“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.’


“‘It’s only four hours a day, and I should not think of

leaving,’ said I.


“‘No excuse will avail,’ said Mr. Duncan Ross;

‘neither sickness nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or

you lose your billet.’


“‘And the work?’


“‘Is to copy out the Encyclopædia Britannica. There is the

first volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and

blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ready

to-morrow?’


“‘Certainly,’ I answered.


“‘Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate