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Następny rozdział →The Red-Headed League

Watson: I visited Sherlock Holmes. He talked with a man. The man had red hair. I wanted to leave. Holmes pulled me inside. He closed the door.

Holmes: You came at a good time, Watson. I thought you were busy. I am very busy. You can wait outside. No, stay here. Mr. Wilson is my partner. He helps me often. He will help us now.

The stout man stood up. He gave a small bow. He looked at me quickly. Holmes said to sit down. He put his fingers together. He often did this.

Holmes: Watson, you like strange things. You write about my cases. You make them sound good.

Watson: Your cases are very interesting. Life is stranger than stories. I told you this before.

Holmes: You did not believe me. But you will agree soon. Mr. Jabez Wilson is here. He has a strange story. I hear many strange things. This case is very unique. Mr. Wilson, please tell your story again. Watson has not heard it. I want every detail. I know many cases. But this one is new.

The man puffed out his chest. He took out a newspaper. It was old and dirty. He looked at the ads. I looked at him too. I wanted to learn about him. I saw nothing special. He was a normal man. He was fat and slow. He wore old clothes. His hat was worn out. Only his red hair stood out. He looked sad.

Sherlock Holmes saw me looking. He smiled and shook his head. Holmes: He did hard work. He uses snuff. He is a Freemason. He was in China. He wrote much lately. I know only these things.

Mr. Jabez Wilson jumped up. He pointed at the paper. He looked at Holmes. Mr. Wilson: How did you know this, Mr. Holmes? How did you know I did hard work? It is true. I was a ship's carpenter.

Holmes: Your hands show it. Your right hand is bigger. You used it for work. Its muscles are strong.

Mr. Wilson: What about the snuff? And the Freemasonry?

Holmes: I will not tell you. You wear a special pin. It shows you are a Freemason.

Mr. Wilson: Oh, I forgot that. But the writing?

Holmes: Your right cuff is shiny. It is from writing. Your left cuff is smooth. You rest it on a desk.

Mr. Wilson: But China?

Holmes: You have a fish tattoo. It is on your wrist. Only China makes such tattoos. The fish scales are pink. This is from China. You have a Chinese coin. It hangs from your watch chain. This makes it clear.

Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed loudly. Mr. Wilson: I never saw such a thing! I thought you were clever. But it was simple.

Holmes: Watson, I make a mistake. I should not explain. My fame will suffer. Mr. Wilson, can you find the ad?

Mr. Wilson: Yes, I have it now. He put his finger on it. Here it is. This started everything. Please read it, sir. I took the paper. I read it.

The ad said: "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: A rich man died. He left money. There is a job open. It pays £4 a week. The work is easy. All red-headed men can apply. You must be over 21. Go on Monday at 11 o'clock. See Duncan Ross. The office is at 7 Pope's Court."

Watson: What does this mean? I read it twice. Holmes chuckled. He moved in his chair. He was happy.

Holmes: It is a strange case. Mr. Wilson, tell us your story. Tell us about your home. Tell us about this ad. Watson, write down the paper and date.

Watson: It is The Morning Chronicle. It is from April 27, 1890. That was two months ago.

Holmes: Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?

Jabez Wilson: I told you already, Mr. Holmes. I have a small pawn shop. It is near the City. It is not a big shop. It gives me enough to live. I had two helpers. Now I have one. I can barely pay him. He works for half pay. He wants to learn the business.

Sherlock Holmes: What is his name?

Mr. Wilson: His name is Vincent Spaulding. He is not so young. I do not know his age. He is a good helper. He could earn more money. But he is happy here. Why should I tell him to leave?

Holmes: Yes, why? You are lucky. Your worker is cheap. This is not common. Your helper is as strange as the ad.

Mr. Wilson: He has faults. He loves photography. He takes many pictures. He goes to the cellar. He develops his photos there. This is his main fault. But he works well. He is a good man.

Holmes: He is still with you?

Mr. Wilson: Yes, sir. He and a girl. She is fourteen. She cooks and cleans. I am a widower. I have no family. We live quietly. We pay our debts.

Mr. Wilson: The ad changed things. Spaulding came to my office. He had this paper. He said: "I wish I had red hair, Mr. Wilson."

Mr. Wilson: Why that? I asked.

Spaulding: There is a job in the Red-Headed League. It pays much money. There are more jobs than men. The rich man left money. If my hair changed, I would get the job.

Mr. Wilson: What is it? I asked. I stay home much. My business comes to me. I do not go out. I do not know much news.

Spaulding: Have you not heard of the League? He asked with wide eyes.

Mr. Wilson: Never.

Spaulding: You can get a job there. You are eligible.

Mr. Wilson: How much do they pay? I asked.

Spaulding: Only £200 a year. The work is small. It will not stop your other work. My business was not good. £200 would be helpful. I wanted to know more.

Mr. Wilson: Tell me all about it, I said.

Spaulding: He showed me the ad. The League has a job. The address is there. An American started it. He was rich. He had red hair. He liked red-headed men. He left his money. It pays men with red hair. The pay is good. The work is easy.

Mr. Wilson: But many red-headed men will apply, I said.

Spaulding: Not so many. It is for Londoners. They must be grown men. The American came from London. He wanted to help the city. Your hair must be bright red. Not light red or dark red. If you apply, Mr. Wilson, you will get it. But maybe it is not worth it.

Mr. Wilson: My hair is very red. I thought I had a good chance. Spaulding knew much about it. I thought he could help. I told him to close the shop. He came with me. He wanted a holiday. We went to the address.

Mr. Wilson: I never saw such a sight. Many red-headed men came. Fleet Street was full of them. Pope's Court looked like oranges. I did not think so many existed. Their hair was many shades. But few had bright red hair. I wanted to give up. Spaulding would not let me. He pushed me through the crowd. We went to the office steps. Some went up with hope. Some came down sad. We got into the office.

Holmes: Your story is very fun. Please continue your story. He took some snuff.

Mr. Wilson: The office had two chairs. There was a table. A small man sat there. His hair was very red. He spoke to each man. He found a fault in them. He sent them away. Getting the job was hard. Then it was our turn. The man liked me. He closed the door. He wanted to speak to us alone.

Spaulding: This is Mr. Jabez Wilson. He wants the job.

The man: He is perfect for it. He has all they need. I never saw such hair. He stepped back. He looked at my hair. I felt shy. Then he shook my hand. He said I got the job.

The man: I must be careful. He pulled my hair. I yelled in pain. He let go. He said: "I see it is real. We must be careful. Wigs and paint have fooled us." He went to the window. He shouted that the job was filled. People below groaned. They all left. Only his red head and mine were left.

The man: My name is Mr. Duncan Ross. I get money from the fund. Are you married, Mr. Wilson? Do you have family?

Mr. Wilson: I said no. His face looked sad.

Duncan Ross: Oh dear! That is very bad! The money is for red-heads. It is for them to have families. It is bad you are not married. My face grew long. I thought I lost the job. He thought for a few minutes. He said it would be fine.

Duncan Ross: For others, it would be bad. But your hair is so good. We will make an exception. When can you start?

Mr. Wilson: It is hard. I have a business already, I said.

Vincent Spaulding: Oh, do not worry, Mr. Wilson! I will take care of it for you.

Mr. Wilson: What are the hours? I asked.

Duncan Ross: Ten to two. My pawn shop is busy in the evening. This job would be good. I knew Spaulding was good. He would manage the shop.

Mr. Wilson: That will suit me well, I said. And the pay?

Duncan Ross: It is £4 a week.

Mr. Wilson: And the work?

Duncan Ross: It is very easy.

Mr. Wilson: What do you mean, easy?

Duncan Ross: You must stay in the office. You must stay in the building. If you leave, you lose the job. The will is clear. You must not leave the office.

Mr. Wilson: It is only four hours. I will not leave, I said.

Mr. Duncan Ross: No excuse will work. Not sickness or business. You must stay. Or you lose your job.

Mr. Wilson: And the work?

Duncan Ross: You must copy the Encyclopædia Britannica. The first book is there. You need your own ink and pens. We give you the table and chair. Will you be ready tomorrow?

Mr. Wilson: Certainly, I answered. He said goodbye. He congratulated me. He showed me out. I went home with Spaulding. I was very happy.

Mr. Wilson: I thought about it all day. By evening, I felt sad. I thought it was a trick. I did not know why. It seemed too strange. Spaulding tried to cheer me. But I thought it was fake. In the morning, I decided to go. I bought ink and paper. I went to Pope's Court.

Mr. Wilson: Everything was fine. I was happy. The table was ready. Mr. Duncan Ross was there. He saw me start work. I began with letter A. He left me. He came back sometimes. He checked on me. At two o'clock, he said goodbye. He praised my work. He locked the door.

Mr. Wilson: This went on daily. On Saturday, he paid me £4. It was the same next week. It was the same after that. I was there at ten. I left at two. Ross came less often. Then he did not come at all. I never left the room. I did not know when he would come. The job was good. I did not want to lose it.

Mr. Wilson: Eight weeks passed. I copied many words. I hoped to start letter B. I used much paper. I filled a shelf. Then the job ended suddenly.

Mr. Wilson: To an end?

Mr. Wilson: Yes, sir. This morning. I went to work at ten. The door was locked. A card was on it. Here it is. You can read it.

He held up a white card. It said: "THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE IS DISSOLVED. October 9, 1890." Sherlock Holmes and I looked at the card. We looked at Mr. Wilson's sad face. We both laughed loudly. It was very funny.

Mr. Wilson: I do not see anything funny! He cried. His red face got redder. If you laugh, I will go somewhere else.

Holmes: No, no! He pushed Mr. Wilson back. I will not miss this case. It is very strange. But it is a little funny. What did you do when you saw the card?

Mr. Wilson: I was shocked, sir. I did not know what to do. I asked in other offices. No one knew about it. I asked the landlord. He lives downstairs. He said he never heard of the League. Then I asked about Mr. Duncan Ross. He said he did not know that name.

Mr. Wilson: Well, I said, the man at No. 4.

Landlord: What, the red-headed man?

Mr. Wilson: Yes.

Landlord: Oh, his name was William Morris. He was a lawyer. He used my room for a short time. He moved out yesterday.

Mr. Wilson: Where can I find him?

Landlord: At his new office. He told me the address. Yes, 17 King Edward Street.

Mr. Wilson: I went there, Mr. Holmes. It was a factory. They made fake knee-caps. No one knew William Morris. No one knew Duncan Ross.

Holmes: What did you do then?

Mr. Wilson: I went home. I asked my assistant. He could not help me. He said I would hear by post. But that was not good enough. I did not want to lose the job. I heard you help poor people. So I came to you.

Holmes: You did very well. Your case is very strange. I will look into it. I think it is more serious than it seems.

Jabez Wilson said, "This is bad!" "I lost four pounds each week."

Holmes said, "You have no problem with this group." "You are richer by 30 pounds." "You learned many things." "You lost nothing from them."

Jabez Wilson said, "No, sir." "I want to know about them." "Who are they?" "Why did they trick me?" "It cost them 32 pounds."

Holmes said, "We will find answers for you." "First, some questions, Mr. Wilson." "Your assistant told you about the ad." "How long did he work for you?"

Jabez Wilson said, "About one month then."

Holmes said, "How did he start working?"

Jabez Wilson said, "He answered an ad."

Holmes said, "Was he the only one?"

Jabez Wilson said, "No, I had twelve people."

Holmes said, "Why did you pick him?"

Jabez Wilson said, "He was useful and cheap."

Holmes said, "He worked for half pay."

Jabez Wilson said, "Yes."

Holmes said, "Tell me about Vincent Spaulding."

Jabez Wilson said, "He is small and strong." "He moves very fast." "He has no beard." "He is almost thirty." "He has a white mark on his head."

Holmes sat up. "I thought so," he said. "Do his ears have holes for rings?"

Jabez Wilson said, "Yes, sir." "He said a gypsy did it." "He was a boy then."

Holmes thought deeply. "Is he still with you?"

Jabez Wilson said, "Oh, yes, sir." "I just left him now."

Holmes said, "Did he do your work while you were gone?"

Jabez Wilson said, "No, sir, no problems." "There is not much work in the morning."

Holmes said, "That is enough, Mr. Wilson." "I will tell you my thoughts soon." "Today is Saturday." "By Monday, we will know more."

Holmes said, "Watson, what do you think?" Watson said, "I think nothing of it." "It is a very strange case."

Holmes said, "Strange things are often simple." "Normal crimes are harder to solve." "I must act fast on this."

Watson asked, "What will you do then?"

Holmes said, "I will smoke." "This problem needs three pipes." "Please do not talk to me for 50 minutes."

Watson saw Holmes sit in his chair. He closed his eyes. He had his pipe. I thought he was asleep. Then he jumped up. He put his pipe down.

Holmes said, "Sarasate plays music today." "What do you think, Watson?" "Can your patients wait for you?"

Watson said, "I have nothing to do today." "My work is not busy."

Holmes said, "Then put on your hat and come." "We will go through the City first." "We can eat lunch." "I like German music more." "It makes me think." "Come with me!"

Watson: We went by train to Aldersgate. We walked to Saxe-Coburg Square. This was where the story happened. It was a small, old place.

Watson: There were old brick houses. A small park was in the middle. It had bad grass and bushes.

Watson: A sign said "JABEZ WILSON". This was our client's shop. Holmes stopped and looked at it.

Watson: He walked up and down the street. He looked at the houses. He came back to the shop.

Watson: He hit the ground with his stick. Then he knocked on the door. A young man opened it. He asked Holmes to come in.

Holmes said, "Thank you." "I want to know how to go to the Strand."

The assistant said, "Third right, fourth left." He closed the door.

Holmes said, "He is a smart man." "He is one of the smartest in London." "I know him from before."

Watson said, "Mr. Wilson's assistant is important." "You asked for directions to see him."

Holmes said, "Not him."

Watson asked, "What then?"

Holmes said, "His trouser knees."

Watson asked, "What did you see?"

Holmes said, "What I thought I would see."

Watson asked, "Why did you hit the ground?"

Holmes said, "Doctor, we must watch, not talk." "We are like spies here." "We know about this square." "Let us look behind it now."

Watson: We turned the corner. The street was very different. It was a busy street. Many cars and people were there. It was hard to think this street was near the quiet square.

Holmes said, "Let me see." "I want to remember these houses." "I like to know London well." "There is a tobacco shop." "There is a newspaper shop." "There is the City and Suburban Bank." "There is a restaurant." "There is a carriage shop."

Holmes said, "Now, Doctor, our work is done." "Let us have some fun." "We will eat and drink coffee." "Then we will go to music." "No more red-headed clients."

Watson: Holmes loved music. He played it well. He also wrote music. He sat and listened happily. He moved his fingers to the music. His face was calm and dreamy.

Watson: He looked very different then. He was not the sharp detective. He could be very lazy. Then he would become very active. He was strongest after being lazy. I felt bad things would happen. He would hunt down bad people.

Holmes said, "You want to go home, Doctor."

Watson said, "Yes, that would be good."

Holmes said, "I have work to do." "It will take hours." "This case at Coburg Square is serious."

Watson asked, "Why is it serious?"

Holmes said, "A big crime will happen." "I think we can stop it." "Today is Saturday, which makes it hard." "I will need your help tonight."

Watson asked, "What time?"

Holmes said, "Ten o'clock will be fine."

Watson said, "I will be at Baker Street at ten."

Holmes said, "Very good." "Doctor, there may be danger." "Take your army gun with you." He left quickly.

Watson: I often felt stupid with Holmes. I heard and saw the same things. But he understood more than me. The case was still strange to me. I thought about the red-headed man. I thought about Saxe-Coburg Square.

Watson: Holmes said there was danger. Why did I need a gun? Where were we going? Holmes said the assistant was dangerous. I could not understand it. I waited for night to know more.

Watson: I left home at 9:15. I went to Baker Street. Two cabs were at the door. I heard voices inside. I saw Holmes talking to two men.

Watson: One was Peter Jones, a police officer. The other man was tall and thin. He had a sad face. He wore a shiny hat.

Holmes said, "Our group is ready!" He put on his coat. He took his stick. "Watson, you know Mr. Jones." "This is Mr. Merryweather." "He will come with us tonight."

Jones said, "We work together again, Doctor." "Holmes is good at finding criminals." "He just needs help to catch them."

Mr. Merryweather said sadly, "I hope we do not fail."

Jones said, "You can believe Mr. Holmes, sir." "His ways are strange." "But he is a good detective." "He was right before." "More right than the police."

Mr. Merryweather said, "If you say so, Mr. Jones, it is fine." "But I miss my card game." "I have not played cards tonight." "This is the first time in 27 years."

Holmes said, "Tonight you will play for more." "It will be more exciting." "Mr. Merryweather, you play for 30,000 pounds." "Jones, you play for a man."

Jones said, "John Clay is a killer and a thief." "He is young, Mr. Merryweather." "He is the best criminal." "I want to catch him most."

Jones: "He is a special man." "His family is noble." "He went to good schools." "He is very smart." "We see his work everywhere." "But we never find him."

Jones: "He robs a house one week." "He helps children the next." "I have looked for him for years." "I have never seen him."

Holmes said, "I hope to show him to you tonight." "I have also met John Clay." "He is the best criminal." "It is past ten o'clock." "We must go now." "You two take one cab." "Watson and I will take the next."

Watson: Holmes was quiet in the cab. He hummed music. We went through many streets. We came to Farrington Street.

Holmes said, "We are almost there." "Mr. Merryweather works at the bank." "He cares about this case." "I wanted Jones to come too."

Holmes: "Jones is not smart at his job." "But he is very brave." "He will not let go." "We are here now." "They wait for us."

Watson: We came to the busy street again. We left the cabs. Mr. Merryweather made us go. We went down a small path. We went through a side door. There was a big iron gate.

Watson: We went down stone steps. There was another strong gate. Mr. Merryweather lit a light. We went down a dark path. It had a smell of earth. We opened a third door. We were in a big cellar. It had many boxes.

Holmes held the light up. He looked around. "No one can get in from above," he said.

Mr. Merryweather hit the floor. "Not from below either," he said. "It sounds empty!" He looked surprised.

Holmes said, "Please be quiet!" "You put our plan in danger." "Please sit on a box." "Do not get in the way."

Watson: Mr. Merryweather sat on a box. He looked hurt. Holmes knelt on the floor. He used his light and a glass. He looked at the cracks. He stood up quickly. He put the glass away.

Holmes said, "We have at least one hour." "They will wait for the pawnbroker to sleep." "Then they will act fast." "They want time to escape."

Holmes: "Doctor, we are in a bank cellar." "Mr. Merryweather is a bank leader." "He will tell you why criminals want this cellar."

Mr. Merryweather whispered, "It is our French gold." "We heard people want to steal it."

Holmes asked, "Your French gold?"

Mr. Merryweather said, "Yes." "Months ago, we got 30,000 gold coins." "They came from France." "People know we did not open the boxes." "The gold is still in our cellar."

Mr. Merryweather: "My box has 2,000 coins." "We have much gold here." "The bank leaders are worried."

Holmes said, "They were right to worry." "Now we must make our plan." "I think things will happen soon." "Mr. Merryweather, cover the light."

Mr. Merryweather asked, "And sit in the dark?"

Holmes said, "Yes, I am afraid so." "I brought cards for us to play." "But we cannot have light now." "The criminals are ready."

Holmes: "We must hide." "These men are brave." "They can hurt us." "I will stand behind this box." "You hide behind those boxes." "When I show my light, move fast." "Watson, if they shoot, you shoot too."

Watson: I put my gun on the box. I hid behind it. Holmes covered his light. It became very dark. I never saw such darkness. I smelled hot metal. My nerves were tense. The dark, cold air felt heavy.

Holmes whispered, "They can only escape one way." "That is through the house." "Jones, did you do what I asked?"

Jones said, "I have three police officers." "They wait at the front door."

Holmes said, "Then we blocked all ways out." "Now we must be quiet." "We must wait."

Watson: Time felt very long. It was only 75 minutes. But it felt like all night. My body was tired. I did not move. My nerves were very tight. I could hear my friends breathing. I could tell Jones's breath.

Watson: I could see the floor. Then I saw a light. First, it was a small light. It got bigger into a yellow line. Then a hole opened. A white hand came out. It moved in the light.

Watson: The hand stayed for a minute. Then it went back fast. It was dark again. Only a small light was left.

Watson: The light came back. A stone moved with a sound. It made a big hole. Light came from the hole. A young face looked out. He looked around carefully.

Watson: He pulled himself up. He stood by the hole. He pulled another man up. This man was small. He had a pale face. He had very red hair.

John Clay whispered, "It is clear." "Do you have the tools and bags?" "Jump, Archie, jump!"

Watson: Holmes jumped out. He took the man. The other man went down the hole. Jones took his clothes. I heard cloth break. A gun flashed. Holmes hit the man's hand. The gun fell to the floor.

Holmes said, "It is no use, John Clay." "You have no chance."

John Clay said calmly, "I see that." "My friend is fine, I think." "You only got his coat."

Holmes said, "Three men wait for him at the door."

John Clay said, "Oh, really!" "You did this very well." "I must say good things to you."

Holmes said, "And I say good things to you." "Your red-headed plan was new." "It worked very well."

Jones said, "You will see your friend soon." "He is fast at going down holes." "Wait while I put on handcuffs."

John Clay said, "Do not touch me." "My hands are clean." "I have royal blood." "Always say 'sir' and 'please' to me."

Jones stared and laughed. "All right," he said. "Please, sir, go upstairs." "We will get a cab for you." "It will take you to the police."

John Clay said calmly, "That is better." He bent to us. He walked away with the police.

Mr. Merryweather said, "Mr. Holmes, thank you." "The bank cannot repay you enough." "You stopped a big bank robbery." "It was the best stop I have seen."

Holmes said, "I wanted to catch John Clay." "I spent some money on this." "The bank can pay me back." "But this case was special." "The story of the Red-headed League was great." "That is my reward."

Holmes said, "Watson, it was clear from the start." "The Red-headed League ad was strange." "Copying the book was strange." "They wanted the pawnbroker out." "They wanted him gone for hours each day."

Holmes: "It was a clever plan." "Clay saw his friend's red hair." "This gave him the idea." "Four pounds a week was a trap." "They wanted thousands."

Holmes: "They put out the ad." "One man got the office." "The other told Wilson to apply." "They made him leave every morning." "I knew the assistant had a reason." "He worked for half pay."

Watson asked, "How did you know their reason?"