Oh, sorry Holmes.
No, no,
you couldn't have come at a better time.
I was afraid you were engaged.
I am, very much so.
Dr. Watson shares my love of all that is bizarre,
but outside the routine of everyday existence.
It is at present and impossible to say
that this case is an instance of crime or no.
But suffice it to say that I know as little
about Mr. Jay Beards Wilson as you do yourself,
beyond the obvious facts.
That he has done manual labor at sometime.
But it takes staff that he has been to China.
And that he has done
a considerable amount of writing lately.
How in the name of good fortune
did you know all that Mr. Holmes?
As true as gospel I once did manual labor.
I started off as a ship's carpenter.
Your hands my good servant.
The muscles of your right hand
are more developed than the left.
And the writing?
What else could be indicated.
By the right cuffs are very shiny for five inches.
And the left sleeve with smooth pattern over the elbow
where you lean it on the desk... but China?
The fish tattooed immediately above his right wrist.
I have made a small study of tattoo marks,
Mr. Wilson, and have even contributed
to the literature of the subject.
That trick of staining the fish scales,
a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China.
Wherein addition I see a Chinese coin hanging
from his watch chain.
The matter becomes even more simple.
Well I never ...
I thought at first it was something clever,
but now I see there's nothing in it after all.
You know I begin to think that my reputation
such as it is will suffer shipwreck if I'm so candid
...pro magnifico.
Everything becomes commonplace by explanation.
Watson that is a very loose translation.
Oh, please show the doctor that advertisement.
Oh, there, you can read it for yourself sir.
To the Red Headed League.
On account of the request
of the late Iscar Hopkins of Lebanon,
Pennsylvania USA there is a vacancy open
which entitles a member of the league to a salary
of four pounds a week for purely nominal services.
All red headed men sound in body and mind
and above the age of 21 are eligible.
Apply in person on Monday at 11:00 to Mr. Duncan Ross
at the offices of the League,
7 Copes Court Fleet Street.
Is this serious?
It is a little off the beaten track, hey Watson.
Oh, would you make a note of the paper and the date?
Evening standard of Saturday the 27th of April,
two months ago.
Do try this sitting.
Now, Mr. Wilson, off you go
at scratch and tell us all about yourself.
Oh, well gentlemen I have a small
pawn broking business in Sax Coburg Street,
near the city.
It's not a very large affair.
It just gives me a living.
I used to keep two assistants but now I just keep the one.
And to tell you the truth I'd have a job to make you pay
but the deeds willing to come at half wages
so as to learn the business.
About two months ago ...
What is the name of the obliging youth?
Vincent, Vincent Spalding.
Oh, but he's not such a youth either Mr. Holmes.
It's difficult to say his age
but I couldn't wish for a smarter assistant.
You seem most remarkably fortunate.
In having an employee who comes under the market price,
I don't know that your assistant
is not as remarkable as your advertisement.
Oh, but he does have his faults.
However, he was such a fellow for photography.
Always snapping away with his camera
when he should be improving his mind and then diving down
into the cellar to develop the wretched things.
Still on the whole he's a good worker.
No vice in him.
It was he who first showed me the advertisement.
I wish to the lord I was a red headed man Mr. Wilson.
Why is that?
Well there's another vacancy
in the League of Red Headed Men.
I've never heard of it.
Well, I'd wonder at that you being so eligible yourself.
Nice money too.
A couple hundred a year and the work's light ...
Oh, there'll be thousands of red headed men apply.
Oh, well I doubt that sir.
Well nobody with such a fine fiery color
as you're blessed with Mr. Wilson.
But then I suppose it's only worth your while
to put yourself out of the way
for sake of a few hundred pounds.
Yes, sir.
Well I'm very much of a stay at home sort of person.
Sometimes weeks on end before I put my foot over the doormat
but this it looked interesting.
I was intrigued and young Vincent
said he'd come with me.
So, on Monday morning we shut up the shop
and off we went.
Now, Vincent let's go back
I can't get by the crowd.
Courage Mr. Wilson.
We're so near and so much at stake.
Now you put your coat on
and come along with me.
Ohy, Ohy, Ohy, a little less noise
please gentlemen.
Here, here what's your game?
Hey get out of here.
Hey, hey ...
Off you go, you next, get in.
Hey, where are you going?
Straight this way, Come on.
This is Mr. Wilson.
Right in you go Mr. Wilson.
Admirably suited.
Every requirement.
Very quiet.
Congratulations Mr. Wilson.
It would be injustice to hesitate.
You will I'm sure excuse me if I take an obvious precaution.
Tears in your eyes.
I perceive all is as it should be.
We have to be careful.
Twice deceived by wigs, once by paint.
I could tell you tales of cobblers wags
that would disgust you with human nature.
My name is Duncan Ross.
I am myself a pension upon a fund left by
a noble benefactor.
I see you're about to question me about Mr. Ethic Guya Hopkins.
He was himself red headed.
In his youth he left London for America where he made
many millions of dollars.
On his death it was found that he had instructed
a trustee in his will to make life a little easier
for the red headed men in the town of his birth.
Wonderful color.
Now what's your full name Mr. Wilson?
Jay Beards Wilson.
Jay Beards Wilson and are you a married man,
Mr. Wilson?
Do you have a family?
No, I'm a widower.
No, I never had any family.
Oh dear, sad to hear you say that.
The fund of course is for the propagation
and spread of red headed men
as well as with their maintenance.
In another case the objection might be fatal.
However, I've think we've got to stretch a point
in favor of a man with such a head of hair as yours.
The vacancy has been filled.
The vacancy is filled.
Now, off you go.
Sorry about that.
Off you go.
Now, when would you be free to start upon your new duties?
Oh, well it is rather awkward as I do have a business already.
What would be the hours?
10:00 to 2:00.
Well the mornings are quiet.
I do have an assistant.
Yes, that would suit me very well.
And the money mentioned, four pounds a week.
Correct.
And the work?
Purely nominal.
Yes, but what do you call purely nominal?
Well, you have to stay in the office
or at least in the building the whole time.
If you leave you forfeit your whole position forever.
The will is quite clear on that point.
Oh, I shouldn't dream of leaving.
No, excuse will avail.
Not a sickness, business, anything else.
Here you will remain or else lose your ability.
Oh, I am quite clear on that point.
But what exactly is the work?
It is to copy out the encyclopedia Britannica.
There is the first volume.
You will supply the ink, paper and pen.
We will supply this desk and chair.
Now would you be free to start next Monday morning?
Oh, yes, certainly.
Then once again my congratulations
Mr. Jay Beards Wilson on the most important position
you've been fortunate enough to gain.
Wonderful head of hair.
Good bye Mr. Wilson.
Well done Mr. Wilson.
Well done indeed.
This is the quickest way out sir.
Oh.
This way.
When I got home the whole thing seemed
on reflection to be quite ridiculous.
Why?
Who would make such an extraordinary will?
Not a very generous millionaire to make you
buy your own pen, ink, and paper.
Exactly Mr. Holmes.
I soon persuaded myself it was some great hoax or fraud.
And then when Monday morning came along it seemed stupid
to turn down a good job
so, off I went and bought a penny bottle of ink
and a pen and seven sheets of fools kept paper.
And I set off for Popes Core.
Good morning, Mr. Wilson and welcome.
Good morning.
Well to my surprise and delight
everything was as right as possible.
The table was set up ready for me
and Mr. Duncan Ross was there to see I got fairly to work.
My employment had truly begun.
The schedule never varied.
My work started at 10:00 and ended at 2:00
with a small break for my lunch at half past 12:00.
Every Saturday at 2:00 Mr. Ross would come in
and give me my money.
Compliment me upon the amount that I'd written
and then we'd both leave.
Mr. Ross locking the door afterwards.
The artichokes I found were positively fascinating.
They have a kind of a bloom on them but...
I thought that was very interesting...
Good Morning.
Oh, the work was very interesting.
Abacus,
abbey,
architecture,
acts of the Apostles,
adulteration,
anatomy,
apes,
aquaducts.
After eight weeks I'd fairly dealt with
the letter "A" and was hoping the diligence
to get onto "B" when suddenly this morning
the whole business came to end.
I went to my work as usual but the door was shut
and locked with a little square of cardboard
hammered onto the middle panel.
Oh, excuse me.
Have you seen Mr. Duncan Ross this morning?
Ross, Ross?
Never heard of a gentleman with that name, sir
and my memory is good.
It's very good, it's infallible to me.
No, the gentleman in number seven.
Ah, the gentleman who is red headed?
Yes, yes.
Uh, yes, yes, yes, gone.
Gone?
Mr. William Morris, solicitor using my room as
a temporary convenience until his new premises were ready.
Moved out yesterday, paid in full, doesn't owe a penny.
Mr. Morris, where can I find him?
At his new offices.
William Morris...
17 King Edwards Street,
near St. Paul's.
Oh, thank you.
I don't see that there's anything very funny about it.
If all you can do is laugh at me well I can go elsewhere.
No, Mr. Wilson please, please sit down.
I wouldn't miss this case for the world.
It is most refreshingly unusual.
I was so incensed with the forgery of deceit
that I came straight to you sir.
Having heard of your great reputation
for helping poor people in distress.
Mr. Wilson.
You know Mr. Wilson I really don't think that you've got
any great grievance against this extraordinary league.
On the contrary you've been very well paid to say nothing
of the detailed knowledge which you've acquired
on every subject under the letter A.
Yes, but what's the object of them playing this prank on me?
That is what I want to know.
This assistant of yours, how long has he been with you?
Well about three months.
How did he come?
With the answer to an advertisement.
Was he the only applicant?
No, I had 12 others.
Why did you pick him?
Well he was handy and would come cheap.
At half wages in fact.
Yes.
What's he like, this Vincent Spalding?
Oh, well he's tall, slightly built
and he's very quick in his ways.
He's got no hair on his face.
He's got a white splash of acid on his forehead.
Uh, have you ever observed whether his ears
have been pierced for earrings?
Yes, yes, he told me a gypsy
had done it for him when he was a lad.
He is still with you?
Yes, I just left him.
Mr. Wilson, You will be at your shop
if I should need you?
Well I had thought of shutting up shop
at dinner time today because Vincent had suggested
I spend the rest of the weekend
with my sister in Barking.
This whole business has upset my nerves very much.
Well you enjoy a restful weekend in Barking.
Today's Saturday.
By Monday we should have a conclusion for you.
In the matter of your fee ...
Don't worry about that.
I believe it will be paid for by another.
Good day to you Mr. Wilson.
What do you make of it all Watson?
I make nothing of it.
Most mysterious business.
Yet there are graver issues
hanging from this affair then that first had appeared.
What are you going to do?
To smoke.
It is quite a three pipe problem
and I beg that you won't speak to me for 50 minutes.
The business of the Red Headed League
is concluded sir.
Satisfactorily I trust.
Most satisfactorily professor I am pleased to report.
Good.
Come Watson.
Huh?
Excuse me.
Can you tell me the way to the Strand from here?
Uh, third right, fourth left sir.
Thank you.
Holmes?
Holmes, I could have told you that.
No doubt, Watson.
What is it?
And why did you beat the pavement with your stick?
Watson we are spies in an enemy's territory.
It's a hobby of mine
to have an exact knowledge of London.
Now there's Mortimore's, the tobacconist.
The little newspaper shop.
Coburg Branch, the City and Suburban Bank.
McFarland's Carriage Building Depot
and the vegetarian restaurant around the corner.
Watson commit to memory, it's just possible
that we're being observed.
A considerable crime's in contemplation.
Today being Saturday somewhat complicates matters.
But now doctor... our work is done.
It is time we had some play.
Sarasate's playing at Sir James Hall this afternoon.
A sandwich and a cup of coffee?
And then off to violin land with all
its sweetness, delicacy and harmony.
And no red headed clients to vex us with their conundrums.
All the afternoon he sat in the stalls
wrapped in the most perfect happiness
while his gently smiling face, and his languid dreamy eyes
were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound
as it was possible to conceive.
When I saw him so enwrapped in music
I felt that an evil time might be coming upon those
he had set himself to hunt down.
Excellent Watson.
You have a future as a cartographer.
That will be Athelney Jones.
I thought it was well enough to have someone
from Scotland Yard with us.
He's an absolute imbecile at his profession
but he does the tenacity of a lobster when he gets
his claws into someone.
Good evening Jones.
So we're working in couples again
Mr. Holmes.
Our friend is a wonderful man for starting a chase.
All he needs is an old dog to help him do the running down.
Mr. Merryweather, my friend and college Dr. Watson.
How do you do sir?
I only hope a wild goose may not prove
to be the end of our chase.
I'm not personally in favor
of amateur criminal investigation.
You might place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes.
Oh, if you say so Mr. Jones.
He has his own little methods, which if he won't
mind me saying so a little theoretical
and fantastic, but he has the makings
of a detective in him.
But I do say as I've said before
the Colburg Branch of the Bank is as well secured
as any building in London.
There isn't a possibility that it could be broken into.
Even insurance assessors agree on that point.
And you sir should know
being not only the resident manager but also the director.
I should know and I do know.
And what is more, this is the first time
for seven and twenty years that I've missed my
Saturday night of whiskey at my club.
And I find myself extremely inconvenienced.
I think that you will find the game tonight
much more exciting and the stake will be
for many, many thousands of pounds.
And what will be my reward be Mr. Homes?
A young man, called Clay.
John Clay?
Oh, how I'd like to get my hands on that devil.
You shall.
This young fellow's a gentleman as Mr. Holmes says
but he's turned against his class.
He's as cunning as the devil.
Slippery as an eel and he's turned crib cracking
and forgery into a fine art.
His grandfather was a royal duke
and he himself was educated at Eaton and Oxford.
So Watson, bring the gun.
Come gentlemen our cab is below.
There are only two keys to the vault.
I have one, the chairman holds the other
in his personal safe.
Well you are certainly not vulnerable from above.
Nor from below.
Just a minute.
I'm going to ask you to be a little more quiet please.
Might I get you to sit on one of those boxes
and not to interfere?
There is no way in which a thief
could break into this bank.
Is there a special reason why a thief
should want to break into this bank?
Nothing particularly...
Something in the past few months?
Something that you had concealed from us?
The information I have is confidential
known only to the directors of the bank.
It is not to be divulged to members of the public,
not even amateur detectives.
Private consulting detective, Mr. Merryweather.
Unique in the annuls of crime I believe,
isn't that so inspector?
Yes, doctor.
I advise you to cooperate with Mr. Holmes.
Especially as at this moment I am trying to save your skin
and that of your fellow directors.
So what is it?
Our French gold.
We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources
and borrowed for that purpose 60,000 Napoleons
from the bank of France.
Therefore our reserve of bullion is much larger than is usual
in such a branch of the bank.
Where is this gold?
The crates upon which Dr. Watson sits
contain 30,000 Napoleons
wrapped between layers of lead foil.
May we see it?
This is much bolder and larger in conception
than I had first thought, wouldn't you say Jones?
I would indeed.
This Clay's more of an amateur adventurer
or spur of the moment criminal,
Long planning is not Clay's type at all sir, not at all.
Unless he's a pawn in a much larger game.
Mr. Merryweather someone has had access to
information of the most confidential sort.
Careful plans have been made.
A mastermind has been at work.
Are you suggesting that ...
I am suggesting that it bears the hallmarks
of Professor Moriarity's work.
Moriarity?
And who is this Moriarity?
We don't really know sir.
That is neither the police nor I think
Mr. Sherlock Holmes here has ever set eyes on him.
His name echoes and re-echoes throughout the underworld.
It appears that he's a man of good birth,
an excellent education but he has hereditary
tendencies of the most diabolical kind.
A criminal strain runs in his blood
which has increased and rendered infinitely more dangerous
by his extraordinary mental powers.
He's the organizer of half that is evil and nearly all that
is undetected in this great city.
He is never caught.
His agent is caught but the central power
is never caught certainly even suspected.
We shall not see the professor tonight.
The only way for tonight's enemy to escape is through
the pawn brokers.
There's already an inspector at the doors.
Exactly.
We have only a few moments... positions...
Would you be so kind as to put out this lamp.
And sit in the dark?
I'm afraid so.
We cannot risk the presence of light.
When I shine the light, act swiftly...
If they fire have no compassion
about shooting them down.
Shhh.
Great Scott.
Jump at it, jump.
It's no good John Clay.
You have no chance at all.
So I see...
though I fancy my pal's all right.
At this moment he is running into
the welcoming arms of the police.
You seem to have done the thing very completely.
I must compliment you.
And I you.
I'm Sherlock Holmes, a private investigator.
I didn't for a moment suspect your being
a policeman Mr. Holmes.
Come on, hold that one off for the Darby's.
I beg you to take your filthy hands off me.
You may not be aware that I have royal blood
in my veins and be so kind as to say "sir" and "please"
when you address me.
All right.
Would you please sir, mind marching upstairs
while we get a cab to transport your highness
to the police station?
That's better.
Gentlemen.
Oh, one question Mr. Clay.
Am I right in thinking that professor Moriarity
was somewhere behind the idea of the Red Headed League?
I suggest you keep that name off your lips Mr. Holmes
if you value your future well-being.
Really gentlemen, I don't know what to say.
Please forgive me Mr. Holmes for ever doubting
your outstanding, your brilliant qualities.
There is no doubt you've detected and defeated
in the most complete manner one of the boldest attempts
at bank robbery that has ever come within my experience.
Mr. Merryweather I have then some small expense over this matter
I shall expect the bank to refund.
Of course, of course.
It won't do you know...
it won't do.
No Professor.
I'm sorry we failed you.
Sherlock Holmes ...
Holmes is a mere amateur in the field of detection.
Still he seems a clever man or a lucky one
and he has a positive talent for getting in my way.
Should he be removed?
It may be necessary.
It would be disappointing.
I find him interesting.
I believe this is the third time
he has incommoded me.
If this continues then certainly something
will have to be done to encourage Mr. Holmes
either to withdraw or stand clear.
Thank you.
Morning Constable.
Beg your pardon Dr. Watson
but this has all been too much for me.
My clients respect me as a man of confidence
but where's the confidence left here.
I'm utterly ruined...
Oh, cheer up Mr. Wilson.
You'll feel better when you've cleared up the mess.
Well that's all very well ...
And Mr. Holmes asked me to give you this,
50 sovereigns with the compliments
of the City and Suburban Bank.
Well that's fair enough.
Oh, Dr. Watson, this is more than acceptable,
and my compliments to Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
And he sends the same to you Mr. Wilson
and a word of advice...
Next time you engage an assistant
pay him the proper wage.
Good day to you.
Oh, Holmes, I trust I am not more dense
than my neighbors and yet here I have seen
what you have seen, heard what you have heard
and yet you have seen clearly not only what had happened,
but what was about to happen while to me the whole business
was still confused and grotesque.
Dr. Watson recollect,
when I heard that the assistant had come for half wages,
it was obvious that he had some motive
for securing the situation.
Yes, but how did you know what his motive was?
Had there been a woman in the house I would have
suspected immediately if some vulgar intrigue,
but when I heard from Mr. Wilson
about the acid stain and the pierced ears
I knew that Vincent Spalding and John Clay
were the same person.
But why was Clay there?
The photography gave you the clue.
Exactly.
The cellar, he was working on something in the cellar.
Something which took many hours a day
for two months on end. He was tunneling but where to?
When I tapped my stick on the pavement
in the street that day I was ascertaining
whether the tunnel stretched in front or behind the building.
It was in front, towards the back.
Could you tell me the way to the strand from here?
I recognized Clay immediately and delayed him
to have time to examine his knees.
There he spoke clearly of many hours or tunneling.
No doubt linking up with a maze of sewers
beneath Saxe Coburg Square.
When they closed the Red Headed League offices,
it was a sign they no longer cared about
Jay Beards Wilson's presence.
In other words the tunnel was complete.
And that they would make the attempt on a Saturday
was just a guess?
Watson, you disappoint me.
I never guess.
Saturday's an excellent night for stealing bullion.
It gives you a full day to escape.
Thank you then.
Thank you.
Oh, you've reasoned it out beautifully Holmes.
It's so long a chain and yet every link rings true.
It saved me from irony.
You know sometimes I think my whole life is spent
in one long effort to escape from
the common places of existence.
No, no.
You are a benefactor of the race Holmes.
Well maybe it is of some little use after all.
as Gusta Flabare wrote to George Sand.