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
should 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 4 a week.
And the work?
Is purely nominal.
What do you call purely nominal?
Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the building, the
whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole position forever. The
will is very clear upon that point. You don t comply with the
conditions if you budge from the office during that time.
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