The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Catherine Louisa Pirchis This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Alan Winteroud The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Catherine Louisa Pirchis It's a big thing, said Love Day Brooke, addressing Ebenezer Dyer, chief of the well-known detective agency in Lynch Court, Fleet Street. Lady Cathrow has lost 30,000 pounds worth of jewelry if the newspaper accounts are to be trusted. They are fairly accurate this time. The robbery differs in a few respects from the usual run of country home robberies. The time chosen, of course, was the dinner hour, when the family and guests were at table and the servants, not on duty, were amusing themselves in their own quarters. The fact of its being Christmas Eve would also of necessity add to the business and consequent distraction of the household. The entry to the house, however, in this case was not affected in the usual manner by a ladder to the dressing room window, but through the window of a room on the ground floor, a small room with one window and two doors, one of which opens into the hall and the other into a passage that leads by the back stairs to the bedroom floor. It is used, I believe, as a sort of hat and coat room by the gentleman of the house. It was, I suppose, the weak point of the house. Quite so, a very weak point indeed. Cregan Court, the residence of Sir George and Lady Cathro, is an oddly built old place, jutting out in all directions, and as this window looked out upon a blank wall, it was filled in with stained glass, kept fastened by a strong brass catch and never opened day or night, ventilation being obtained by means of a glass ventilator fitted in the upper panes. It seems absurd to think that this window, being only about four feet from the ground, should have had neither iron bars nor shutters added to it, such, however, was the case. On the night of the robbery, someone within the house must have deliberately and of intention unfastened its only protection, the brass catch, and thus given the thieves easy entrance to the house. Your suspicions, I suppose, center upon the servants? Undoubtedly, and it is in the servants' hall that your services will be required. The thieves, whoever they were, were perfectly cognizant of the ways of the house. Lady Cathro's jewelry was kept in a safe in her dressing room, and as the dressing room was over the dining room, Sir George was in the habit of saying that it was the safest room in the house. Note the pun, please, Sir George is rather proud of it. By his orders, the window of the dining room immediately under the dressing room window was always left unshuttered and without blind during dinner, and as a full stream of light thus fell through it onto the outside terrace, it would have been impossible for anyone to have placed a ladder there unseen. I see from the newspapers that it was Sir George's invariable custom to fill his house and give a large dinner on Christmas Eve. Yes, Sir George and Lady Cathro are elderly people with no family and few relatives, and have consequently a large amount of time to spend on their friends. I suppose the key of the safe was frequently left in the possession of Lady Cathro's maid? Yes, she is a young French girl, Stephanie Delcroy by name. It was her duty to clear the dressing room directly after her mistress left it, put away any jewelry that might be lying about, locked the safe, and keep the key till her mistress came up to bed. On the night of the robbery, however, she admits that, instead of so doing, directly her mistress left the dressing room, she ran down to the housekeeper's room to see if any letters had come for her and remained chatting with the other servants for some time. She could not say for how long. It was by the half past seven post that her letters generally arrived from Saint-Omer where her home is. Oh, then she was in the habit of thus running down to inquire for her letters, no doubt, and the thieves who appear to be so thoroughly cognizant of the house would also know this. Perhaps, though at the present moment I must say things look very black against the girl, her manner too, when questioned, is not calculated to remove suspicion. She goes from one fit of hysterics into another, contradicts herself nearly every time she opens her mouth, then lays it to the charge of her ignorance of our language, breaks into voluble French, becomes theatrical in action, and then goes off into hysterics once more. All that is quite Francaise, you know, said Love Day. Do the authorities at Scotland Yard lay much stress on the safe being left unlocked that night? They do, and they are instituting a keen inquiry as to the possible lovers the girl may have. For this purpose they have sent Bates down to stay in the village and collect all the information he can outside the house. But they want someone within the walls to hobnob with the maids generally and to find out if she has taken any of them into her confidence respecting her lovers. So they sent to me to know if I would send down for this purpose one of the shrewdest and most clear-headed of my female detectives. I in my turn, Miss Brooke, have sent for you, and you may take it as a compliment if you like. So please now get out your notebook and I'll give you your sailing orders. Love Day Brooke, at this period of her career, was a little over 30 years of age and could be best described in a series of negations. She was not tall, she was not short. She was not dark, she was not fair. She was neither handsome nor ugly. Her features were altogether nondescript. Her one noticeable trait was the habit she had when absorbed in thought of dropping her eyelids over her eyes till only a line of eyeball showed and she appeared to be looking out at the world through a slit instead of through a window. Her dress was invariably black and was almost Quaker-like in its neat primeness.  Marketable accomplishments she had found she had none, so she had forthwith defied convention and had chosen for herself a career that had cut her off sharply from her former associates and her position in society. For five or six years, she dredged away patiently in the lower walks of her profession. Then chance, or to speak more precisely, an intricate criminal case threw her in the way of the experienced head of the Flourishing Detective Agency and Lynch Court. He quickly enough found out the stuff she was made of and threw her in the way of better-class work, work indeed that brought increase of pay and of reputation alike to him and to Love Day. Ebenezer Dyer was not as a rule given to enthusiasm, but he would at times wax eloquent over Miss Brooke's qualifications for the profession she had chosen. Too much of a lady, do you say? He would say to anyone who chanced to call and question those qualifications.  I only know she is the most sensible and practical woman I ever met. In the first place she has the faculty, so rare among women, of carrying out orders to the very letter. In the second place she has a clear shrewd brain unhampered by any hard and fast theories. Thirdly, and most important of all, she has so much common sense that it amounts to genius, positively to genius, sir. But although Love Day and her chief as a rule worked together upon an easy and friendly footing, there were occasions on which they were want, so to speak, to snarl at each other. Such an occasion was at hand now. Love Day showed no disposition to take out her notebook and receive her sailing orders. I want to know, she said, if what I saw in one newspaper is true, that one of the thieves before leaving took the trouble to close the safe door and to ride across it in chalk to be let unfurnished. Perfectly true, but I do not see that stress needs to be laid on the fact. The scoundrels often do have that sort of thing out of insolence or bravado. In that robbery at Rye Gate the other day, they went to a lady's Davenport, took a sheet of her note paper, and wrote their thanks on it for her kindness in not having had the lock of her safe repaired.  I want to know if you have seen this. She leaned across the writing table at which they sat, one on either side, and handed to him a newspaper cutting which she took from her lettercase. Mr. Dyer was a tall, powerfully built man with a large head, benevolent bald forehead, and a genial smile. That smile, however, often proved a trap to the unwary, for he owned a temper so irritable that a child with a chance word might ruffle it. The genial smile vanished as he took the newspaper cutting from Love Day's hand. I would have you to remember, Miss Brooke, he said severely, that although I am in the habit of using dispatch in my business, I am never known to be in a hurry. Hurry in affairs, I take to be the special mark of the slovenly and unpunctual. Then as if still further to give contradiction to her words, he very deliberately unfolded her slip of newspaper and slowly accentuating each word and syllable red as follows. Singular Discovery, a black leather bag or portmanteau, was found early yesterday morning by one of Smith's newspaper boys on the doorstep of a house in the road running between Easterbrook and Wareford, and inhabited by an elderly spinster lady. The contents of the bag include a clerical collar and necktie, a church service, a book of sermons, a copy of the works of Virgil, a facsimile of Magna Carta with translations, a pair of black kid gloves, a brush and comb, some newspapers, and several small articles suggesting clerical ownership. On the top of the bag, the following extraordinary letter written in pencil on a long slip of paper was found. The fatal day has arrived. I can exist no longer. I go hence and shall be no more seen. But I would have coroner and jury know that I am a sane man, and a verdict of temporary insanity in my case would be an error most gross after this intimation. I care not, if it is fellow to say, as I shall have passed all suffering, search diligently for my poor lifeless body in the immediate neighborhood, on the cold heath, the rail, or the river by yonder bridge. A few moments will decide how I shall depart. If I had walked aright, I might have been a power in the church of which I am now an unworthy member and priest, but the damnable sin of gambling got hold on me, and betting has been my ruin, as it has been the ruin of thousands who have preceded me. Young man, shun the bookmaker and the race course as you would shun the devil and hell.  Sweet death I greet thee, I dare not sign my name. To one and all farewell, O my poor Martianess mother, a dying kiss to thee, R.I.P. The police and some of the railway officials have made a diligent search in the neighborhood of the railway station, but no poor lifeless body has been found. The police authorities are inclined to the belief that the letter is a hoax, though they are still investigating the manner. In the same deliberate fashion as he had opened and read the cutting, Mr. Dyer folded and returned it to Love Day. May I ask, he said sarcastically, what you see in that silly hoax to ace your and my valuable time over? I wanted to know, said Love Day, in the same level tones as before, if you saw anything in it that might in some way connect this discovery with a robbery at Cregan Court. Mr. Dyer stared at her in utter blank astonishment. When I was a boy, he said sarcastically as before, I used to play at a game called What Is My Thought Like? Someone would think of something absurd, say the top of the monument, and someone else would hazard a guess that his thought might be, say the toe of his left boot, and that unfortunate individual would have to show the connection between the toe of his left boot and the top of the monument. Miss Brooke, I have no wish to repeat this silly game this evening for your benefit and mine. Oh, very well, said Love Day, calmly. I fancied you might like to talk it over, that was all. Give me my sailing orders, as you call them, and I'll endeavor to concentrate my attention on the little French maid and her various lovers. Mr. Dyer grew amiable again. That's the point on which I wish you to fix your thoughts, he said. You had better start for Craig and Court by the first train tomorrow. It's about 60 miles down the Great Eastern Line. Huxwell is the station you must land at. There, one of the grooms from the court will meet you and drive you to the house. I have arranged with the housekeeper there, Mrs. Williams, a very worthy and discreet person that you shall pass in the house for a niece of hers, on a visit to recruit at your severe study in order to pass board school teachers' exams. Naturally, you have injured your eyes as well as your health with overwork. So you can wear your blue spectacles. Your name, by the way, will be Jane Smith. Better write it down. All your work will lie among the servants of the establishment, and there will be no necessity for you to see either Sir George or Lady Catherine. You have been apprised of your intended visit. The fewer we take into our confidence, the better. I have no doubt, however, that Bates will hear from Scotland Yard when you are in the house and will make a point of seeing you. Has Bates unearthed anything of importance? Not as yet. He has discovered one of the girl's lovers, a young farmer of the name of Holt. But as he seems to be an honest, respectable young fellow and entirely above suspicion, the discovery does not count for much. I think there's nothing else to ask, said Love Day, rising to take her departure. Of course, I'll telegraph should need a rise in our usual cipher. The first train that left Bishopsgate for Huxwell on the following morning included among its passengers Love Day Brook, dressed in the neat black supposed to be appropriate to servants of the upper class. The only literature which she had provided herself in order to be guile the tedium of her journey was a small volume bound in paper boards and entitled The Reciter's Treasury. It was published at the low price of one shilling and seems specially designed to meet the requirements of third-rate amateur reciters at penny readings. Miss Brook appeared to be all absorbed in the contents of this book during the first half of her journey. During the second, she laid back in the carriage with closed eyes and emotionless as if asleep or lost in deep thought. The stopping of the train at Huxwell aroused her and set her collecting together her raps. It was easy to single out the trim groom from Creighton Court from among the country loafers on the platform. Someone else beside the trim groom at the same moment caught her eye. Bates from Scotland Yard got up in the style of a commercial traveler and carrying the Orthodox commercial bag in his hand. He was a small, wiry man with red hair and whiskers and an eager, hungry expression of countenance. I am half-frozen with cold, said Love Day, addressing Sir George's groom. If you'll kindly take charge of my portmanteau, I prefer walking to driving to the court.  Bates seemed to be in a happy frame of mind that morning. Quite a simple affair this, Miss Brooks, he said. A walk over the course I take it with you working inside the castle walls and I and her thing without. No complications have yet have arisen and if that girl does not find herself in jail before another week is over her head my name is not Jeremiah Bates. You mean the French maid? Why, yes, of course. I take it there is little doubt but what she performed the double duty of unlocking the safe and the window too. You see, I look at it this way, Miss Brooks. All girls have lovers, I say to myself, but a pretty girl like that French maid is bound to have double the number of lovers than the plain ones. Now, of course, the greater number of lovers, the greater the chance there is of a criminal being found among them. That's plain as a pike staff, isn't it? Justice plain. Bates felt encouraged to proceed. Well, then, arguing on the same lines, I say to myself, this girl is only a pretty silly thing, not an accomplished criminal. Or she wouldn't have admitted leaving open the safe door. Give her rope enough and she'll hang herself. In a day or two, if we let her alone, she'll be bolting off to join the fellow whose nest she has helped to feather and we'll catch the pair of them to X here and over straights and also possibly get a clue that will bring us on the traces of their accomplices. Hey, Miss Brooke, that'll be a thing worth doing. Undoubtedly, who is this coming along in the buggy at such a pace? The question was added as the sound of wheels behind them made her look round. Bates turned also. Oh, this is young Holt. His father farms land about a couple miles from here. He is one of Stephanie's lovers and I should imagine about the best of the lot. But he does not appear to be your favorite. From what I hear, someone else must have made the running on the sly. Ever since the robbery, I'm told the young woman has given him the cold shoulder. As the young man came near in his buggy, he slacked in pace and Loveday could not but admire his frank honest expression of countenance. Room for one. Can I give you a lift? He said as he came alongside of them and to the ineffable disgust of Bates, who had counted upon at least an hour's confidential talk with her. Miss Brooke accepted the young farmer's offer and mounted beside him in his buggy. As they went swiftly along the country road, Loveday explained to the young man that her destination was Cregan Court and that as she was a stranger to the place she must trust to him to put her down at the nearest point to it that he would pass. At the mention of Cregan Court his face clouded. They're in trouble there and their trouble has brought trouble on others he said a little bitterly. I know said Loveday sympathetically. It is often so. In such circumstances as these suspicion freak only fastens on an entirely innocent person. That's it. That's it he cried excitedly. If you go into that house you'll hear all sorts of wicked things said of her and see everything setting in dead against her but she's innocent. I swear to you she is as innocent as you or I are. His voice rang out above the clatter of this horse's hooves. He seemed to forget that he had mentioned no name and that Loveday as a stranger might be at a loss to know to whom he referred. Who is guilty heaven only knows he went on after a moment's pause it isn't for me to give an ill name to anyone in that house but I only say she is innocent and that I'll stake my life on it. She is a lucky girl to have found one to believe in her and to trust her as you do said Loveday even more sympathetically than before. Is she? I wish she'd take advantage of her luck then he answered bitterly. Most girls in her position would be glad to have a man to stand by them through thick and thin but not she. Ever since the night of that accursed robbery she has refused to see me won't answer my letters won't even send me a message and great heavens I'd marry her tomorrow if I had the chance and dare the world to say a word against her. He whipped up his pony the hedges seemed to fly on either side of them and before Loveday realized that half her drive was over he had drawn rain and was helping her to alight at the servant's entrance to Craig and Court. You'll tell her what I've said to you if you get the opportunity and beg her to see me if only for five minutes he petitioned before he remounted his buggy and Loveday as she thanked the young man for his kind attention promised to make an opportunity to give his message to the girl. Mrs. Williams the housekeeper welcomed Loveday in the servant's hall and then took her to her own room to pull off her wraps. Mrs. Williams was the widow of a London tradesman and a little beyond the average housekeeper in speech and manner. She was a genial pleasant woman who readily entered into conversation with Loveday. He was brought in and each seemed to feel at home with the other. Loveday in the course of this easy pleasant talk elicited from her the whole history of the events of the day of the robbery, the number and names of the guests who sat down to dinner that night apparently trivial details. The housekeeper made no attempt to disguise the painful position in which she and every one of the servants of the house felt themselves to be in at the present moment. We are none of us at our ease with each other now she said as she poured out hot tea for Loveday and piled up a blazing fire. Everyone fancies that everyone else is suspecting him or her and trying to rake up past words or deeds to bring in as evidence. The whole house seems under a cloud and at this time of year two just when everything as a rule is at its merriest.  I suppose you are generally very merry downstairs at Christmas time said Loveday servants balls, theatricals and all that sort of thing. I should think we were when I think of this time last year and the fun we all had I can scarcely believe it is the same house. Our ball always follows my lady's ball and we have permission to ask our friends to it and we keep it up as late as ever we please. We begin our evening with a concert and recitations in character then we have a supper and then we dance right on till morning but this year she broke off giving a long melancholy shake of her head that spoke volumes. I suppose said Loveday some of your friends are very clever as musicians or reciters very clever indeed Sir George and my lady are always present during the early part of the evening and I should like you to have seen Sir George last year laughing fit to kill himself at Harry Emmett dressed in prison dress with a bit of oakum in his hand reciting the noble convict Sir George said if the young man had gone on the stage he would have been bound to make his fortune half a cup please said Loveday presenting her cup who was this Harry Emmett then a sweetheart of one of the maids oh he would flirt with them all but he was sweetheart to none he was footman to Colonel James who was a great friend of Sir George's and Harry was constantly backwards and forwards bringing messages from his master his father I think drove a cab in London and Harry for a time did so also then he took it into his head to be a gentleman servant and great satisfaction he gave as such he was always such a bright handsome young fellow and so full of fun that everyone liked him but I shall tire you with all this and you of course talk about something so different and the housekeeper sighed again as the thought of the dreadful robbery entered her brain once more not at all I am greatly interested in you and your festivities is Emmett still in the neighborhood I should amazingly like to hear him recite myself I am sorry to say he left Colonel James about six months ago we all missed him very much at first he was a good kind hearted young man and I remember he told me he was going away to look after his dear old grandmother who had a sweet stuff shop somewhere other but where I can't remember Love Day was leaning back in her chair now with eyelid troops so low that she literally looked out through slits instead of eyes suddenly and abruptly she changed the conversation when will it be convenient for me to see Lady Catherine's dressing room she asked the housekeeper looked at her watch now at once she answered it's a quarter to five now and my lady sometimes goes up to her room to rest for half an hour before she dresses for dinner is Stephanie still in attendance on Lady Catherine Miss Brooke asked as she followed the housekeeper up the back stairs to the bedroom floor yes Sir George and my lady have been goodness itself to us through this trying time and they say we are all innocent till we are proved guilty and will have it that none of our duties are to be in any way altered Stephanie is scarcely fit to perform hers I should imagine scarcely she was in hysterics nearly from morning till night for the first two or three days after the detectives came down but now she has grown sullen eats nothing and never speaks a word to any of us like when she is obliged this is my lady's dressing room walk in please Love Day entered a large luxuriously furnished room and naturally made her way straight to the chief point of attraction in it the iron safe fitted into the wall that separated the dressing room from the bedroom it was a safe of the ordinary description fitted with a strong iron door and chub block and across this door was written characters that seemed defiant in their size and boldness the words to be let unfurnished Love Day spent about five minutes in front of the safe all her attention concentrated upon the big bold writing she took from her pocketbook a narrow strip of tracing paper and compared the writing on it letter by letter with that on the safe door this done she turned to mrs. Williams ready to follow her to the room below mrs. Williams look surprised her opinion of ms. Brooks professional capabilities suffered considerable diminution the gentleman detectives she said spent over an hour in this room they paced the floor they measured the candles they mrs. Williams interrupted Love Day I am quite ready to look at the room below her manner had changed from gossiping friendliness to that of the business woman hard at work at her profession without another word mrs. Williams led her way to the little room which had proved itself to be the weak point of the house they entered it by the door which opened into a passage leading to the back stairs of the house Love Day found the room exactly what had been described to her by Mr. Dyer it needed no second glance at the window to see the ease with which anyone could open it from the outside and swing themselves into the room when once the brass catch had been unfastened Love Day wasted no time here in fact much to mrs. Williams' surprise and disappointment she merely walked across the room in at one door and out of the opposite one which opened into the large inner hall of the house here however she paused to ask a question is that chair always placed exactly in that position she said pointing to an oak chair that stood immediately outside the room they had just quitted the housekeeper answered in the affirmative it was a warm corner my lady was particular that everyone who came to the house on messages should have it a comfortable place to wait in I shall be glad if you will show me up to my room now said Love Day a little abruptly and will you kindly send up to me a country trade directory if that is you have such a thing in the house mrs. Williams with an air of offended dignity led the way to the bedroom quarters once more the worthy housekeeper felt as if her own dignity had in some sort been injured by the want of interest mrs. Brook had events in the rooms which at the present moment she considered the showrooms of the house shall I send someone to help you unpack she asked a little stiffly at the door of Love Day's room no thank you there will not be much unpacking to do I must leave here by the first uptrain tomorrow morning tomorrow morning while I have told everyone you will be here at least a fortnight ah then you must explain that I have been suddenly summoned home by telegram I'm sure I can trust you to make excuses for me do not however make them before supper time I shall like to sit down to that meal with you I suppose I shall see Stephanie then the housekeeper answered in the affirmative and went her way wondering over the strange manners of the lady whom at first she had been disposed to consider such a nice pleasant conversable person at supper time however the supper servants assembled at what was to them the pleasantest meal of the day a great surprise was to greet them Stephanie did not take her usual place at table and a fellow servant sent to her room to summon her return saying that the room was empty and Stephanie was nowhere to be found Love Day and Mrs. Williams together went to the girl's bedroom it bore its usual appearance no packing had been done in it and beyond her hat and jacket the girl appeared to have taken nothing away with her on inquiry it transpired that Stephanie had as usual assisted Lady Catherine to dress for dinner but after that not a soul in the house appeared to have seen her Mrs. Williams thought the matter of sufficient importance to be at once reported to her master and mistress and Sir George in his turn promptly dispatched a messenger to Mr. Bates at the king's head to summon him to an immediate consultation Love Day dispatched a messenger in another direction to young Mr. Holt at his farm giving him particulars of the girl's disappearance Mr. Bates had a brief interview with Sir George in his study from which he emerged radiant he made a point of seeing Love Day before he left the court and made a special request to her that she would speak to him for a minute in the outside drive Love Day put her hat on and went out to him she found him almost dancing for glee told you so told you so now didn't I miss Brooke he exclaimed will come upon her traces before morning never fear I'm quite prepared I knew what was in her mind all along but I didn't know when that girl bolts it will be after she has dressed my lady for dinner when she has two good clear hours all to herself and her absence from the house won't be noticed and when without much difficulty she can catch a train leaving Huxwell for Wareford well she'll get to Wareford safe enough but from Wareford she'll be followed every step of the way she goes only yesterday I set a man on there sort of thing and gave him full directions and he'll hunt her down to her hole properly take a nothing with her you say what does that matter she thinks she'll find all she wants where she's going the feather nest I spoke to you about this morning haha well instead of stepping into it as she fancies she will she'll walk straight into it detect his arms and land her pal there into the bargain take two of them netted before another 48 hours are over our heads or my name's not Jeremiah Bates what are you going to do now ask Love Day as the man finished his long speech now I'm back to the king's head to wait for a telegram from my colleague at Wareford once he's got her in front of him he'll give me instructions at what point to meet him you see Huxwell being such an out of the way place and only one train leaving between 730 and 1015 makes us really positive that Wareford must be the girl's destination and relieves my mind from all anxiety on the matter does it? answered Love Day gravely I can see another possible destination for the girl the stream that runs through the wood we drove past this morning good night Mr. Bates it's cold out here as soon as you have any news you'll send it up to Sir George the household set up late that night but no news was received of Stephanie from any quarter Mr. Bates had impressed upon Sir George the ill-advisability of setting up a hue and cry after the girl that might possibly reach her ears and scare her from joining a person whom he was pleased to designate as her pal we want to follow her silently Sir George silently as the shadow follows the man he had said grand delicately and then we shall come upon the two and I trust upon the booty also Sir George in his turn had impressed Mr. Bates wishes upon his household and if it had not been for Love Day's message dispatched early in the evening to young Holt not a soul outside the house would have known of Stephanie's disappearance Love Day was stirring early the next morning and the eight o'clock train for Weyreford numbered her among its passengers before starting she dispatched the telegram to her chief in Lynch Court it read rather oddly as follows Cracker fired I'm just starting for Weyreford will wire you from there LB oddly though it might read Mr. Dyer did not need to refer book to interpret it Cracker fired was the easily remembered equivalent for Clue found in the detective phraseology of the office well she has been quick enough about it this time he's a little as he speculated in his own mind over what the purport of her next telegram might be half an hour later there came to him a constable from Scotland Yard to tell him of Stephanie's disappearance and the conjectures that were rife on the matter and he then not unnaturally read Love Day's telegram by the light of this information and concluded that the clue in her hands related to the discovery of Stephanie's whereabouts as well as to that of her guilt a telegram received a little later on however was to turn this theory upside down it was like the former one worded in the enigmatic language current in the Lynch Court establishment but as it was a lengthier and more intricate message it sent Mr. Dyer at once to his cipher book wonderful she has cut them all out this time was Mr. Dyer's exclamation as he read and interpreted the final word in another 10 minutes he had given over his office to the charge of his head clerk for the day and was rattling along the streets in a handsome in the direction of bishops gate station there he was lucky enough to catch a train just starting for whereford the event of the day he muttered as he settled himself comfortably in a corner seat will be the return journey when she tells me bit by bit how she has worked it all out it was not until close upon three o'clock in the afternoon that he arrived at the old fashion market town of whereford a chance to be cattle market day and the station was crowded with drovers and farmers outside the station love day was waiting for him as she had told him in her telegram that she would in a four wheeler it's all right she said to him as he got in he can't get away even if he had an idea that we were after him two of the local police were waiting outside the house door with a warrant for his arrest signed by a magistrate I did not however see why the lynch court office should not have the credit of the thing and so telegraphed to you to conduct the arrest they drove through the high street to the outskirts of the town where the shops became intermixed with private houses led out in offices the cab pulled up outside one of these and two policemen in plain clothes came forward and touched their hats to Mr. Dyer he's in there now sir doing his office work said one of the men pointing to a door just within the entrance on which was painted in black letters the united kingdom cab drivers beneficent association I hear however that this is the last time he will be found there as a week ago he gave notice to leave as the man finished speaking a man evidently of the cab driving fraternity came up the steps he stared curiously at the little group just within the entrance and then chinking his money in his hand passed on to the office as if to pay his subscription will you be good enough to tell Mr. Emmett in there said Mr. Dyer addressing the man that a gentleman outside wishes to speak with him the man nodded and passed into the office as the door opened it disclosed a view an old gentleman seated at a desk apparently writing receipts for money a little in his rear at his right hand sat a young and decidedly good looking man at a table on which were placed various little piles of silver and pints the get up of this young man was gentleman like and his manner was affable and pleasant as he responded with a nod and a smile to the cab drivers message I shan't be a minute he said to his colleague at the other desk as he rose and crossed the room towards the door but once outside that door it was closed firmly behind him and he found himself in the center of three stalwart individuals one of whom informed him that he held in his hand a warrant for the arrest of Harry Emmett on the charge of complicity and that he had better come along quietly for resistance would be useless Emmett seemed convinced of the latter fact he grew deadly white for a moment then recovered himself will someone have the kindness to fetch my hat and coat he said in a lofty manner I don't see why I should be made to catch my death of cold because some other people have seen fit to make asses of themselves his hat and coat were fetched and he was handed into the cab between the two officers let me give you a word of warning young man said Mr. Dyer closing the cab door and looking in for a moment through the window at Emmett I don't suppose it's a punishable offense to leave a black bag on an old lady's doorstep but let me tell you if it had not been for that black bag you might have got clean off with your spoil Emmett the irrepressible had his answer ready he lifted his hat ironically to Mr. Dyer you might have put it more neatly governor he said if I had been in your place I would have said young man you are being justly punished for your misdeeds you have been taking off your fellow creatures for life long and now they are taking off you Mr. Dyer's duty that day did not end with a depositing of Harry Emmett in the local jail the search through Emmett's lodgings and effects had to be made and at this he was naturally present about a third of the lost jewelry was found there and from this he was consequently concluded that his accomplices in this crime had considered that he had borne a third of the risk and of the danger of it letters and various memoranda discovered in the rooms eventually led to the detection of those accomplices and although Lady Cathrow was doomed to lose the greater part of her valuable property she had ultimately the satisfaction of knowing that each one of the thieves received a sentence proportionate to his crime it was not until close upon midnight that Mr. Dyer found himself seated in the train facing Miss Brooke links in the chain of reasoning that had led her in so remarkable a manner to connect the finding of a black bag with insignificant contents with an extensive robbery of valuable jewelry Love Day explained the whole thing easily and naturally step by step in her usual methodical manner I read she said as I daresay a great many other people did the account of the two things in the same newspaper on the same day and I detected as I daresay a great many other people did not a sense of fun in the principal actor in each incident I noticed while all people are agreed as to the variety of motives that instigate crime very few allow sufficient margin for variety of character in the criminal we are apt to imagine that he stalks about the world with a bundle of deadly motives under his arm and cannot picture him at his work with a twinkle in his eye and a keen sense of fun such as honest folk have sometimes when at work in their calling here Mr. Dyer gave a little grunt it might have been either a sent or dissent Love Day went on of course the ludicrousness of the diction of the letter found in the bag would be apparent to the most casual reader to me the highfalutin sentences sounded in addition strangely familiar I heard or read them somewhere I felt sure although where I could not at first remember they rang in my ears and it was not altogether out of idle curiosity that I went to Scotland Yard to see the bag and its contents and a copy with a slip of tracing paper a line or two of the letter when I found that the handwriting of this letter was not identical with that of the translations found on the bag I was confirmed to my impression that the owner of the bag was not the writer of the letter that possibly the bag and its contents had been appropriated from some railway station for some distinct purpose and that purpose accomplished the appropriator no longer wished to be burdened with it and disposed of it in the readiest fashion that suggested itself the letter it seemed to me had been begun with the intention of throwing the police off the scent but the irrepressible spirit of fun that had induced the writer to deposit his clerical adjuncts upon an old maid's doorstep had proved too strong for him here and had carried him away and the letter that was intended to be pathetic ended him being comic very ingenious so far Mr. Dyer I have no doubt when the contents of the bag are widely known through advertisements a claimant will come forward and your theory will be found correct when I returned from Scotland Yard Love Day continued I found your note asking me to go around and see you respecting the big jewel robbery before I did so I thought it best to read once more the newspaper account of the case so that I might be well up in its details when I came to the words that the thief had written across the door of the safe to be let unfurnished they at once connected themselves in my mind with the dying kiss of my Martianess mother and the solemn warning against the race course and the bookmaker of the black bag letter writer then on a flash the whole thing became clear to me some two or three years back my professional duties necessitated my frequent attendance at certain low class penny readings given in the south London slums at these penny readings young shop assistants and others of their class were glad of an opportunity for exhibiting their accomplishments declaim with great vigor and as a rule select pieces which their very mixed audience might be supposed to appreciate during my attendance at these meetings it seemed to me that one book of selected readings was a great favorite among the reciters and I took the trouble to buy it here it is here Love Day took from her coat pocket the reciter's treasury to her companion now she said if you will run your eye down the index column you'll find the titles of those pieces to which I wish to draw your attention the first is the suicides farewell the second the noble convict and the third to be let unfurnished by Joe so it is ejaculated Mr. Dyer in the first of these pieces well occur the expressions with which the black bag letter begins the fatal day has arrived etc the warnings against gambling and the allusion to the poor lifeless body in the second the noble convict occur the allusions to the aristocratic relations and the dying kiss to the martianess mother the third piece to be let unfurnished is a foolish little poem enough it has often raised a laugh in a not too discriminating audience it tells how a bachelor calling in a house to inquire after rooms to be let unfurnished falls in love with a daughter of the house and offers her his heart which he says is to be let unfurnished she declines his offer and retorts that she thinks that his head must be to let unfurnished too with these three pieces before me it was not difficult to see a thread of connection between the writer of the black bag letter and the thief who wrote across the empty safe at craig and court following this thread I unearthed the story of harry emet footman, reciter general lover and scampe subsequently I compared the writing on my tracing paper with that on the safe door and allowing for the difference between a bit of chalk and a steel nib came to the conclusion that there could be little doubt but what both were written by the same hand before that however I had obtained another and one I consider the most important link in my chain of evidence how emet brought his clerical dress to use and how did you find out about that now asked Mr. Dyer leaning forward with his elbows on his knees in the course of conversation with Mrs. Williams whom I found to be a most communicative person I elicited the names of the guest who had sat down to dinner on Christmas Eve they were all people of undoubted respectability in the neighborhood just before dinner was announced she said a young clergyman had presented himself at the front door asking to speak with a rector of the parish the rector it seems always dines at craig and court on Christmas Eve the young clergyman's story was that he had been told by a certain clergyman whose name he mentioned that a curate was wanted in the parish and he had traveled down from London to offer his services he had been he said to the rector and had been told by the servants where the rector was dining and fearing to lose his chance of the curacy had followed him to the court now the rector had been wanting a curate and had filled the vacancy only the previous week he was a little inclined to be irate at this interruption to the evening's festivities and told the young man that he didn't want a curate when however he saw how disappointed the poor young fellow looked I believe he shed a tear or two his heart softened he told him to sit down and rest in the hall before he attempted to walk back to the station and said he would ask Sir George to send him out a glass of wine the young man sat down in a chair immediately outside the room by which the thieves entered now I need not tell you who that young man was nor suggest to your mind I am sure the idea that while the servant went to fetch him the wine or indeed so soon as he saw the coast clear he slipped into that little room and pulled back the catch of the window that admitted his confederates who no doubt at that very moment were in hiding in the grounds the housekeeper did not know whether this meek young curate had a black bag with him personally I have no doubt of the fact nor that it contained the cap cuffs, collar and outer garments of Harry Emmett which were most likely redone before he returned to his lodgings at Weerford where I should say he repacked the bag with its clerical contents and wrote his serial comic letter this bag I suppose he must have deposited in the very early morning before anyone was stirring on the doorstep of the house in the Easterbrook road Mr. Dyer drew a long breath in his heart was unmitigated admiration for his colleague's skill which seemed to him to fall a little short of inspiration by and by no doubt he would sing her praises to the first person who came along with a hearty goodwill he had not however the slightest intention of so singing them in her own ears excessive praise was apt to have a bad effect on the rising practitioner so he contented himself with saying yes very satisfactory now tell me how you hunted the fellow down to his digs oh that was mere ABC work answered Love Day Mrs. Williams told me he had left his place at Colonel James about six months previously and told her he was going to look after his dear old grandmother who kept a sweet stuff shop but where she could not remember having heard that Emmett's father was a cab driver my thoughts at once flew to the cabman's vernacular you know something of it in which their provident association is designated by the phrase the dear old grandmother and the office where they make and receive their payments is styled the sweet stuff shop haha and good Mrs. Williams took it all literally no doubt she did and thought what a dear kind-hearted fellow the young man was naturally I suppose there would be a branch of the association in the nearest market town and a local trades directory confirmed my supposition that there was one at whereford bearing in mind where the black bag was found it was not difficult to believe that young Emmett possibly through his father's influence and his own prepossessing manners and appearance had attained to some position of trust in the whereford branch I must confess I scarcely expected to find him as I did on reaching the place installed as receiver of the weekly monies and of course I immediately put myself in communication with the police there and the rest I think you know Mr. Dyer's enthusiasm refused to be longer restrained it's capital from first to last he cried you surpassed yourself this time the only thing that saddens me said Love Day is the thought of the possible fate of that poor little Stephanie Love Day's anxieties on Stephanie's behalf were however to be put to flight before another 24 hours had passed the first post on the following morning brought a letter from Mrs. Williams telling how the girl had been found before the night was over half dead with cold and fright on the verge of the stream running through Creighton Wood found too wrote the housekeeper by the very person who ought to have found her young Holt who was and is so desperately in love with her thank goodness the last moment her courage failed her and instead of throwing herself into the stream she sank down half fainting beside it Holt took her straight home to his mother and there at the farm she is now being taken care of and petted generally by everyone end of the black bag left on a doorstep by Catherine Louisa Pircus recording by Alan Winteroud boomcoach.blogspot com the red-headed league by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Alan Winteroud the red-headed league by Arthur Conan Doyle I had called upon my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of Los Angeles I had called upon my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout florid-faced elderly gentleman with fiery red hair with an apology from my intrusion I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me you could not possibly have come at a better time my dear Watson he said cordially I was afraid that you were engaged so I am very much so then I can wait in the next room not at all this gentleman, Mr. Wilson has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases and I have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me and yours also the stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of greeting with a quick little questioning glance from his small fat and circled eyes try the satis at Holmes relapsing into his arm chair and putting his fingertips together as was his custom when in judicial moods I know my dear Watson that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life you have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle and if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me I observed you will remember that I remarked the other day just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination a proposition which I took the liberty of doubting you did doctor but nonetheless you must come round to my view for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be right now Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some time you have heard me remark as the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the 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 thousand 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 great coat as he glanced down the advertisement column with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened out upon his knee I took a good look at the man and endeavored after the fashion of my companion to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance I did not gain very much however by my inspection by the remark of being an average commonplace British tradesman obese pompous and slow he wore rather baggy gray shepherd's check trousers a not overclean 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 all together look as I would there was nothing remarkable about the man saved his blazing red head and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features Mr. Holm's quick eye took in my occupation and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor that he takes snuff 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. Holms he asked how did you know for example that I did manual labor 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 free masonry 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 arch and compass breastpin aha 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 a smooth patch near the elbow where you rested upon the desk well but China the fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China I have made a small study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of the subject the trick of staining the fish's scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China when in addition I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain the matter becomes even more simple Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily well I never said he I thought at first you had done something clever but I see there was nothing in it after all I begin to think Watson said Holmes that I make a mistake in explaining omne ignatum pro magnifico you know 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 it began at all you just read it for yourself sir I took the paper from him and read as follows to the red headed league on account of the bequest of the late Ezekia Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA 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 and body and mind and above the age of 21 years are eligible apply in person on Monday at 11 o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of the league 7 popes 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 and the date it is the morning chronicle of April 27th 1890 just two months ago very good now Mr. Wilson well it is just as I've been telling you Mr. Sherlock Holmes said job as 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 as 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 after all if he is satisfied why should I put ideas in his head why indeed you seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under the full market price it is not a common experience among employers in this age I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement all 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 is a good worker there is no vice in him he's still with you I presume yes sir he and a girl of 14 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 and we keep a roof over our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more the first thing that put us out was that advertisement spalding he came down into the office just this day 8 weeks with his very paper in his hand and he says I wish to lord Mr. Wilson that I was a redheaded man why that I asks why says he here's another vacancy on the league of the redheaded 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 color 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'm a very stay at home man and as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it I was often weeks on in without 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 redheaded men he asked with his eyes open never why I wonder at that for you're eligible yourself for one of the vacancies and what are they worth I asked all 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 very good over 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 go 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 redheaded and he had a great sympathy for all redheaded 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 interest to the providing of easy births to men whose hair is of that color from all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to do but said I millions of redheaded 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 no use you're 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 be hardly 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 can see for yourself that my hair is of a very full and rich tint so that it seemed to me 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 he 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 redheaded folk and Pope's Court looked like a costar's orange barrel I should not have thought there were so many in the whole country as were brought together by that single advertisement every shade of color they were straw, lemon, orange brick, irish setter liver, clay but as Spaulding said there were not many who had the real vivid flame colored tint when I saw how many were waiting I would have given it up in despair but 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 remark 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 to recall however when our turn came the little man was much more favorable to me than to any of the others and he closed the door as we entered so that he might have a private word with us this is Mr. Job as 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 rung my hand and congratulated me warmly on my success it would be an 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 him there is water in your eyes said he as he released me I believe 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 cobblers wax which would disgust you with human nature he stepped over to the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice at 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 those pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor are you a married man Mr. Wilson have you a family I answer that I have not his face fell immediately dear me he said gravely that is very serious indeed I'm 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 linked into 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 much stretch a point in favor of a man with such a head of hair as yours when will you be able to enter upon your new duties well it is a little awkward for I have a business already said I I'll 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 10 to 2 now upon brokers business is mostly done of an evening Mr. Holmes especially Thursday and Friday evening which is just before payday so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the mornings besides I knew that my assistant was a good man that he would see to anything that turned up that would suit me very well said I and the pay is $4 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 is only 4 hours a day and I should not think of leaving said I no excuse will prevail said Mr. Duncan Ross neither sickness nor business or anything else there you must stay or you lose your billet and the work it is to copy out the your 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 tomorrow certainly I answered then goodbye Mr. Job as 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 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 at some great hopes or fraud though what its object might be I could not imagine it seemed altogether past belief that anyone would make such a will or that they would pay such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica Vincent Spaulding 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 full scrap 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 how I fairly got 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 armor and architecture and attica and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the bees before very long it cost me something in fool's cap and I had pretty nearly filled a shelf with my writings and then suddenly the whole business came to an end to an end yes sir and no later than this morning I went to my work as usual at ten o'clock but the door was shut and locked with a little drift cardboard hammered on to the middle of the panel with attack here it is and you can read it for yourself he held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet of note paper it read in this fashion the red headed league is dissolved October 9, 1890 Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the rueful face behind it until the comical side of the affair so completely over topped every other consideration that we both broke out into a roar of laughter I cannot see that there is anything very funny cried our client flushing up the roots of his flaming head if you can do nothing better than laugh at me I can go elsewhere no no cried Holmes shoving him back into the chair from which he had half risen I really wouldn't miss your case for the world it is most refreshingly unusual but there is if you'll excuse my saying so something just a little funny about it pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the door I was staggered sir I did not know what to do then I called of the offices round but none of them seemed to know anything about it finally I went to the landlord who is an accountant living on the ground floor and I asked him if he could tell me what to become of the red headed league he said that he had never heard of any such body then I asked him who Mr Duncan Ross was he answered that name was new to him well said I the gentleman at number four what the red headed man yes oh said he his name was William Morris who is a solicitor was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new premises were ready he moved out yesterday where could I find him oh at his new offices he did tell me the address yes 17 King Edward Street near St. Paul's I started off Mr. Holmes but when I got to that address it was a manufacturing of artificial knee caps and no one in it had ever heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross and what did you do then asked Holmes I went home to sacks square I took the advice of my assistant but he could not help me in any way he could only say that if I waited I should hear by post but that was not quite good enough Mr. Holmes I did not wish to lose such a place without a struggle so as I heard that you were good enough to give advice to poor folk who are in need of it I came right away to you and you did very wisely said Holmes your case is an exceedingly remarkable one and I shall be happy to look into it from what you have told me I think that it is possible that there is a thing from it that might at first sight appear grave enough said Mr. Jabez Wilson why I have lost four pound a week as far as you are personally concerned remarked Holmes I do not see how you have any grievance against this extraordinary league on the contrary you are as I understand richer by some 30 pounds to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which is nothing by them no sir but I want to find out about them and who they are and what their object was in playing this prank if it was a prank upon me it was a pretty expensive joke for them for it cost them two and thirty pounds we shall endeavor to clear up these points for you and first one or two questions Mr. Wilson this assistant of yours who first called your attention to the advertisement how long has he been out a month then how did he come in answer to an advertisement was he the only applicant no I had a dozen why did you pick him because he was handy and would come cheap at half wages in fact yes what is he like this Vincent Spaulding small stout built very quick in his ways no hair on his face though he's not short of 30 has a white splash of acid upon his forehead Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement I thought as much said he have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for earrings yes sir he told me that a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad hmm said Holmes sinking back in deep thought he is still with you oh yes sir I have only just left him and has your business been attended to in your absence nothing to complain of sir there's never very much to do of a morning that will do Mr. Wilson I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two today is Saturday and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion well Watson said Holmes when our visitor had left us what do you make of it all I made nothing of it I answered frankly it is a most mysterious business as a rule said Holmes the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be it is your commonplace featureless crimes which are really puzzling just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify but I must be prompt over this matter what are you going to do then I asked to smoke he answered it is quite a three pipe problem and I beg that you won't speak to me for 50 minutes he curled himself up in his chair with his thin knees drawn up to his hawk like nose and there he sat with his eyes closed and his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep and indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly sprang out of his chair with a gesture of a man who was made of his mind and put his pipe down on the mantelpiece Sarasate plays at the St. James Hall this afternoon he remarked what do you think Watson would your patients spare you a few hours I have nothing to do today my practice is never very absorbing then put on your hat and come I am going through the city first and we can have some lunch on the way I observe that there is a good deal of German music on the program which is rather more to my taste than Italian or French it is introspecting and I want to introspect come along we traveled by the underground as far as Aldersgate and a short walk took us to Sacks Cobra Square the scene of the singular story which we had listened to in the morning it was a pokey little shabby gentile place where four lines of dingy two-story brick houses looked out into a small railed in enclosure where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded laurel bushes made a hard fight against the smoke laden and uncongenial atmosphere three guilt balls and a brown board with Jabez Wilson in white letters upon a corner house announced the place where our red-headed client carried on his business Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and looked it all over with his eyes shining brightly between puckered lids then he walked slowly up the street and then down again to the corner still looking keenly at the houses finally he returned to the pawnbrokers and having thumbed vigorously upon the pavement as his stick two or three times he went up to the door and knocked it was instantly opened by a bright-looking clean-shaven young fellow who asked him to step in thank you said Holmes I only wish to ask you how you would go from here to the strand third right fourth left answered the assistant promptly closing the door smart fellow that observed Holmes as we walked away he is in my judgment man in London and for daring I am not sure that he has not acclaimed to be third I have known something of him before evidently said I Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal in the mystery of the red-headed league I am sure that you inquired your way merely in order that you might see him not him what then the knees of his trousers and what did you see what I expected to see why did you beat the pavement my dear doctor this is time for observation not for talk we are spies in an enemy's country we know something of Saxe-Coburg Square let us now explore the parts which lie behind it the road in which we found ourselves as we turn around the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back it was one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the city to the north and the west the roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward while the footpaths were black with a hurrying swarm of pedestrians it was difficult to realize as we looked upon the line of fine shops and stately business premises that they really abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which we had just quitted let me see said Holmes standing at the corner and glancing at the line I should like just to remember the order of the houses here it is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of London there is Mortimer's the tobacconist the little newspaper shop the Coburg branch of the city and suburban bank the vegetarian restaurant and McFarland's carriage building depot that carries us right on to the other block and now doctor we've done our work so it's time we had some play a sandwich and a cup of coffee and then off to violin land where all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony and there are no redheaded clients to vex us with their conundrums my friend was an enthusiastic musician being himself not only a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit all the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect happiness gently waving his long thin fingers in times of the music while his gently smiling face and his languid dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound Holmes the relentless keen-witted ready-handed criminal agent as it was possible to conceive in his singular character the dual nature alternately asserted itself and his extreme exactness and astuteness represented as I have often thought the reaction against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally predominated in him the swing of his nature took him from extreme langer to devouring energy and as I knew well he was never so truly formidable as when, for days on end he had been lounging in his armchair amid the improvisations and his black-letter additions then it was that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him and that his brilliant reasoning power would rise to the level of intuition until those who were unacquainted with his methods would look a-scance to him as on a man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals when I saw him that afternoon so unwrapped in the music at St. James Hall I felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set himself to hunt down you want to go home no doubt doctor here marked as we emerged yes it would be as well and I have some business to do which will take some hours this business at Coburg Square is serious a considerable crime is in contemplation I have every reason to believe that we shall be in time to stop it but today being Saturday rather complicates matters I shall want your help tonight at what time 10 will be early enough I shall be at Baker Street at 10 very well and I say doctor there may be some little danger so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket I turned on his heel and disappeared in an instant among the crowd I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbors but I was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with Sherlock Holmes here I had heard what he had heard I had seen what he had seen and yet from his words it was evident that he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to happen while to me the whole business was still confused and grotesque when I moved home to my house in Kensington I thought over it all from the extraordinary story of the redheaded copier of the encyclopedia down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Square and the ominous words with which he had parted from me what was this nocturnal expedition and why should I go armed where were we going and what were we to do I had the hint from Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable man who might play a deep game I tried to puzzle it out but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside until night should bring an explanation it was a quarter past nine when I started from home and made my way across the park and so through Oxford Street to Baker Street two handsoms were standing at the door and as I entered the passage I heard the sound of voices from above on entering his room an animated conversation with two men one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones the official police agent while the other was a long thin, sad-faced man with a very shiny hat an oppressively respectable frockcoat ha our party is complete said Holmes butting up his P-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack Watson I think you know Mr. Jones of Scotland Yard let me introduce you to Mr. Maryweather who is to be our companion in tonight's adventure we're hunting in couples again doctor you see said Jones in his consequential way our friend here is a wonderful man for starting a chase all he wants is an old dog to help him do the running down I hope a wild goose may not prove to be at the end of our chase observed Mr. Maryweather gloomily you may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes sir and the police agent loftily he has his own little methods which are if you won't mind my saying so just a little too theoretical and fantastic but he has the makings of a detective in him it's not too much to say that once or twice as in the business of the Shalto murder and the Agra treasure he has been more nearly correct than the official force oh if you say so Mr. Jones it is alright said a stranger with deference I confess that I miss my rubber it is the first Saturday night for 7 and 20 years that I have not had my rubber I think you will find said Sherlock Holmes that you will play for a higher stake tonight than you ever have done yet and that the play will be more exciting for you Mr. Maryweather the stake will be some 30,000 pounds and for you Jones it will be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands John Clay the murderer, thief, smasher and forger he is a young man Mr. Maryweather but he is at the head of his profession and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London he is a remarkable man as young John Clay his grandfather was a royal Duke and he himself has been to Eaton and Oxford his brain is as cunning as his fingers and though we will meet signs of him at every turn we never know where to find the man himself back a crib in Scotland one week and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yet I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you tonight I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay and I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession it is past 10 however and quite time that we started if you two will take the first handsome the second Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which we had heard in the afternoon we rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street we are close there now my friend remarked this fellow Maryweather is a bank director and personally interested in the matter I thought it as well to have Jones with us also he is not a bad fellow though an absolute imbecile in his profession he has one positive virtue he is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone here we are and they are waiting for us we had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning our cabs were dismissed and following the guidance of Mr. Maryweather we passed down a narrow passage and threw a side door which he opened for us within there was a small corridor which ended in a very massive iron gate this also was opened and led down a flight of winding stone steps which terminated at another formidable gate Mr. Maryweather stopped to light a lantern and then conducted us down a dark earth-smelling passage and so after opening a third door into a huge vault or cellar which was piled all around with crates and massive boxes you are not very vulnerable from above Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about him nor from below said Mr. Maryweather striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor why dear me it sounds quite hollow here marked looking up in surprise I must really ask you to be a little more quiet said Holmes severely you have already imperiled the whole success of our expedition might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes and not to interfere the solemn Mr. Maryweather perched himself upon a crate with a very injured expression upon his face while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and with the lantern and a magnifying lens began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones a few seconds suffice to satisfy him for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket we have at least an hour before us here marked for they can hardly take any steps until the good pawn broker is safely in bed then they will not lose a minute for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape we are at present doctor as no doubt you have divine in the cellar of the city branch of one of the principal London banks Mr. Maryweather is the chairman of directors and he will explain to you there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London take a considerable interest in this cellar at present it is our French gold whispered the director we have had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it your French gold yes we had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 Napoleon's from the bank of France it has become known that we have never had occasion to unpack the money and that it is still lying in our cellar the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 Napoleon's packed between layers of lead foil a reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is usually kept in a single branch office and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject which were very well justified observed homes and now it is time that we arranged our little plans I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head in the meantime Mr. Maryweather must put the screen over that dark lantern and sit in the dark I am afraid so I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket and I thought that as we were a partay caray you might have your rubber after all but I see that the enemies preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light and first of all we must choose our positions these are daring men and though we shall take them at a disadvantage they may do us some harm unless we are careful I shall stand behind this crate and do you conceal yourselves behind those then when I flash a light upon them close in swiftly if they fire Watson have no compunction about shooting them down I placed my revolver cocked upon the top of the wooden case behind which I crouched home shot the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced the smell of hot metal remained to assure us that the light was still there ready to flash out at a moment's notice to me with my nerves worked up to a pitch of expectancy there was something depressing and subduing in a sudden gloom and in the cold dank air of the vault they have but one retreat whispered Holmes that is back through the house into sacks Colberg Square I hope that you have done what I asked you Jones I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door then we have stopped all the holes and now we must be silent and wait what a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards it was but an hour and a quarter yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us my limbs were weary and stiff for I feared to change my position worked up to the highest pitch of tension and my hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions but I could distinguish the deeper heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin sighing note of the bank director from my position I could look over the case in the direction of the floor suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light at first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement and out until it became a yellow line and then without any warning or sound a gash seemed open and a hand appeared a white almost womanly hand which felt about in the center of the little area of light for a minute or more the hand with its writhing fingers protruded out of the floor then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared and always dark again saves a single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones its disappearance however was but momentary with a rending tearing sound one of the broad white stones turned over upon its side and left a square gaping hole through which streamed the light of a lantern over the edge there peeped a clean cut boyish face which looked keenly about it and then with a hand on either side of the aperture drew itself shoulder high and waist high until one knee pointed upon the edge in another instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after him a companion lithe and small like himself with a pale face and a shock of very red hair it's all clear he whispered have you the chisel in the bags great Scott jump Archie jump and I'll swing for it Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the collar the other dived down the hole and I heard the sound of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts the light flashed upon the barrel of a revolver but Holmes' hunting crop came down on the man's wrist and the pistol clunked upon the stone floor it's no use John Clay said Holmes blandly you have no chance at all so I see the other answered with the utmost coolness I fancy that my pal is alright though I see you have got his coat tails there are three men waiting for him at the door said Holmes oh indeed you seem to have done the thing very completely I must compliment you and I you Holmes answered your redheaded idea was very new and effective you'll see your pal again presently said Jones he's quicker at climbing down holes than I am just hold out while I fix the Darby's I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists you may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins have the goodness also when you address me always to say sir and please alright said Jones with a stare and a snigger well would you please sir march upstairs where we can get a cab to carry your highness to the police station that is better said John Clay serenely he made a sweeping bow to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the detective really Mr. Holmes said Mr. Maryweather as we followed them from the cellar I do not know how the bank can thank you or repay you there is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay said Holmes there is no expense over this matter which I shall expect the bank to refund but beyond that I am amply repaid by having an experience which is in many ways unique and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the red-headed league you see Watson he explained in the early hours of the morning as we sat over a glass of whiskey and soda in Baker street it was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the league and the copying of the encyclopedia must be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hours every day it was a curious way of managing it but really it would be difficult to suggest a better the method was no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color of his accomplices hair the four dollars a week was a lure which must draw him and what was it to them they put in the advertisement one rogue has a temporary office the other rogue incites the man to apply for it and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the week from the time I heard of the assistant having come for half wages it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for securing the situation but how could you guess what the motive was had there been women in the house I should have suspected a mere vulgar intrigue that however was out of the question the man's business was a small one and there was nothing in his house which could account for such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were at it it must then be something out of the house what could it be I thought of the assistant's fondness for photography and his trick of vanishing into the seller the seller there was the end of this tangled clue then I made inquiries as to this a mysterious assistant and found that I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London he was doing something in the seller something which took many hours a day for months on end what could it be once more I could think of nothing say that he was running a tunnel to some other building so far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action I surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick I was ascertaining whether the seller stretched out in front or behind it was not in front then I rang the bell and as I hoped the assistant answered it we have had some skirmishes but we have never set eyes upon each other before I hardly looked at his face his knees were what I wished to see you must yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled and stained they were they spoke of those hours of burrowing the only remaining point was what they were burrowing for I walked around the corner saw the city and suburban bank abutted on our friend's premises and felt that I had solved my problem when you drove home after the concert I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors with the result that you have seen and how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight I asked well, when they closed their league offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence in other words that they had completed their tunnel but it was essential that they should use it soon as it might be discovered or the bullion might be removed Saturday would suit them better than any other day as it would give them two days for their escape for all these reasons I expected them to come tonight you reasoned it out beautifully I exclaimed in unfaigned admiration it is so long a chain and yet every link rings true it saved me from unwavering he answered, yawning alas, I already feel it closing in upon me my life is spent in one long effort to escape from the common places of existence these little problems help me to do so and you are a benefactor of the race, said I he shrugged his shoulders well, perhaps after all it is of some little use, he remarked long salient, louvre c'est tout as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand End of The Red-Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Recording by Alan Winteroud 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