not seem to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn came

the little man was much 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 backward, 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.’