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derbies。〃
〃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。'〃
〃All right；〃 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。 Merryweather； 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。 〃I have been at some small expense over
this matter； which I shall expect the bank to refund； but beyond
that I am amply repaid by having had 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 whisky 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 'Encyclopaedia；' 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 accomplice's hair。
The four pounds a week was a lure which must draw him； and what was
it to them； who were playing for thousands？ They put in the
advertisement； one rogue has the 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 that 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 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 cellar。 The
cellar！ There was the end of this tangled clew。 Then I made
inquiries as to this 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 cellarsomething which took many
hours a day for months on end。 What could it be； once more？ I
could think of nothing save 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 cellar 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 had
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 round the corner； saw that 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 to…
night？〃 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 to…night。〃
〃You reasoned it out beautifully；〃 I exclaimed； in unfeigned
admiration。 〃It is so long a chain； and yet every link rings
true。〃
〃It saved me from ennui；〃 he answered； yawning。 〃Alas！ I already
feel it closing in upon me。 My life is spent in one long effort to
escape from the commonplaces 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。 〃'L'homme c'est rienl'oeuvre c'est tout；' as
Gustave Flaubert wrote to Georges Sands。〃
Egerton Castle
The Baron's Quarry
〃Oh； no； I assure you； you are not boring Mr。 Marshfield；〃 said
this personage himself in his gentle voicethat curious voice that
could flow on for hours； promulgating profound and startling
theories on every department of human knowledge or conducting
paradoxical arguments without a single inflection or pause of
hesitation。 〃I am； on the contrary； much interested in your
hunting talk。 To paraphrase a well…worn quotation somewhat widely；
nihil humanum a me alienum est。 Even hunting stories may have
their point of biological interest； the philologist sometimes
pricks his ear to the jargon of the chase； moreover； I am not
incapable of appreciating the subject matter itself。 This seems to
excite some derision。 I admit I am not much of a sportsman to look
at； nor； indeed； by instinct； yet I have had some out…of…the…way
experiences in that linegenerally when intent on other pursuits。
I doubt； for instance； if even you； Major Travers； notwithstanding
your well…known exploits against man and beast； notwithstanding
that doubtful smile of yours； could match the strangeness of a
certain hunting adventure in which I played an important part。〃
The speaker's small； deep…set； black eyes； that never warmed to
anything more human than a purely speculative scientific interest
in his surroundings； here wandered round the skeptical yet
expectant circle with bland amusement。 He stretched out his
bloodless fingers for another of his host's superfine cigars and
proceeded； with only such interruptions as were occasioned by the
lighting and careful smoking of the latter。