Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 7 Memoirs 7
"'There's only so much we can give you at first, but you get a one percent commission on all your affiliate sales, which is guaranteed to be much more than your salary.'

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

"'You can do the accounting.'

"Just as my head was spinning with excitement and I was dizzy, I suddenly felt something was wrong.

"I said: 'To be honest, although Mawson's only pays me [-] pounds a year, its reputation is very high, but I know very little about your company, so my trust in you...'

"He was very happy and shouted: 'Ah, you are the kind of person we want most, you are so economical. Of course, in order to show my sincerity, I will give you a hundred pounds first, which is an advance payment to you. salary, so you can trust me!'

"I was very happy and asked: 'That way I can feel at ease. But when can I go to work?'

"He said: 'I'll write you a note now, and you'll find my brother at the temporary property office of Company B, 126 Corporalson Street, Birmingham, at one o'clock tomorrow afternoon with it. Of course, in the end Ultimately he's going to have to say if you need it, but chances are you'll get the job."

"I said, 'Look, Mr. Pinner, how can I thank you?'

"You're welcome. But before you go, we have to go through a formality. Of course, it's just a formality. Please write on this piece of paper: I fully agree to be the manager of the French Central Hardware Co., Ltd., with an annual salary of at least five hundred pounds .

"When I finished writing, he put the paper in his pocket.

"And he said: 'What do you want to do with the work at Mawson's?'

"I said, 'Look, I'm so happy I forgot about Mawson. Never mind, I'll just write them my resignation letter.'

"'But I think you'd better not do it. I went to Mawson's once to find out about you. But I got into an argument with their manager while he was there, because he said all my What he did was cheating on you. So we put five quid on you to take my job and quit it. But he thinks he saved you from poverty, you can't Ruthless.'

"I heard it and shouted: 'I have never met that idiot, I have no reason to fix myself in his company, but if you say you won't let me write a resignation letter, then don't write it.'

"He got up from his chair and said, 'Well, we're done, you've got the job of your dreams. And I'm very happy to have found such a capable man for my brother. This is your advance payment. A salary of one hundred pounds. Please note the place and time: Tomorrow at one o'clock in the afternoon, to 126 B, Copoleson Street, Birmingham. Good night, I wish you all the best.'

"I am very glad of this good fortune, Dr. Watson. I was so excited that I wrote down the whole conversation between us, and I did not fall asleep until late in the night. When I arrived in Birmingham next day, I was still alive." It was very early, so I first found a hotel, and then I went to the company according to the address.

"No. 126 B is a corridor sandwiched between two large shops. I climbed up a winding stone staircase. I reached the top floor a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time, but I did not find the French Central Hardware Co., Ltd. Sign. I muttered that it was not good. I stood downstairs for a while, trying to figure out if someone deliberately set up this trick to hurt me. At this time, a person with a body shape and voice very similar to the person yesterday asked me:' Are you Mr. Hall Pycroft?"

"The man was clean-shaven and had lighter hair than the man, and I said, 'That's me. Are you Mr. Henry Pinner?'

"'I am, and you were a little earlier than the appointed time. I had a letter of recommendation from my brother in the morning, and he praised you from head to toe.'

"'I have been looking for your office just now, but I couldn't find it.'

"'We don't have our sign here yet, because we only rented here last week. Come, let's talk.'

"Following him up to the top of a tall building, I entered two small, dusty rooms beneath the slate tiles on the roof. It was empty, with no curtains, let alone carpets. It was nothing like I had imagined. In a large and spacious office, the scene of a row of employees sitting and working is completely different. All the furnishings here are two large chairs, a table, an account book, and a wastebasket.

"Mr. Pinner must have seen my displeasure, and quickly said: 'You must not be disappointed by this situation. In fact, our capital is very strong. We just don't want to show our wealth on the surface. Come on. , sit down, and show me the letter of introduction.'

"He read the letter very carefully, and then said: 'I believe in my brother Arthur's ability to observe. From his letter, I can feel that he really values ​​you. This time I am also very optimistic about you. I will officially hire you. is you.'

"I asked: 'So, what do you want me to do?'

"'Currently, pottery produced in England is being continuously shipped into our company's 130 four consignment stores. During this period, you must stay here to help me do some work. When the goods are shipped, you can manage the large warehouse in Paris. gone.'

"'So what can I do to assist you now?'

"He took out a large red book from a drawer. He said: 'Here is a directory of the Parisian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and there is a trade name behind each name. You go home and take the hardware dealers and their addresses. Copy down the address, we will need it for our future work.'

"I immediately suggested: 'I'm sure I can do it, but isn't there a classification table in this book?'

"'They don't have the same classification as ours, so those lists are unreliable, and I'll be using this list at twelve o'clock on Monday, so you'll have to copy it quickly. Go ahead. Goodbye, Pycroft Mister.'

"I went back to the hotel with the big book in my arms, full of conflicts. On the one hand, I am happy that I have money and a job now; on the other hand, because of the company's external performance and my After many years of experience in this industry, my first impression of this company was not very good. However, since I got the money, I had to work for this company. So I worked hard all day on Sunday. Despite this Well, by Monday I had only copied the letter H, so I went to the ransacked house and found my employer. And he told me to keep on copying until Wednesday. He. But I had the same problem on Wednesday, so I didn't hand over the copy to Mr. Harry Pinner until yesterday, Friday.

"He said: 'This list has done a lot for me. And I seem to have underestimated the enormity of the job, so I admire your tenacity.'

"I said: 'Yes, this work takes up a lot of my time.'

"And he said: 'We now want to know the furniture stores that sell china, and you can copy me a list of the names of these stores.'

"'I'm sure I can do it.'

"'Please don't tire yourself too much. It's best to relax and go to the Dyce Hall to enjoy two hours of music. You will report to me about your work progress at seven o'clock tomorrow night.' He said with a smile, but I Horrified at the sight of a gold tooth randomly inlaid on the second tooth on the upper left side of his mouth."

Hearing these words, Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands excitedly, but I was a little puzzled and looked at the client in amazement.

He said: "Dr. Watson, don't be surprised by my surprise. Remember that guy I met in London? When I said no to Mawson's, he couldn't close his mouth from laughing, and It was then that I accidentally discovered that in the same place, he also had a gold tooth. The differences between the so-called 'two brothers' were limited to those that could be changed with a razor or a wig, and The voice and posture, especially the gold tooth, are identical. So, I'm sure it's unlikely that even two identical twin brothers would have an identically shaped gold tooth in the same place, so they It was the same man. After he sent me out, I walked and wondered in my head. Why did he send me to Birmingham? Why did he come first and write a letter to himself? In short, I was These questions confused me. Then I thought of the famous Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who must have seen things that I could not see. So I took the train last night and came to the city, so that I can call on you this morning."

After the stockbroker's clerk finished his strange story, we all fell silent.Sherlock Holmes glanced at me, leaned back on the cushions, and had the expression of satisfaction and comment on a taster who has just taken his first sip of wine. Same.

He said: "Watson, do you also find it very interesting? You must also know that I am very interested in many plots in this matter, and I would like to visit this Ah in the temporary office of the Central French Hardware Co., Ltd." It must be an interesting experience, Mr. Thur Pinner."

"What are we going to do when we visit him?" I asked.

Hall Pycroft said happily: "I just told him that I have two friends who also want to find a job in his company, and then I can take you two to see the general manager naturally. Is that solved?"

"Very well," said Holmes. "I should like to see this gentleman, and to test myself, and see if I can put his plots into order. But, Mr. Hall Pycroft, you How capable is he, why does he value you so much, maybe he can..." At this point, he began to chew his nails, thoughtfully, and walked to Xinda Street with us without saying a word.

It was seven o'clock in the evening when we reached Mr. Pinner's Copoleson Street business.

Our client said: "It's too early, I'm sure this room is empty now, because he will only come here to meet me at the agreed time."

"It is worth giving me some thought," said Holmes.

Our client suddenly whispered: "Look ahead, that's him."

Following the direction of his finger, we saw a dark-skinned, short and neatly dressed man walking hurriedly on the opposite street.Meanwhile he crossed the street crowded with carriages and buses, bought an evening paper, and strode into his office.

"Follow me," cried Hall Pycroft, "and I may try to make the matter easier."

(End of this chapter)