“Let me see,” said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing along the street, “I should like to remember the order of the houses here. There is Mortimer’s, the tobacconist, the little newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank[45], the Vegetarian Restaurant. And now, Doctor, we’ve done our work.
“Do you want to go home?”
“Yes.”
“And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This business at Coburg Square is serious.”
“Why serious?”
“A crime is being prepared. I believe that we shall be in time to stop it. I shall want your help tonight.”
“At what time?”
“At ten. There may be some danger, so put your army revolver in your pocket.” And he disappeared in the crowd.
I must say I always felt stupid when I was with Sherlock Holmes. 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 going to happen, while to me the whole business was still a mystery. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought over it. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Holmes that this pawnbroker’s assistant was a criminal. But I could not think what he was up to and then decided that the night would bring an explanation.
Exercises
1. Answer the questions:
1. What was Mr. Wilson’s working day like? How long did he work at the office of the League?
2. What happened on the morning of the day Mr. Wilson called on Sherlock Holmes?
3. What did Mr. Wilson do after he found the office locked? What did he find out?
4. Why did he come to Sherlock Holmes? What do you think he wanted?
5. What did Mr. Wilson tell Holmes and Watson about his assistant?
6. Did Sherlock Holmes think it would take him long to solve the problem?
7. Where did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go and what did they see there?
8. What did Mr. Wilson’s house look like? What kind of neighbourhood was it in?
9. What did Sherlock Holmes do in Saxe-Coburg Square? Who did he speak to?
10. Why did Sherlock Holmes want to see Mr. Wilson’s assistant? What did he tell Dr. Watson about him?
11. What did they see when they turned round the corner?
12. What did Sherlock Holmes say was going on? What was he going to do?
13. What did Dr. Watson feel when he helped Sherlock Holmes in his cases? Why?
2. Think and say if these statements are right or wrong. Correct the wrong ones, give your reasons.
1. The job suited Mr. Wilson very well because he could do his pawnbroker’s business and earn some extra money.
2. Mr. Wilson called on Sherlock Holmes to get his position back.
3. Sherlock Holmes thought the case serious because Mr. Wilson had lost a well-paid job.
4. Sherlock Holmes’s behaviour in Saxe-Coburg Square was a little strange, and Dr. Watson asked for an explanation.
3. Find the following phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.
1. to say nothing of
2. to come to a conclusion
3. to make smth of smth / What do you make of…?
4. to make up one’s mind
5. smth takes some time / it takes some time to do smth
4. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above.
1. He had a wife and three children with him in the car as well as two dogs.
2. I considered all the information I had and decided that the boy was lying.
3. What is your opinion on the letter? – I don’t know what to think of it.
4. Have you decided what college you want to go to? – No, I haven’t yet.
5. The actors spent several weeks rehearsing the play and it was a great success.
5. Complete the sentences with the words and phrases above and those from the previous part in the correct form (one gap for a phrase).
1. How long… you to get from home to university? – … about an hour.
2. Three people were badly hurt in the accident… damage to two cars.
3. What are we to… his behaviour? – … understand, he wants to show us how independent he is.
4. After the doctors examined the boy carefully, they… that the operation was not necessary.
5. Jogging… me about half an hour every morning but it keeps me fit.
6. Sarah thought it over and… to take part in the competition… she knew, well-known people often came to watch it, and it might help her to find a job.
III
It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my way to Baker Street. Two cabs were standing at the door, and as I entered the house I heard voices from above. On entering his room I found Holmes speaking to 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 hat and very respectable coat.
“Ha! Our party is complete. Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in tonight’s adventure,” said Holmes.
“You may have confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir,” said the police agent. “He has his own methods, which are a little too theoretical and fantastic, but once or twice he has been more correct than the police.”
“Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right,” said the stranger. “Still, I miss my game of cards. It is the first Saturday night for twenty-seven years that I have not played cards.”
“I think you will find,” said Sherlock Holmes, “that the play tonight will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will be the man on whom you wish to lay your hands.
“John Clay, the murderer, thief, and forger. He’s a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his profession, one of the most dangerous in London. He’s a remarkable man. His grandfather was a duke, and he himself has been to Eton[46] and Oxford. His brain is as good as his fingers. I’ve been on his track for years and have never had any evidence against him yet.”
“I’ve met Mr. John Clay once or twice, and I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is past ten, however, and it is time to start.”
We drove through a labyrinth of streets until we found ourselves in Farrington Street.
“We are close there now,” my friend remarked. “This fellow Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the matter. I wished to have Jones with us also. He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute fool in his profession, but he is as brave as a bulldog.”
We had reached the same crowded street in which we had been in the morning. Mr. Merryweather opened a side door for us. We saw a small corridor, which ended in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened, and we went downstairs to another iron gate. Mr. Merryweather showed us down a dark corridor to a third door, and into a huge cellar with massive boxes.
“You are not very vulnerable from above,” Holmes remarked as he looked about him.
“Nor from below,” said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick on the floor. “Why, it sounds quite hollow!” he remarked, looking up in surprise.
“I must ask you to be a little more quiet!” said Holmes. “Would you sit down on one of those boxes, and be quiet?”
Mr. Merryweather sat down on a box, while Holmes fell on his knees on the floor and, with a lens, began to examine it. A few moments later he sprang to his feet again and put his lens in his pocket.
“We have at least an hour,” he remarked, “for they can hardly do anything until the pawnbroker is 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, in the cellar of the City branch of one of the biggest London banks. Mr. Merryweather is the director, and he will explain to you why the criminals are interested in this cellar at present.”
“It is our French gold,” whispered the director. “We have had several warnings.”
“Your French gold?”
“Yes. Some months ago we borrowed 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of France. It has become known that the money is still lying in our cellar. The box on which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons. The amount is much larger at present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the directors have had fears on the matter.”
“And they were right about that,” observed Holmes. “And now it is time to put the screen over the lantern.”
“And sit in the dark?”
“I am afraid so. The enemy is very near and we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, first of all, we must choose our positions. I shall stand behind this box, and you will be behind those. If they fire, Watson, shoot them down.”
I put my revolver on the box behind which I hid. Holmes shot the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in such an absolute darkness as I had never seen before.
“They have one way of escape,” whispered Holmes. “That is back through the house into Saxe-Coburg 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 must be silent and wait.”
What a time it seemed! We waited for only an hour and a quarter, but it seemed to me that it was all the night.
Suddenly saw a light. At first it was only a spark on the floor. Then it became a yellow line, and then a hand appeared; a white hand, which felt about in the centre of the little area of light. With a loud noise, one of the broad, white stones turned over on its side and left a hole. I saw a boyish face, which looked about, and then a man drew himself up into the cellar. In another moment he stood at the side of the hole and was helping his companion, small like himself, with a pale face and very red hair.
Sherlock Holmes sprang out and seized the first man by the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I saw the first man holding a revolver, but Holmes struck the man’s hand, and the revolver fell on the floor.
“It’s no use, John Clay,” said Holmes. “You have no chance at all.”
“So I see,” the other answered. “But I think that my friend is all right.”
“There are three men waiting for him at the door,” said Holmes.
“Oh, indeed! You did your work very thoroughly. I must compliment you.”
“And I you,” Holmes answered. “Your red-headed idea was very new and effective.”
“Do not touch me with your filthy hands,” remarked our prisoner as Jones clicked the handcuffs. “You may not know that I have royal blood in my veins. When you address me, always say ‘sir’ and ‘please.’”
“All right,” said Jones. “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. He bowed to the three of us and walked quietly off.
“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 one of the most dangerous attempts at bank robbery that I have ever heard of.”
“I am repaid by having defeated Mr. John Clay[47], and by hearing the very remarkable story of the Red-headed League,” said Holmes.
“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 obvious from the first that the only possible object of this fantastic advertisement of the League, and the copying of the Encyclopaedia must be to get this not very clever pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way of doing it, but, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was no doubt suggested to Clay by the colour of his accomplice’s hair. The 4 pounds a week is a big sum, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? They put in the advertisement, one of them takes an office, the other makes the man apply for the position, and together they have him away from home every morning in the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant who came for half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive to get the position.”
“But how did you know what the motive was?”
“The man’s business was small, and there was nothing in his house worth such preparations. It must, then, be something out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant’s interest in photography, and his trick of diving into the cellar. The cellar! I made inquiries about this mysterious assistant and found that he was a well-known criminal in London. He was doing something in the cellar – something which took many hours a day for months. What could it be? I could think of nothing else but that he was digging a tunnel to some other building.
“When we went to visit the scene of action I surprised you by striking on the ground with my stick. I wanted to know 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. I hardly looked at his face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn and dirty they were. They spoke of those hours of digging. I only wished to know what they were digging for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Suburban Bank next to our client’s house, and felt that I had solved my problem.”
“And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight?” I asked.
“Well, when they closed their League offices that showed that they did not need Mr. Jabez Wilson’s absence any longer – in other words, that their tunnel was ready. It was important to use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the money might be taken away. It was Saturday, and it gave them two days for their escape. So I expected them to come tonight.”
“Your ideas are brilliant,” I exclaimed in admiration.
“These little problems help me to escape from boredom of life,” he answered.
Exercises
1. Answer the questions:
1. Whom did Dr. Watson meet when he arrived at Baker Street that night?
2. What did you learn about John Clay?
3. Where did Mr. Merryweather lead them?
4. What surprised Mr. Merryweather in the cellar?
5. What did Sherlock Holmes examine in the cellar?
6. Why were the criminals interested in the bank cellar at that very time?
7. Why did Sherlock Holmes want everybody to be quiet and sit in the dark?
8. What precautions had Sherlock Holmes taken before they came to the bank cellar?
9. Did they catch the criminals in the cellar?
10. How did Sherlock Holmes explain the purpose of Mr. Wilson’s work at the Red-headed League?
11. Why did Sherlock Holmes strike on the ground in front of the pawnbroker’s?
8. What precautions had Sherlock Holmes taken before they came to the bank cellar?
9. Did they catch the criminals in the cellar?
10. How did Sherlock Holmes explain the purpose of Mr. Wilson’s work at the Red-headed League?
11. Why did Sherlock Holmes strike on the ground in front of the pawnbroker’s?
12. Why did Sherlock Holmes think that the criminals would try robbing the bank on that very night?
2. Think and say if these statements are right or wrong. Correct the wrong ones, give your reasons.
1. Sherlock Holmes told the bank director that he was going to have an exciting night because they were after a very dangerous criminal.
2. Sherlock Holmes took Mr. Jones of Scotland Yard with them as he thought he was a good detective and a brave man.
3. The bank cellar was not vulnerable either from above or from below.
4. Interest in photography provided an excuse for John Clay to spend a lot of time in the cellar.
5. It was obvious that the work at the Red-headed League was to take Mr. Wilson away from home.
3. Find the following phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.
1. to get smb / smth out of the way
2. to apply for a position / vacancy / job
3. to make inquiries about smth / smb
4. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above.
1. Kevin wrote a letter and asked to be considered for a management position.
2. A detective’s job is to ask questions and collect information about people his clients would like to know about.
3. They had to stop to take the fallen tree away from the road.
4. The company has to get rid of competitors to stay in the market.
5. Complete the sentences with the phrases above in the correct form.
1. If the job suits you, why don’t you… it?
2. Not to wait long at the bus terminal… the bus service in advance.
3. Nick wanted… his younger brothers… So he gave them money and they ran to the shop to buy ice cream.
Vocabulary
Список сокращенийa – adjective – прилагательное
adv – adverb – наречие
cj – conjunction – союз
n – noun – имя существительное
prp – preposition – предлог
v – verb – глагол
A
above adv вверх, наверху
absence n отсутствие
accident n несчастный случай, авария
accomplice n сообщник
action n действие, деятельность
admiration n восхищение, восторг
advance : in advance заранее
adventure n приключение
advertisement n объявление
advice n совет; take smb’s advice советоваться с кем-л.
affair n дело
agree v соглашаться, договариваться, уславливаться
amount n сумма
anxious a беспокоящийся, тревожащийся; страстно желающий
appear v появляться, показываться
appearance n внешность, внешний вид
apply v (for) обращаться (за чем-л.)
area n участок
argue v спорить
astonished a удивленный, потрясенный
attempt n попытка
as adv, cj как; когда; так как, в то время как; в качестве; as far as насколько
B
bachelor n холостяк
backward adv назад
behaviour n поведение
believe v считать, полагать
besides prp, adv кроме, кроме того
blazing a пылающий
blood n кровь
board n доска
boredom n скука
bow v поклониться
boyish a мальчишеский
brain n ум, умственные способности
branch n филиал, отделение
brave a храбрый, смелый
brilliant a блестящий, великолепный, гениальный
burst v (burst) разрываться, взрываться; burst out laughing рассмеяться
C
cab n кэб, наемный экипаж
call v звать; называть; call on/at навещать, заходить (к кому-л.)
carpenter n плотник
case n дело; случай
cellar n подвал
certainly adv конечно
chronicle v записывать, заносить (в дневник, летопись); вести хронику
clear v (up) прояснять, выяснять
clearly adv ясно, понятно
click v щелкнуть, защелкнуть
client n клиент
close a близкий
collar n воротник
column n колонка, рубрика
common a обычный; распространенный
companion n компаньон
competition n соревнование; конкуренция
competitor n конкурент
complain v жаловаться
complete a полный
conclusion n заключение, вывод
confidence n уверенность
congratulate v поздравлять
consider v рассматривать, обдумывать, принимать во внимание
contain v содержать, вмещать
contrary n нечто противоположное, обратное; on the contrary наоборот
corner n угол
cost v (cost) стоить
couple n пара
crime n преступление
criminal n преступник
crowd n толпа
crowded a многолюдный, людный
cuff n манжет
curious a странный, необычный
D
damage n повреждение
danger n опасность
dangerous a опасный
darkness n темнота
deceive v обманывать
deduce v выводить (заключение, следствие), делать вывод, заключать
defeat v наносить поражение
delight n удовольствие, наслаждение
despair n отчаяние
detail n деталь, подробность
detect v находить, обнаруживать
develop v проявлять (фотоснимки)
developed a развитый
dig v (dug) копать
disappear v исчезать
discover v обнаруживать
dissolve v аннулировать, распускать
dive v нырять, исчезать, скрываться из вида, бросаться вниз
doubt n сомнение; no doubt несомненно, без сомнения
downstairs adv вниз
dozen n дюжина
draw v (drew, drawn) тащить, тянуть
dress n платье, одежда
duke n герцог
E
earn v зарабатывать
earring n серьга
effect n результат, следствие; воздействие
effective a эффективный
either… or cj или… или
elbow n локоть
elderly a пожилой
eligible a подходящий, желательный
employ v нанимать, принимать на работу
encyclopaedia n энциклопедия; Encyclopaedia Britannica Британская энциклопедия (наиболее полная энциклопедия на английском языке)
enemy n противник, враг
engaged a занятый
enormous a огромный, громадный
enthusiasm n энтузиазм
enthusiastic a полный энтузиазма, воодушевленный
escape n бегство, спасение; v убегать, спасаться бегством; избегать
especially adv особенно
event n событие, случай
evidence n улика, доказательство
evident a очевидный
evidently adv очевидно
examine v осматривать, исследовать
excited a взволнованный, возбужденный
exciting a волнующий, захватывающий, увлекательный
exclaim v воскликнуть
excuse n предлог, повод, v извинять, прощать, служить оправданием
expect v ожидать; надеяться
explain v объяснять
explanation n объяснение
extra a дополнительный
extraordinary a необычный, замечательный, удивительный, странный
F
fall v (fell, fallen) падать; сникнуть, поникнуть; his face fell лицо у него вытянулось
fault n недостаток
favourable a благосклонный
fear n cтрах
feeling n чувство
fellow n человек; парень
fiery a огненный
fill v заполнять
filthy a грязный
finally adv наконец, в конце концов