The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 65 Memoirs (6) ([-])
"Of course not. I hope there are as many experiences like this as possible!"

"So, how about going today?"

"Okay, if you want, go today."

"Would you mind going further afield? Like Birmingham."

"Of course, if you like."

"What about your clinic?"

"Every time my neighbor goes out, I help him with his patients. He always wants to repay me."

"Ha ha! This is very good!" Holmes leaned back in his chair and looked at me keenly. "I think you have been in poor health lately, and summer colds are always a bit of a nuisance."

"Last week I had a bad cold and I didn't go out for three days. However, I think I've recovered now."

"Well, you look very fit."

"How do you know I've been sick?"

"My dear friend, you know my method."

"It depends on your reasoning again."

"Not bad at all."

"Where did you see that?"

"From your slippers."

I looked down at the new pair of patent leather slippers on my feet. "How on earth do you..." I began to say, but before I could finish my question, Holmes spoke first.

"Your slippers are new," he said. "You must not have bought them for a few weeks. But the sole facing me has been scorched. At first, I thought the shoes were soaked in water and caught fire. Burnt while drying. But there is a little round piece of paper with the clerk's code on the shoe. If the shoe got wet, the code would have fallen off. So I'm sure you must be near the fire to warm it up Scorched the soles of the shoes. In the wet June, a man who is healthy does not go to the fire lightly."

Like all of Sherlock Holmes's reasoning, complex things become very simple when explained and refined.Looking at my expression, he understood my thoughts and smiled mockingly.

"I'm afraid that if I explain it, the secret will be leaked." He said, "If you only ask the result without asking the reason, it will leave a deep impression on people. So, are you planning to go to Birmingham?"

"Of course. What's the matter with this case?"

"My client is waiting outside in the carriage. We shall wait till the train. Can you set off at once?"

"Wait." I hastily wrote a note to my neighbor, and running upstairs to explain the situation to my wife, I overtook Holmes on the stone steps outside.

"Your neighbor is a doctor?" said Holmes, looking at the brass plate on the next door.

"Yes, he also bought a clinic like me."

"This clinic existed a long time ago?"

"Like my house, two clinics were established as soon as the house was built."

"Ah, so, your business is doing better?"

"I suppose so. But how do you know?"

"Your steps are three inches thinner than his. The gentleman in the carriage is my client, Mr. Hall Pycroft. Permit me to introduce you. Now, coachman, Hurry up the horse, or we'll miss the train."

I sat opposite Mr. Pycroft, a tall, handsome young man, with a frank, earnest expression, a little curly yellow mustache, a shiny top hat, and a neat, plain suit. black clothes.Let us see at a glance that he is the kind of smart urban youth.They are called "Cockneys," and it is of this sort that our country is famous for the Volunteer Regiment; and they produce more elite sportsmen and athletes than any other class in the British Isles.He was ruddy and smiling, but because of the drooping corners of his mouth I felt a strange sadness in him.I didn't know he was in trouble until we were sitting in a first-class car on the way to Birmingham.Therefore, he came to see Sherlock Holmes.

"We are traveling seventy minutes by train," said Holmes. "I beg you, Mr. Hall Pycroft, to repeat in as much detail as you can the amusing experiences which have been told to me. Listen again to the account of these events. It will also help me to analyze the case. Watson, this case may or may not be special. Now, Mr. Pycroft, I will not bother you anymore, so hurry up and talk."

Our young companion looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.

"What makes me feel bad," he said, "is that I seem to have been duped. Of course, maybe I turn out to be wrong, but I don't think that's a big possibility. If I get fired because of this, I get What a fool I must be if it turns out to be nothing. Mr. Watson, I am not good at words. My experience is this:

"I used to work for Coxon & Woodhouse, off Draper Square, but this spring the firm got involved in the Venezuelan bond case, and it went downhill. Maybe you remember that bond case. All 27 of our staff were out of work when the firm went bankrupt. I worked there for five years and old Coxon gave me a great recommendation. I looked around for a job, but no one in the same situation as me So much so that for a long time I ran into walls here and there. At Coxon & Co. my income was three pounds a week, and during that time I saved about seventy pounds, but this was not enough to live on, and soon Just ran out. I can barely afford application letter envelopes and stamps. I've been to so many companies, stores, worn out boots and still can't find a job.

"Finally I inquired about a position at Mawson & Williams, the great brokerage firm in Lombard Street. A powerful business firm. The firm stipulated that only applicants could apply by letter. Although I didn't hold out much hope, I still sent my recommendation letter and application letter. Unexpectedly, I suddenly received a reply, The letter said that if I pass the interview next Monday, I can go to work immediately. No one knows how they select people. I heard that the manager reaches into the pile of applications and grabs whichever is the one. Anyway, I'm glad I was lucky enough to get in. I started out in the same position as I was at Coxon's, and my income was £[-] a week.

"I'm about to get to the queerness of the matter. I live at a flat at 17 Potter Lane, near Hampstead. I was sitting smoking the night I was offered the appointment, and the landlady Came in with a card that said 'Arthur Pinner, Financial Manager.' I'd never heard that name before, let alone why he was looking for me. But I asked the landlady to bring the man in anyway. The man who came in was of medium height, with black hair, black eyes, a black beard, and a slightly oily nose. He moved quickly, spoke quickly, and seemed to be a decisive man.

"'You are Mr Hall Pycroft, aren't you?' he asked.

"'Yes, sir.' I pulled up a chair and sat him down.

"'You used to work for Coxon & Woodhouse, didn't you?'

"'Yes, sir.'

"'It's the new secretary at Mawson & Co., isn't it?'

"'yes.'

"He said: 'Here's the thing, I've heard you've done a lot of great money. You remember Parker, Coxon's manager, and he's always been full of praise for you.'

"I was really glad to hear him say that. I've always been shrewd in my business, but I never thought I'd be complimented like that.

"'Have a good memory?' he said.

"'Not bad,' I replied humbly.

"'When you lost your job, did you keep an eye on the market?' he asked.

"'Yes. I look at the Stock Exchange every morning.'

"'It's hard work!' cried he. 'That's the way to success! Would you mind if I put you to the test? What's the price of the Ayrshire shares?'

"'One hundred and five pounds seventeen and a half to one hundred and six five shillings.'

"'What about New Zealand's Consol?'

"'One hundred and four pounds.'

"'What about Broken Shearne shares in England?'

"'Seven pounds to seven pounds six shillings.'

"'Brilliant!' he exclaimed, throwing up his hands. 'That's exactly what I know about the stock market. My friend, you're too unfit to be a secretary at Mawson's!'

"I was absolutely amazed that he was such a surprise.

"'Ah,' said I, 'that's not what other people think, Mr. Pinner. I like my hard-won job very much.'

"'Don't say that, sir, you should have a better development space, that is not a position for you to display your talents. Let me tell you, I value your talents very much. Although in terms of talents, the position and salary I give you are not the same. It’s not high, but it’s absolutely incomparable to Mawson’s. Please tell me, when will you go to work at Mawson’s?”

"'Next Monday.'

"'Haha! I bet you won't be working there anymore.'

"'Not to Mawson's?'

"'Yes, sir. You don't have to wait until that day, you can become the manager of the French Central Hardware Co., Ltd., which has 130 four branches in French towns and villages, and one each in Brussels and Sanremo. '

"It struck me like, 'I've never heard of this company.'

"'You probably haven't heard of it. But the company has been kept low-key because it's privately funded, and it's doing so well that it doesn't need any publicity. The founder, Harry Pinner, is my brother, and he's the managing director. , into the board of directors. He knows I have a lot of connections, and he wants me to find a low-paying high-powered guy for him, a young man with energy and command. Parker recommended you, so I'm here tonight to visit you. However, At first we paid you not much, only five hundred pounds a year.'

"'Five hundred a year?!' I cried.

"'It's only at the beginning. On top of that, you get a one percent commission on the turnover you make. Trust me, it's going to be more than your salary.'

"'But I don't know anything about hardware.'

"'My friend, you know accounting.'

"My mind was so buzzing that I could hardly sit still in my chair, but suddenly a question came to my mind.

"'I must tell you the truth,' said I, 'though Mawson's only pays me two hundred pounds a year, but Mawson's is solid. To be honest, I don't know much about your firm. . . . '

"'Oh, that's shrewd!' he exclaimed joyfully. 'You're just what we want. You're not easy to persuade, that's great. Look, here's a hundred pounds, and if you think we can If it is a deal, then you can collect it as our salary advance to you.'

"'Great,' I said, 'when can I go to work?'

"'You will be in Birmingham at one o'clock tomorrow afternoon,' said he. 'I have a note in my pocket. Take it to my brother. You can come to the temporary offices of this company, 126B Copoleson Street. Go to him. I'm sure you're all right, but you'll have to get his approval to hire you first.'

"'To be honest, I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Pinner,' said I.

"'You are welcome, my friend. You deserve it. There are one or two little things I must make clear to you, but this is only a formality. You have a piece of paper at hand, on which please declare: I am perfectly willing to be French Manager of Central Hardware Co., Ltd., at least five hundred pounds a year.'

"I wrote as he said, and he stuffed the paper in his pocket.

"'Just one more thing,' said he, 'what are you going to do with Mawson's?'

"'I forgot about Mawson when I was happy. I'll write them a letter of resignation,' I said.

"'I don't want you to do that. I got into an argument with the manager of Mawson's because of you. I asked him something about you, and he was very rude, accusing me of poaching their people, etc. I He couldn't bear to refute: "If you want to use some talented people, then you should give them good treatment. He said: "He would rather accept our low salary than your high salary." ’ I said, ‘I’ll bet you five quid that if he accepts my offer, you won’t hear from him. "He said:" Good!We lifted him out of poverty, and he won't leave us so easily. "That's what he said."

"'The bastard!' cried I. 'Why should I care, since we've never met? Since you don't want me to write him a letter of resignation, I'll do what you want.'

"'Excellent! It is settled,' said he, rising. 'It is my great honor to have secured such a fine man for my brother. Here is your advance of a hundred pounds, and here is the letter. Please You note the address as 126B Copoleson Street, and note the time as one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Good night and good luck!'

"As far as I can remember, that was all of our conversation. You can imagine, Dr. Watson, that I was so overjoyed at my luck that I could hardly sleep. The next day, in order to have enough time for my appointment, I took the train. To Birmingham. I left my luggage at a hotel in New Street and followed the address.

"I arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time, but I don't think it has anything to do with it. No. 126B is in a corridor between two big shops. Seeing that there are many suites rented to some companies or freelancers as offices. The names of the tenants are written on the wall, but there is no French Central Hardware Co., Ltd. I am apprehensive, worried that this may be an elaborate scam. This At that moment, a man came up to say hello to me. He looked a bit like the man I met last night, with the same build and voice, but with lighter hair and no beard.

"'Are you Mr Hall Pycroft?' he asked.

"'Yes,' I said.

"'Very well, I was expecting you, but you came early. I had a letter from my brother this morning, in which he praised you very highly.'

"'You came just in time, I was looking for your office.'

"'We haven't put up our business yet because we just rented these temporary offices last week. Come with me and we can talk business,' he said.

"I followed him to the top floor of the building. Under the slate tiles on the roof, there were two simple houses. He led me in. The house was dusty, without curtains and carpets. Originally, I imagined it It should be as spacious and bright as the office I usually see, with rows of employees sitting in it. However, I saw all the furnishings in the room, only two pine chairs and a small table, and there was only a general ledger on the table. There is also a wastebasket.

"'Don't lose heart, Mr. Pycroft,' said my new friend, seeing my face change slightly. 'Rome wasn't built in a day. .Please sit down and give me that letter.'

"I handed him the letter and he read it carefully.

"'It seems my brother Arthur thinks very highly of you,' said he, 'and I know he knows and recommends men. He trusts Londoners, you know, and I trust Birminghammen, but this time I have accepted his recommendation and you have been officially hired.'

"'What is my job?' I asked.

"'You will manage a large warehouse in Paris, supplying English-made pottery to 130 four consignment shops in France. The goods will be available in a week, and you will also be doing some work in Birmingham during this time. .'

"'What's the matter?'

"He didn't answer, just took out a book with a red cover from the drawer.

"'Here is a directory of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Paris,' said he, 'with the trade name after every name. I want you to take it back and copy down the hardware dealers and their addresses. It will be of great use to us. benefit.'

"'Isn't there a classification list?' I reminded him.

"'Those lists are not reliable. Their classifications are different from ours. Be sure to hurry up and give me the list at twelve o'clock on Monday. Good-bye, Mr. Pycroft. If you have been doing well, You will find our company a good employer.'

"I went back to the hotel with the big book under my arm, full of apprehensions. On the one hand, I had been formally employed and had received an advance of £[-]; No sign of the house, and the small size, I'm not optimistic about the financial situation of the new company. But anyway, I've got the money, so I sat down and started copying. All Sunday I was buried in copying, but on Monday I had just copied the letter H. I went to explain the situation to my employer, and I found him in that rough house. He told me to keep copying until Wednesday, and then go to him. I didn't finish it, so I copied it until Friday, yesterday, and I took the copy to Mr. Harry Pinner.

"'Thank you so much,' he said. 'I may have underestimated the difficulty of the job. This list is too important to me.'

"'It took me a lot of time,' I said.

"'Now, I want you to copy another list of furniture stores, all of which deal in china.'

"'OK.'

"'Come here at seven o'clock tomorrow night and report the progress to me. Please don't be too tired. After work, it will be beneficial for you to go to the Dyce Concert Hall for a two-hour concert in the evening.' He Saying that with a smile on my face, I was horrified when I saw a crooked gold tooth in place of the second tooth on the upper left row."

Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands excitedly, and I looked at our client in wonder.

(End of this chapter)