waiting for me. I started copying out the Encyclopaedia,
beginning with subjects under the letter 'A'. Sometimes Mr Ross
left the room, but he kept coming back to see me.
'At two o'clock, he told me I had worked well. He was very
pleased. Then I left and he locked the office door behind me.
'The same thing happened every day for eight weeks. Every
morning, I began work at ten, and every afternoon, I left at two.
Every Saturday, I was given four pounds for my week's work.
'At first, Mr Ross came into the office to watch me work. But
after a time, he stopped coming. However, I was afraid to leave the
office. 1 didn't want to lose my pay.
'But suddenly everything came to an end.'
'To an end?' asked Holmes.
'Yes. This morning, I went to work as usual at ten o'clock.
But the door was locked and on it was this card.'
Mr Wilson held up a small piece of white card. This is what
it said:
THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE IS FINISHED
9th October 1890