a vacancy did not seem to be such a very easy matter after all. However, when our turn came, the little man was more favourable to me than to any of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he might have a private word with us.

‘ “This is Mr Jabez Wilson,” said my assistant, “and he is willing to fill a vacancy in the League.”

‘ “And he is admirably suited for it,” the other answered. “He has every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so fine.” He took a step backwards, cocked his head on one side, and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my success.

‘ “It would be injustice to hesitate,” said he. “You will, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.” With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I yelled with the pain. “There is water in your eyes,” said he, as he released me. “I perceive that all is as it should be. But we have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler’s wax which would disgust you with human nature.” He stepped over to the window, and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, and the folk all trooped away in different directions, until there was not a red head to be seen except my own and that of the manager.

‘ “My name,” said he, “is Mr Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are you a married man, Mr Wilson? Have you a family?”

‘I answered that I had not.

‘His face fell immediately.

‘ “Dear me!” he said gravely, “that is very serious indeed! I am sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bachelor.”

‘My face lengthened at this, Mr Holmes, for I thought that I was not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for a few minutes, he said that it would be all right.

‘ “In the case of another,” said he, “the objection might be fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your new duties?”

‘ “Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,” said I.

‘ “Oh, never mind about that, Mr Wilson!” said Vincent Spaulding. “I shall be able to look after that for you.”

‘ “What would be the hours?” I asked.

‘ “Ten to two.”

‘Now a pawnbroker’s business is mostly done of an evening, Mr Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, and that he would see to anything that turned up.

‘ “That would suit me very well,” said I. “And the pay?”

‘ “Is four pounds a week.”

‘ “And the work?”