred pounds.' `
` `
` "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, `
` that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed `
` to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I `
` stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent `
` Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might `
` prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for `
` the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to `
` have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for `
` the address that was given us in the advertisement. `
` `
` "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From `
` north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in `
` his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. `
` Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court `
` looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought `
` there were so many in the whole country as were brought together `
` by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they `
` were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; `
` but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real `
` vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I `
` would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear `
` of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and `
` pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up `
` to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream `
` upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back `
` dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found `
` ourselves in the office." `
` `
` "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked `
` Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge `
` pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." `
` `
` "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs `
` and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that `
` was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate `
` as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in `
` them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem `
` to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn `
` came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of `
` the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he `
` might have a private word with us. `
` `
` "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is `
` willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' `
` `
` "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has `
` every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so `
` fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and `
` gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he `
` plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my `
` success. `
` `
` "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, `
` however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' `
` With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I `
` yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as `
` he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we `
` have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and `
` once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which `
` would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the `
` window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the `
` vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, `
` and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there `
` was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the `
` manager. `
` `
` "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of `
` the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are `
` you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' `
` `
` "I answered that I had not. `
` `
` "His face fell immediately. `
` `
` "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am `
` sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the `
` propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their `
` maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a `
` bachelor.' `
` `
` "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was `
` not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for `
` a few minutes he said that it would be all right. `
` `
` "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be `
` fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a `
` head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your `
` new duties?' `
` `
` "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' `
` said I. `
` `
` "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. `
` 'I should be able to look after that for you.' `
` `
` "'What would be the hours?' I asked. `
` `
` "'Ten to two.' `
` `
` "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. `
` Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just `
` before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in `
` the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, `
` and that he would see to anything that turned up. `
` `
` "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' `
` `
` "'Is 4 pounds a week.' `
` `
` "'And the work?' `
` `
` "'Is purely nominal.' `
` `
` "'What do you call purely nominal?' `
` `
` "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the `
` building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole `
` position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You `
` don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office `
` during that time.' `
` `
` "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' `
` said I. `
` `
` "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness `
` nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose `
` your billet.' `
` `
` "'And the work?' `
` `
` "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first `
` volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and `
` blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be `
` ready to-morrow?' `
` `
` "'Certainly,' I answered. `
` `
` "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you `
` once more on the important position which you have been fortunate `
` enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with `
` my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased `
` at my own good fortune. `
` `
` "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in `
` low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the `
` whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its `
` object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past `
` belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay `
` such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the `
` 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to `
` cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the `
` whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look `
` at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a `
` quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for `
` Pope's Court. `
` `
` "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as `
` possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross `
` was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off `
` upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from `
` time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he `
` bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had `
` written, and locked the door of the office after me. `
` `
` "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the `
` manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my `
` week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week `
` after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I `
` left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only `
` once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at `
` all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an `
` instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet `
` was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk `
` the loss of it. `
` `
` "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about `
` Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and `
` hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very `
` long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly `
` filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole `
` business came to an end." `
` `
` "To an end?" `
`