书虫1级《福尔摩斯与红发会》红发会
- 英文
- 重点词汇
- 中文
SCENE 1
An interesting advertisement
The inside of Wilson's shop. It's a little shop, with a lot of clocks, pictures, watches, etc. Wilson is writing at a table. Vincent Spaulding is looking at The Morning Chronicle newspaper.
SPAULDING
This is interesting.
WILSON
What is?
SPAULDING
This advertisement. It is interesting for you, Mr Wilson, because you have red hair.
WILSON
(Look at Spaulding) Go on.
SPAULDING
The Red-Headed League want to find someone new. Do you know about them? Listen. (Reading from newspaper) 'To all red-headed men, twenty-one years old or more – the Red-Headed League can now take a new man. We pay four pounds a week to do easy work. Come to the League offices at 7, Pope's Court, Fleet Street, London on Monday at 11 o'clock.' (To Wilson) You can get two hundred pounds a year!
Do you know about them?'
WILSON
Really? Tell me more about it.
SPAULDING
A rich American with red hair began the League. When he died, he gave a lot of his money to the Red-Headed League, to give easy work to men with red hair. It's very good wages for only a little work. Why don't you go along to Pope's Court?
WILSON
But millions of red-headed men will go, and—
SPAULDING
Not millions. You need to live in London.
WILSON
I don't know...
SPAULDING
And you must have very red hair. You have very red hair, Mr Wilson.
WILSON
Monday... eleven o'clock...?
SPAULDING
It's Monday today. And it's nearly eleven o'clock! Come on!
SCENE 2
Some easy work for Wilson
The office at Pope's Court – a room with only a table and two chairs. Duncan Ross, a man with very red hair, is sitting behind the table. We can hear the noise of a lot of people out in the street.
ROSS
Next!
The door opens and Spaulding and Wilson come in. Ross looks at Wilson and gets excited.
SPAULDING
This is Mr Jabez Wilson, and he wants to be in the League. (Ross gets up and walks past the table to meet them.)
ROSS
And he has a good head of hair. I can't remember when I saw a better head! (He suddenly puts out a hand and pulls Wilson's hair.)
WILSON
Aaghh! Stop it!
ROSS
I'm sorry, but we must be careful. Of course it is your hair. I can see that now. Please sit down.
Ross sits in the chair behind the table again.
Wilson sits in the other chair. Spaulding stands behind him.
ROSS
My name is Duncan Ross. Have you got a wife, Mr Wilson? And children?
WILSON
No, I have no wife and no family.
ROSS
Oh dear! Some of the men in our League have lots of red-headed children. We like that.
WILSON
I'm sorry, but I—
ROSS
It's all right. You have that wonderful head of hair. When can you begin work here?
WILSON
It's not easy. I have a shop, and—
SPAULDING
I can stay in the shop, Mr Wilson.
WILSON
What hours must I work?
ROSS
Ten o'clock to two o'clock.
WILSON
And the wage?
ROSS
Four pounds a week.
WILSON
What must I do?
ROSS
You must work here, in the office, all the time. That is very important. You cannot go out between the hours of ten o'clock and two o'clock.
WILSON
And the work?
Ross suddenly pulls Wilson's hair.
ROSS
You must copy from this large book, and you must bring paper and a pen. Can you begin tomorrow?
WILSON
Yes, I can.
ROSS
(Smiling) Then goodbye, Mr Jabez Wilson.
Wilson and Spaulding leave the office.
SCENE 3
Wilson tells his story
Sherlock Holmes's room. Holmes and Wilson are sitting in chairs. Holmes is smoking his pipe. Wilson has The Morning Chronicle in his hands.
HOLMES
Most interesting, Mr Wilson. Most interesting.
The door opens and Watson comes in.
WATSON
Holmes, I'm sorry! I didn't know—
HOLMES
Come in, my dear Watson! This is Mr Jabez Wilson. He is telling me a very strange story. (To Wilson) This is Doctor Watson. He's a good friend. Give him the advertisement to read.
Wilson gives the newspaper to Watson.
HOLMES
He does a lot of writing, Watson. Do you see?
WILSON
Oh! How did you know that, Mr Holmes?
HOLMES
The right arm of your coat is different from the left. Your arm is on the table when you write.
WILSON
(Laughing) Yes, that's right!
WATSON
(Finishes reading and looks at Holmes.) It's very strange, Holmes.
HOLMES
(Looking excited) It is strange, isn't it? Do you see the day and month of the newspaper?
WATSON
It's the Morning Chronicle of 27th April, 1890. Two months ago.
HOLMES
Now, Mr Wilson, tell us about your shop.
WILSON
It's in Saxe-Coburg Square, Mr Homes. It's a little shop, and it doesn't make much money.
HOLMES
Does somebody help you in the shop?
WILSON
Yes, a young man. Well, he's not very young, but he works for half-wages.
HOLMES
Does he! What's his name?
WILSON
Vincent Spaulding. He's very good at his work. He likes to take photographs when he's not working. And he makes the pictures in my dark cellar. But he works well when he's in the shop.
HOLMES
How did you first see the newspaper advertisement? Tell us that.
WILSON
Spaulding saw it, eight weeks ago, and we went to Pope's Court and saw Mr Duncan Ross. I told you about the visit a few minutes ago...
Most interesting, Mr Wilson.'
He makes the pictures in my dark cellar.'
HOLMES
Yes, yes. And I can tell Watson about it later. What happened next?
WILSON
Well, I was very pleased, Mr Holmes. I went home feeling very happy. But that evening I began to think again. 'Copying from a book is strange work for a man to do,' I thought.
WATSON
Very strange, yes.
WILSON
But the next morning I went to Pope's Court with my pen and some paper. Mr Ross was there, but he soon went away, and I began my work.
HOLMES
Well?
WILSON
I went in every morning at ten o'clock, and went home at two. And on Saturday, Ross was in the office again, and gave me my four pounds.
HOLMES
How long did you work there?
WILSON
Eight weeks. But today I went to the office at ten o'clock, and the door was locked. (He takes a paper from his coat and gives it to Holmes.) This was on the door.
HOLMES
(Reading) 'The Red-Headed League is finished. June 23rd, 1890.' Then what did you do?
WILSON
I went to the office in the next building, and I asked the man, 'What happened to the Red-Headed League?' 'Who are they?' he asked. 'Who is the man at number 7?' I asked. 'The man with the red hair?' he said. 'His name is William Morris. He moved out yesterday. He has new offices at 17 King Edward Street.' Well, I went to King Edward Street, Mr Holmes.
HOLMES
You did not find a Mr William Morris or a Mr Duncan Ross. Am I right?
WILSON
You are!
HOLMES
What did you do then?
WILSON
I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square.
HOLMES
What does Spaulding say about all this?
WILSON
He says, 'Wait for a letter. You're going to hear something.'
HOLMES
What do you think?
WILSON
I need your help, I think.
HOLMES
You are right, Mr Wilson. I am happy to help you. But first I want to ask you one or two questions. Mr Spaulding was the first to see the advertisement. Yes?
WILSON
Yes.
HOLMES
When did he begin to work for you?
WILSON
About three months ago.
HOLMES
How did he come?
WILSON
He answered an advertisement in the newspaper.
HOLMES
Was he the only man to answer it?
WILSON
No, twelve people answered it.
HOLMES
Why did you take him?
WILSON
Because he was cheap.
HOLMES
He is happy to work for half the usual wages.
WILSON
Yes.
HOLMES
Tell me about him, this Vincent Spaulding.
WILSON
He's small, and a good, quick worker. He's about thirty years old, I think.
HOLMES
Where is he now?
WILSON
He's at the shop.
HOLMES
That is all, Mr Wilson. Today is Saturday. I am going to have an answer for you before Monday.
WILSON
Thank you, Mr Holmes.
Watson goes out with Wilson. Holmes walks up and down, thinking. A minute later, Watson comes back.
HOLMES
We must work quickly, Watson. Put on your hat. We're going to Saxe-Coburg Square.
SCENE 4
Holmes meets Spaulding
Outside the shop in Saxe-Coburg Square. Holmes is walking up and down. Now and then he hits the ground outside the shop with his walking stick. Then he hits the door of the shop. Spaulding opens the shop door and looks out. The legs of his trousers are dirty.
SPAULDING
Can I help you?
HOLMES
Yes. How can I get to the Strand?
SPAULDING
Third on the right, and fourth on the left.
He gets back into the shop and closes the door.
HOLMES
He's a clever young man, Watson.
WATSON
He is? Why did you ask about the Strand? You know London very well! You wanted to see him.
Holmes hits the ground outside the shop with his walking stick.
HOLMES
Not him. His trousers.
WATSON
His trousers? I don't understand. And why did you hit the ground with your stick?
HOLMES
My dear Doctor, this is not the time for talking. I must go and look at the roads behind Saxe-Coburg Square. Are you going to your work?
WATSON
Yes, I must go to the hospital.
HOLMES
I have things to do too. But I want your help tonight. Come at 10 o'clock. And Watson—
WATSON
Yes, Holmes?
HOLMES
Bring your gun.
SCENE 5
To catch a thief
Sherlock Holmes's room. Holmes, Jones and Merryweather are talking quietly. Watson comes in.
HOLMES
Watson, you know Mr Jones of Scotland Yard. And this is Mr Merryweather. They're coming with us tonight.
JONES
Hello, Doctor. We meet again. I'm here because I want to catch John Clay. He's a killer and a thief, one of the worst men in London. It isn't going to be easy to catch him, because he's very clever.
He's a killer and a thief.'
HOLMES
It's after ten o'clock. We must go.
They all leave the room.
SCENE 6
Watching and waiting
Inside the bank strong-room. There are boxes on the floor. It is dark. The door opens and Holmes comes in, carrying a light. Watson, Jones and Merryweather come after him. Holmes looks carefully at the floor. Merryweather sits on a box and hits the floor with his foot.
MERRYWEATHER
How do you know—?
HOLMES
Please, no noise! Perhaps they can hear us!
JONES
How long before—?
HOLMES
An hour. They are going to wait for Mr Wilson to go to bed, then work quickly, I think. (To Watson) We're in the strong-room of the First Bank. Did you know that? Mr Merryweather works for the bank. Tell Watson, Mr Merryweather. What do the thieves want?
MERRYWEATHER
Our gold. It's in all these boxes. Lots and lots of it!
WATSON
Gold!
HOLMES
We must wait in the dark. Get behind the boxes, everyone. Things are going to happen in the next hour, I think. When I hear or see anything strange, I'm going to come out quickly with a light, and then you must help me. Be ready with your gun, Watson. Is everything ready upstairs, Mr Jones?
JONES
My men are waiting at the front door of the bank, Holmes. They can't get out there.
HOLMES
Good. Now we must be quiet and wait.
He puts out the light. The strong-room is dark, but we can see the men waiting behind the boxes. Nothing happens. Watson looks at his watch.
WATSON
(Quietly) It's 11.15, Holmes. When—?
HOLMES
Sahh!
They are all quiet for nearly a minute. Then we see a light coming through the floor. Suddenly the ground opens. First a hand with a gun comes out, and then Spaulding puts his other hand out. We watch him and Ross come out.
SPAULDING
(To Ross) Now, have you got—?
With his light, Holmes comes out from behind his box, and catches Spaulding.
SPAULDING
What—!
Ross quickly gets back into the tunnel. Jones wants to stop him, but he cannot. Holmes hits Spaulding's arm. Now the gun is on the ground.
HOLMES
You can't get away, John Clay!
SPAULDING
No. But my friend—
HOLMES
There are three men waiting for him at the front door of the bank.
SPAULDING
You think of everything, Mr Holmes. You're very clever.
Holmes comes out from behind his box...
HOLMES
Your Red-Headed League was clever, too. But I am pleased to catch the famous John Clay!
SCENE 7
Holmes and Watson
Sherlock Holmes's room. Holmes and Watson are sitting in chairs. Holmes is smoking his pipe.
HOLMES
They needed the Red-Headed League to get Mr Wilson out of his shop. Do you understand that?
WATSON
Yes. I think – er – yes.
HOLMES
They wanted Wilson away from the shop for some hours every day. But how could they do it? Then Clay saw the colour of Ross's hair – and thought of a 'Red-Headed League'! When Wilson answered their newspaper advertisement, he went to work in their office every day. Then they had time to make their tunnel. Very clever!
WATSON
So Spaulding is John Clay, the famous thief. When did you first know that?
HOLMES
Spaulding was happy to work for half-wages. 'Why?' I thought. Spaulding often went down to the cellar. 'What's he doing down there?' I thought. Suddenly, I thought about tunnels! 'Is Spaulding making a tunnel?' I thought. 'To another building?' Watson, you saw me hitting the ground with my stick, outside the shop.
... and catches Spaulding.
WATSON
Yes... now I understand. Was the cellar in front of the shop? You wanted to know that.
HOLMES
Yes, I did. And it wasn't. The cellar was behind the shop. Then I saw the man 'Spaulding'. Did you see his trousers?
WATSON
Er – yes, I saw them.
HOLMES
They were dirty, Watson! Why? Because making a tunnel is dirty work!
WATSON
Very clever, Holmes!
HOLMES
Then I went into the next street, at the back of the shop. And what did I see? The First Bank!
WATSON
The bank, yes! Of course.
HOLMES
Why is that young man making a tunnel?' I thought. 'To get into the bank strong-room!'
WATSON
But why tonight? How did you know—?
HOLMES
Because they closed the offices of the Red-Headed League. 'The tunnel must be ready,' I thought. And Saturday is a good day. The bank does not open on Sunday. Two days for the thieves to get away.
WATSON
(Laughing) But they didn't get away, Holmes. You're very clever.
HOLMES
(Not laughing) That's very true, Watson.
advertisement n. a notice in a newspaper to tell you about something(e. g. a job) 广告
wages n. the money someone pays you for doing a job 工资，工钱
copy v. write or draw something to look like another thing 抄写
strange adj. surprising or not usual 奇怪的
lock v. (locked adj.) close something with a key 锁上
thief n. (thieves plural) someone who steals things from another person or place 小偷
strong-room n. an underground room in a bank where money and gold are kept safely 保险库
tunnel n. an underground way from one place to another 地道
第一场
一则有趣的广告
威尔逊的店铺里。这是家小店铺，摆着钟表、绘画和手表之类的东西。威尔逊正坐在桌前写东西。文森特·斯波尔丁在看《纪事晨报》。
斯波尔丁：
这个有点儿意思。
威尔逊：
是什么？
斯波尔丁：
这则广告。威尔逊先生您应该会对广告感兴趣，因为您长着红头发。
威尔逊：
（看着斯波尔丁）说下去。
斯波尔丁：
红发会在征寻新会员。你听说过这家协会吗？听着啊。（念报纸）“致所有年满二十一岁的红发男性——红发会目前欲征觅新会员一人。周薪四镑，工作轻松。有意者请于周一上午十一点前往伦敦舰队街波普斯巷7号红发会办公室应征。”（对威尔逊说）你一年可以挣二百镑呢！
威尔逊：
真的吗？给我讲讲这家协会的事。
斯波尔丁：
美国一个红头发阔佬创建了这个协会。他去世时留了很多钱给红发会，用于向红头发的男人提供轻松的工作。给的钱很多，要做的事却很少。你干吗不去波普斯巷试试呢？
威尔逊：
可是肯定得有几百万红头发的男人去吧，而且——
斯波尔丁：
没有几百万那么多。应征者得住在伦敦。
威尔逊：
很难说……
斯波尔丁：
而且头发必须非常红才行。您的头发就非常红啊，威尔逊先生。
威尔逊：
星期一……十一点……？
斯波尔丁：
今天就是星期一啊，而且快到十一点了！走吧！
第二场
威尔逊的好差事
位于波普斯巷的办公室——房间里只摆着一张桌子和两把椅子。邓肯·罗斯，一位头发鲜红的男子，坐在桌子后面。观众可以听到外面街上人声鼎沸。
罗斯：
下一个！
门开了，斯波尔丁和威尔逊走了进来。罗斯看了威尔逊一眼，一下子兴奋起来。
斯波尔丁：
这位是杰贝兹·威尔逊先生，他想加入贵协会。（罗斯站起来，走过桌子迎接他们。）
罗斯：
他的头发可真不错。我还真没见过这么漂亮的红头发呢！（他突然伸出一只手揪住了威尔逊的头发。）
威尔逊：
啊——！住手！
罗斯：
很抱歉，但是我们必须得谨慎从事。这确实是您自己的头发，我现在可以确定了。请坐。
罗斯重新坐回桌子后面。
威尔逊坐在另一把椅子上，斯波尔丁站在他身后。
罗斯：
我叫邓肯·罗斯。你结婚了吗，威尔逊先生？有孩子吗？
威尔逊：
没有，我没有娶妻成家。
罗斯：
天哪！我们协会里有些人生了一大堆红头发的孩子。我们喜欢这样。
威尔逊：
很抱歉，可我——
罗斯：
没关系。你有一头漂亮的头发。你什么时候可以来这儿上班？
威尔逊：
这可不太好办。我自己有家店，而且——
斯波尔丁：
我可以留在店里照应，威尔逊先生。
威尔逊：
我的上班时间是怎样的呢？
罗斯：
早上十点到下午两点。
威尔逊：
薪酬呢？
罗斯：
一周四镑。
威尔逊：
做些什么呢？
罗斯：
你必须来这里上班，一直待在办公室里。这很重要。上午十点到下午两点之间你不可以溜号儿。
威尔逊：
工作内容呢？
罗斯：
你要照着这本厚厚的书抄写，还要自己带纸和笔来。你明天能开始上班吗？
威尔逊：
是的，可以。
罗斯：
（微笑着）那么再见吧，杰贝兹·威尔逊先生。
威尔逊和斯波尔丁离开了办公室。
第三场
威尔逊自述
歇洛克·福尔摩斯的房间。福尔摩斯和威尔逊坐在椅子上。福尔摩斯抽着烟斗，威尔逊手上拿着《纪事晨报》。
福尔摩斯：
非常有意思，威尔逊先生。非常有意思。
门开了，华生走了进来。
华生：
福尔摩斯，不好意思！我不知道——
福尔摩斯：
进来吧，亲爱的华生！这位是杰贝兹·威尔逊先生。他正跟我讲一个奇特的故事。（对威尔逊）这位是华生医生，我的好朋友。把那则广告给他看看。
威尔逊把报纸递给了华生。
福尔摩斯：
他做了不少抄写的工作，华生。你看出来了吗？
威尔逊：
啊！您怎么知道的，福尔摩斯先生？
福尔摩斯：
你大衣右边的袖子跟左边的不一样。你写字的时候胳膊是放在桌子上的呀。
威尔逊：
（大笑）是啊，正是这样！
华生：
（读完报纸，看着福尔摩斯）这非常奇怪啊，福尔摩斯。
福尔摩斯：
（看起来很兴奋）确实奇怪，是吧？你留意报纸的日期了吗？
华生：
这是1890年4月27日的《纪事晨报》。两个月以前的。
福尔摩斯：
那么，威尔逊先生，给我们讲讲你店里的情况吧。
威尔逊：
我的店在萨克森-科堡广场，福尔摩斯先生。店不大，也不怎么挣钱。
福尔摩斯：
店里有什么帮手吗？
威尔逊：
有，是一个小伙子。噢，他其实也不太年轻了，不过他只要一半的薪水。
福尔摩斯：
是吗！他叫什么名字？
威尔逊：
文森特·斯波尔丁。他活儿干得不错。不干活儿的时候他喜欢拍照片。他在我那黑咕隆咚的地窖里冲洗照片。不过，他在店里上班的时候表现都很好。
福尔摩斯：
你最先是怎么看到报上的广告的？跟我们说说。
威尔逊：
是斯波尔丁看到的，就在八个星期之前，后来我们就去波普斯巷见了邓肯·罗斯先生。刚才我跟您讲了见面的情况……
福尔摩斯：
是的，是的，我稍后告诉华生。后来又发生了什么？
威尔逊：
哦，我当时非常开心，福尔摩斯先生。我满心欢喜地回了家。可是那天晚上我回头重新琢磨了这件事。“对一个男人来说，抄书实在是一份古怪的工作。”我心想。
华生：
确实非常奇怪，没错。
威尔逊：
但是第二天我还是带着纸笔去了波普斯巷。罗斯先生在那儿，但他不久就离开了，我便开始干我的活儿。
福尔摩斯：
后来呢？
威尔逊：
我每天早上十点去，下午两点回家。到了周六，罗斯又回到办公室来，付给我四英镑。
福尔摩斯：
你在那里工作了多久？
威尔逊：
八个星期。但是今天上午十点我去办公室的时候，门上了锁。（他从大衣里掏出一张纸递给福尔摩斯。）这个贴在门上。
福尔摩斯：
（念）“红发会业已解散。1890年6月23日。”后来你做了什么呢？
威尔逊：
我去了隔壁大楼的办公室，问那里的人：“红发会出了什么事？”“谁是红发会？”“7号房间的那个人是谁？”我问。“那个红头发的男人吗？”他说，“他叫威廉·莫里斯，昨天搬走了。他在爱德华国王大街17号有新的办公室了。”于是，我就去了爱德华国王大街，福尔摩斯先生。
福尔摩斯：
你既没有找到威廉·莫里斯先生，也没有找到邓肯·罗斯先生。我说得对吗？
威尔逊：
说得没错！
福尔摩斯：
后来你又做了什么呢？
威尔逊：
我回到萨克森-科堡广场的家。
福尔摩斯：
斯波尔丁怎么评价这事？
威尔逊：
他说：“等等看有没有信来。您会听到消息的。”
福尔摩斯：
你怎么想呢？
威尔逊：
我觉得我需要您帮帮我。
福尔摩斯：
说得对，威尔逊先生。我很乐意帮你。但是我得先问你一两个问题。是斯波尔丁最先看到广告的，对吧？
威尔逊：
对。
福尔摩斯：
他是什么时候开始为你工作的呢？
威尔逊：
大概三个月前。
福尔摩斯：
他是怎么来的？
威尔逊：
他是看到我在报纸上登的广告后来应征的。
福尔摩斯：
只有他一个来应征吗？
威尔逊：
不是，有十二个人来。
福尔摩斯：
你为什么选他呢？
威尔逊：
因为他要价便宜。
福尔摩斯：
他乐意只拿一半的工资。
威尔逊：
是的。
福尔摩斯：
跟我说说这个文森特·斯波尔丁吧。
威尔逊：
他个子不大，干活不错，手脚麻利。我觉得他大概有三十岁上下。
福尔摩斯：
他现在在哪儿呢？
威尔逊：
在店里。
福尔摩斯：
我问完了，威尔逊先生。今天是周六，我周一之前应该能给你一个答复。
威尔逊：
谢谢您，福尔摩斯先生。
华生陪威尔逊走了出去。福尔摩斯踱来踱去，陷入深思。没一会儿，华生回来了。
福尔摩斯：
我们得赶快行动，华生。戴上帽子，我们去萨克森-科堡广场。
第四场
福尔摩斯见到了斯波尔丁
萨克森-科堡广场的店铺外，福尔摩斯走来走去，不时用手杖敲打店铺外的地面。之后他敲了敲店门。斯波尔丁打开门向外张望，他的裤腿脏了。
斯波尔丁：
有事吗？
福尔摩斯：
哦，请问到斯特兰德大街怎么走？
斯波尔丁：
第三个路口右转，然后第四个路口左转。
他回到店里关上了门。
福尔摩斯：
他是个聪明的年轻人，华生。
华生：
是吗？你为什么要问斯特兰德大街怎么走呢？你对伦敦很熟悉呀！你是想见见他吧。
福尔摩斯：
不是见他，是看看他的裤子。
华生：
裤子？我不明白。还有，你为什么要用手杖敲打地面呢？
福尔摩斯：
我亲爱的医生，现在不是聊天的时候。我得去看看萨克森-科堡广场后面的街道。你要去工作了吗？
华生：
是的，我得去医院了。
福尔摩斯：
我也有事要去忙了。不过今晚我需要你帮忙，十点来吧。对了，华生——
华生：
什么事，福尔摩斯？
福尔摩斯：
带上你的枪来。
第五场
抓贼
歇洛克·福尔摩斯的房间。福尔摩斯、琼斯和梅里韦瑟正小声交谈。华生进来了。
福尔摩斯：
华生，你认识苏格兰场的琼斯先生吧。这位是梅里韦瑟先生。他们今晚要跟我们一起行动。
琼斯：
你好，医生，又见面了。我今天来是为了抓约翰·克莱，他是杀人犯，又是窃贼，算得上伦敦最坏的人之一。要抓住他可不容易，这家伙很聪明。
福尔摩斯：
十点多了，我们得动手了。
他们一起离开了房间。
第六场
静观其变
银行的保险库里，地上堆着些箱子，光线昏暗。门开了，福尔摩斯提着一盏灯走进来，华生、琼斯和梅里韦瑟跟在身后。福尔摩斯仔细地察看地面，梅里韦瑟坐在一个箱子上用脚敲打着地面。
梅里韦瑟：
您怎么知道——
福尔摩斯：
请别出声！他们可能会听到我们说话！
琼斯：
还要多久才——
福尔摩斯：
一个小时。我想，他们得等到威尔逊先生上床睡觉以后才会迅速动手。（对华生）现在我们在第一银行的保险库里。你之前知道吗？梅里韦瑟先生在这家银行工作。告诉华生，梅里韦瑟先生，这些窃贼想偷什么？
梅里韦瑟：
我们的金子。所有的箱子里都是——大把大把的金子。
华生：
金子！
福尔摩斯：
我们必须在黑暗中等待。大家藏到那些箱子后面去，我估计一个小时内就会出现情况了。一旦我听到或者发现什么异常的状况，就会拿着灯迅速冲出去，接下来你们必须给我帮把手。把枪准备好，华生。楼上一切就绪了吗，琼斯先生？
琼斯：
我的手下在银行前门守着呢，福尔摩斯。他们不可能从那里逃出去。
福尔摩斯：
好。现在我们必须安静地等待。
福尔摩斯把灯熄灭。保险库里一片昏暗，但是箱子后面躲着的人依稀可见。什么动静也没有。华生看了看手表。
华生：
（小声地说）十一点一刻了，福尔摩斯。什么时候——
福尔摩斯：
嘘！
他们安静了不到一分钟，一道光就从地下透出来。突然，地板翻开了。先是伸出来一只拿枪的手，接着斯波尔丁把另外一只手也伸出来。他和罗斯爬了出来。
斯波尔丁：
（对罗斯）哎，你有——
福尔摩斯提着灯从藏身的箱子后面跳出来抓住了斯波尔丁。
斯波尔丁：
什么——！
罗斯飞快地逃回地道。琼斯试图阻拦他，却没能成功。福尔摩斯击打斯波尔丁的手臂，把枪打落到了地上。
福尔摩斯：
你跑不了的，约翰·克莱！
斯波尔丁：
我是跑不了，可我的朋友——
福尔摩斯：
银行前门有三个人等着他呢。
斯波尔丁：
你把一切都考虑到了，福尔摩斯先生。你非常有头脑。
福尔摩斯：
你那红发会的主意也很高明。不过，能抓住大名鼎鼎的约翰·克莱我很高兴！
第七场
福尔摩斯和华生
歇洛克·福尔摩斯的房间。福尔摩斯和华生坐在椅子上，福尔摩斯抽着烟斗。
福尔摩斯：
他们需要利用红发会让威尔逊先生离开店铺。你明白了吧？
华生：
是的，我想——哦——是的。
福尔摩斯：
他们希望威尔逊先生每天都能离开店铺几个小时，但是他们怎么才能做到呢？这时克莱注意到罗斯的发色——于是想出了“红发会”这个主意！威尔逊应征了他们在报上登的广告后，每天都去他们的办公室上班，这样他们就有时间挖地道了。真是聪明啊！
华生：
那么斯波尔丁就是大盗约翰·克莱啦。你最早什么时候知道这个的？
福尔摩斯：
斯波尔丁愿意拿一半的薪水干活儿。“为什么呢？”我想。斯波尔丁经常到地窖去。“他在那儿干什么呢？”我想。突然，我想到了地道！“斯波尔丁是不是在挖地道呢？”我想，“挖到另外一座建筑物里去？”华生，你看到我用手杖敲打店铺外面的地面来着。
华生：
是的……现在我明白了。地窖是在店铺的前面吗？你是想弄清楚这一点吧。
福尔摩斯：
是的。地窖并不在前面，而是在店铺后面。然后我见到了“斯波尔丁”其人。你注意到他的裤子了吗？
华生：
嗯——是的，我注意到了。
福尔摩斯：
裤子脏兮兮的，华生！为什么？因为挖地道就是个脏活儿啊！
华生：
真聪明啊，福尔摩斯！
福尔摩斯：
然后我去了店铺后面的那条街。我看到了什么呢？第一银行！
华生：
银行，是啊！那当然了。
福尔摩斯：
那个年轻人为什么要挖地道？”我想，“是为了进入银行的保险库！”
华生：
可为什么就在今晚呢？你怎么知道——？
福尔摩斯：
因为他们把红发会的办公室给关了。“地道一定是挖好了。”我想。而且周六是个好日子，银行周日不营业，有两天时间让这些贼逃跑。
华生：
（大笑）可他们没跑成啊，福尔摩斯。你真是聪明！
福尔摩斯：
（没有笑）这是句大实话，华生。
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