While he was confined to his bed, under the care of the elderly Jewess who customarily “did for him “, my daily procedure was, when I had shut up the shop, to carry the contents of the till with the day-book to his bedroom that he might compare them and check the day’s takings; and it was on one of these occasions, when he was beginning to mend, that the change in my prospects2 came into view.
“I have been thinking about you, Nat,” said he. “You’re an industrious3 lad, and you’ve done your duty by me since I’ve been ill, and I think I ought to do something for you in return. Now, you’re set on being a clock-maker4, but you can’t get into the trade without serving an apprenticeship5 in the regular way. Supposing I were willing to take you on as my apprentice6, how would you like that?”
I jumped at the offer, but suggested that there might be difficulties about the premium7.
“There wouldn’t be any premium,” said he. “I should give you your indentures9 free and pay the lawyer’s charges. Think it over, Nat, and see what your uncle and aunt have to say about it.”
It didn’t require much thinking over on my part, nor, when I arrived home in triumph and announced my good fortune, was there any difference of opinion as to the practical issue, though the respective views were differently expressed. Uncle Sam thought it “rather handsome of the old chap” (Mr. Abraham was about fifty-five), but Aunt Judy was inclined to sniff10.
“He hasn’t done badly all these months,” said she, “with a competent journeyman for five shillings a week; and he’d be pretty well up a tree if Nat left him to get another job. Oh, he knows which side his bread’s buttered.”
There may have been some truth in Aunt Judy’s comment, but I thought there was more wisdom in old Mr. Gollidge’s contribution to the debate.
“It may be a good bargain for Mr. Abraham,” said he, “but that don’t make it a worse bargain for Nat. It’s best that both parties should be suited.”
In effect, it was agreed that the offer should be accepted; and when I conveyed this decision to Mr. Abraham, the necessary arrangements were carried through forthwith. The indentures were drawn12 up, on Mr. Abraham’s instructions, by his solicitor13, a Mr. Cohen, who brought them to the shop by appointment; and when they had been submitted to and approved by Aunt Judy, they were duly signed by both parties on a small piece of board laid on the invalid’s bed, and I was then and there formally bound apprentice for the term of seven years to “the said David Abraham hereinafter called the Master”, who, for his part, undertook to instruct me in the art and mystery of clock-making. I need not recite the terms of the indenture8 in detail, but I think Aunt Judy found them unexpectedly liberal. To my surprise, I was to be given board and lodging14; I was to receive five shillings a week for the first year and my wages were to increase by half-a-crown annually15, so that in my last year I should be receiving the full wage of a junior journeyman, or improver.
These were great advantages; for henceforth not only would Aunt Judy be relieved of the cost of maintaining me, but she would now have an additional room to dispose of profitably. But beyond these material benefits there were others that I appreciated even more. Now, as an apprentice, I was entitled to instruction in that part of the “art and mystery” which was concerned with the purchase of stock and material. It is true that, at the time, I did not fully16 realize the glorious possibilities contained in this provision. Only when, a week or so later, Mr. Abraham (hereinafter called the Master) was sufficiently17 recovered to descend18 to the shop, did they begin to dawn on me.
“We seem to be getting short of material,” said he after an exploratory browse19 round the workshop. “I am not well enough to go out yet, so you’ll have to run down to Clerkenwell and get the stuff. We’d better draw up a list of what we want.”
We made out the list together, and then “the Master” gave me the addresses of the various dealers20 with full directions as to the route, adding, as I prepared to set forth11: “Don’t be any longer than you can help, Nat. I’m still feeling a bit shaky.”
The truth of the latter statement was so evident that I felt morally compelled to curtail21 my explorations to the utmost that was possible. But it was a severe trial. For as I hurried along Clerkenwell Road I found myself in a veritable Tom Tiddler’s Ground. By sheer force of will, I had to drag myself past those amazing shop windows that displayed — better and more precious than gold and silver — all the wonders of the clock-maker’s art. I hardly dared to look at them. But even the hasty glance that I stole as I hurried past gave me an indelible picture of those unbelievable treasures that I can recall to this day. I see them now, though the years have made familiar the subjects of that first, ecstatic, impression: the entrancing tools and gauges22, bench-drills and wheel-cutters, the lovely little watch maker’s lathe23, fairer to me than the Rose of Sharon or the Lily of the Valley, the polishing heads with their buffs and brushes, the assembled movements, and the noble regulator with its quicksilver pendulum24, dealing25 with seconds as common clocks do with hours. I felt that I could have spent eternity26 in that blessed street.
However, my actual business, though it was but with dealers in “sundries”, gave me the opportunity for more leisured observations. Besides Clerkenwell Road, it carried me to St. John’s Gate and Clerkenwell Green; from which, at last, I tore myself away and set forth at top speed towards Holborn to catch the omnibus for Regent Circus (now, by the way, called Oxford27 Circus). But all the way, as my carriage rumbled28 sleepily westward29, the vision of those Aladdin caves floated before my eyes and haunted me until I entered the little shop and dismissed my master to his easy-chair in the sitting — room. Then I unpacked30 my parcels, distributed their contents in the proper receptacles, put away the precious price-lists that I had collected for future study, and set about the ordinary business of the day.
I do not propose to follow in detail the course of my life as Mr. Abraham’s apprentice. There would, in deed, be little enough to record; for the days and months slipped by unreckoned, spent with placid31 contentment in the work which was a pleasure to do and a satisfaction when done. But apart from the fact that there would be so little to tell, the mere32 circumstances of my life are not the actual subject of this history. Its purpose is, as I have explained, to trace the antecedents of certain events which occurred many years later when I was able to put my finger on the one crucial fact that was necessary to disclose the nature and authorship of a very singular crime. With the discovery of that crime, the foregoing chapters have had at least some connection; and in what follows I shall confine myself to incidents that were parts of the same train of causation.
Of these, the first was concerned with my Uncle Sam. By birth he was a Kentish man, and he had served his time in a small workshop at Maidstone, conducted by a certain James Wright. When his apprenticeship had come to an end, he had migrated to London; but he had always kept in touch with his old master and paid him occasional visits. Now, about the end of my third year, Mr. Wright, who was getting too old to carry on alone, had offered to take him into partnership33; and the offer being obviously advantageous34, Uncle Sam had accepted and forthwith made preparations for the move.
It was a severe blow to me, and I think also to Aunt Judy. For though I had taken up my abode35 with Mr. Abraham, hardly an evening had passed which did not see me seated in the familiar kitchen (but not in my original chair) facing the old Dutch clock and listening to old Mr. Gollidge’s interminable yarns36. That kitchen had still been my home as it had been since my infancy37. I had still been a member, not only of the family, but of the household, absent, like Uncle Sam, only during working hours. But henceforth I should have no home — for Mr. Abraham’s house was a mere lodging; no family circle, and, worst of all, no Aunt Judy.
It was a dismal38 prospect1. With a sinking heart I watched the preparations for the departure and counted the days as they slid past, all too quickly; and when the last of the sands had run out and I stood on the platform with my eyes fixed39 on the receding40 train, from a window of which Aunt Judy’s arm protruded41, waving her damp handkerchief, I felt as might have felt some marooned42 mariner43 following with despairing gaze the hull44 of his ship sinking below the horizon. As the train disappeared round a curve, I turned away and could have blubbered aloud; but I was now a young man of sixteen, and a railway station is not a suitable place for the display of the emotions.
But in the days that followed, my condition was very desolate45 and lonely; and yet, as I can now see, viewing events with a retrospective eye, this shattering misfortune was for my ultimate good. Indeed, it yielded certain immediate46 benefits. For, casting about for some way of disposing of the solitary47 evenings, I discovered an institution known as the Working Men’s College, then occupying a noble old house in Great Ormond Street; whereby it came about that the homely48 kitchen was replaced by austere49 but pleasant class rooms, and the voice of old Mr. Gollidge recounting the mutiny on the Mar’ Jane by those of friendly young graduates explaining the principles of algebra50 and geometry, of applied51 mechanics and machine — drawing.
The next incident, trivial as it will appear in the telling, had an even more profound effect in the shaping of my destiny; indeed, but for that trifling52 occurrence, this history could never have been written. So I proceed without further apologies.
On a certain morning at the beginning of the fourth year of my apprenticeship, my master and I were in the shop together reviewing the stock when a rather irate-looking elderly gentleman entered, and, fixing a truculent53 eye on Mr. Abraham, demanded:
“Do you know anything about equatorial clocks?” Now, I suspect that Mr. Abraham had never heard of an equatorial clock, all his experience having been in the ordinary trade. But it would never do to say so. Accordingly he temporized54.
“Well, sir, they don’t, naturally, come my way very often. Were you wanting to purchase one?”
“No, I wasn’t, but I’ve got one that needs some slight repair or adjustment. I am a maker of philosophical55 instruments and I have had an equatorial sent to me for overhaul56. But the clock won’t budge57; won’t start at all. Now, clocks are not philosophical instruments and I don’t pretend to know anything about ’em. Can you come round and see what’s the matter with the thing?”
This was, for me, a rather disturbing question. For our visitor was none other than the gentleman who had accused me of having stolen his pocket-book. I had recognized him at the first glance as he entered, and had retired58 discreetly59 into the background lest he should recognize me. But now I foresaw that I should be dragged forth into the light of day. And so it befell.
“I am afraid,” Mr. Abraham said, apologetically, “that I can’t leave my business just at the moment. But my assistant can come round with you and see what is wrong with your equa — with your clock.”
Our customer looked at me, disparagingly60, and my heart sank. But either I had changed more than I had supposed in the five years that had elapsed, or the gentleman’s eyesight was not very acute (it turned out that he was distinctly near-sighted). At any rate, he showed no sign of recognition, but merely replied gruffly: “I don’t want any boys monkeying about with that clock. Can’t you come yourself?”
“I am afraid I really can’t. But my assistant is a perfectly61 competent workman, and I take full responsibility for what he does.”
The customer grunted62 and scowled63 at me.
“Very well,” he said, with a very bad grace. “I hope he’s better than he looks. Can you come with me now?”
I replied that I could; and, having collected from the workshop the few tools that I was likely to want, I went forth with him, keeping slightly in the rear and as far as possible out of his field of view. But, to my relief, he took no notice of me, trudging64 on doggedly65 and looking straight before him.
We had not far to go, for, when we had passed half way down a quiet street in the neighbourhood of Oxford Market, he halted at a door distinguished66 by a brass67 plate bearing the inscription68, “W. Parrish, Philosophical Instrument Maker,”, and, inserting a latch-key, admitted himself and me. Still ignoring my existence, he walked down a long passage ending in what looked like a garden door but which, when he opened it, proved to be the entrance to a large workshop in which were a lathe and several fitted benches, but, at the moment, no human occupants other than ourselves.
“There,” said he, addressing me for the first time, but still not looking at me, “that’s the clock. Just have a look at it, and mind you don’t do any damage. I’ve got a letter to write, but I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
With this he took himself off, much to my satisfaction, and I proceeded forthwith to make a preliminary inspection69. The “patient” was a rather large telescope mounted on a cast-iron equatorial stand. I had never seen an equatorial before except in the form of a book-illustration, but from this I was able easily to recognize the parts and also the clock, which was perched on the iron base with its winding-handle within reach of the observer. This handle I tried, but found it fully wound (it was a spring-driven clock, fitted with governor balls and a fly, or fan), and I then proceeded to take off the loose wooden case so as to expose the movement. A leisurely70 inspection of this disclosed nothing structurally71 amiss, but it had an appearance suggesting long disuse and was desperately72 in need of cleaning.
Suspecting that the trouble was simply dirt and dry pivots73, I produced from my bag a little bottle of clock — oil and an oiler and delicately applied a small drop of the lubricant to the empty and dry oil-sinks and to every point that was exposed to friction74. Then I gave the ball-governor a cautious turn or two, whereupon my diagnosis75 was immediately confirmed; for the governor, after a few sluggish76 revolutions as the oil worked into the bearings, started off in earnest, spinning cheerfully and in an obviously normal fashion.
This was highly satisfactory. But now my curiosity was aroused as to the exact effect of the clock on the telescope. The former was geared by means of a long spindle to the right ascension circle, and on this was a little microscope mounted opposite the index. To the eyepiece of this microscope I applied my eye, and was thrilled to observe the scale of the circle creeping almost imperceptibly past the vernier. It was a great experience. I had read of these things in the optical text books, but here was this delightful77 mechanism78 made real and active before my very eyes. I was positively79 en tranced as I watched that slow, majestic80 motion; in fact I was so preoccupied81 that I was unaware82 of Mr. Parrish’s reentry until I heard his voice; when I sprang up with a guilty start.
“Well,” he demanded, gruffly, “have you found out — Oh, but I see you have.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, eagerly, “it’s running quite well now, and the right ascension circle is turning freely, though, of course, I haven’t timed it.”
“Ho, you haven’t, hey?” said he. “Hm. Seem to know all about it, young fellow. What was the matter with the clock?”
“It only wanted a little adjustment,” I replied, evasively, for I didn’t like to tell him that it was only a matter of oil. “But,” I added, “it really ought to be taken to pieces and thoroughly83 cleaned.”
“Ha!” said he, “I’ll let the owner do that. If it goes, that is all that matters to me. You can tell your master to send me the bill.”
He still spoke84 gruffly, but there was a subtle change in his manner. Evidently, my rapid performance had impressed him, and I thought it best to take the undeserved credit though I was secretly astonished that he, a practical craftsman85, had not been able to do the job himself.
But I had impressed him more than I realized at the time. In fact, he had formed a ridiculously excessive estimate of my abilities, as I discovered some weeks later when he brought a watch to our shop to be cleaned and regulated, and stipulated86 that I should do the work myself “and not let the old fellow meddle87 with it”. I assured him that Mr. Abraham (who was fortunately absent) was a really skilful88 watchmaker, but he only grunted incredulously.
“I want the job done properly,” he insisted, “and I want you to do it yourself.”
Evidently Mr. Abraham’s evasions89 in the matter of equatorial clocks had been noted90 and had made an unfavourable impression. It was unreasonable91 — but Mr. Parrish was an unreasonable man — and, like most unreasonable beliefs, it was unshakable. Nor did he make any secret of his opinion when, on subsequent occasions during the next few months, he brought in various little repairs and renovations and sometimes interviewed my principal. For Mr. Parrish had no false delicacy92 — nor very much of any other kind. But Mr. Abraham took no offence. He knew (as Aunt Judy had observed) which side his bread was buttered; and as he was coming more and more to rely on me, he was willing enough that my merits should be recognized.
So, through those months, my relations with Mr. Parrish continued to grow closer and my future to shape itself invisibly. Little did I guess at the kind of grist that the Mills of God were grinding.
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1
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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indenture
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| n.契约；合同 | |
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indentures
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| vt.以契约束缚（indenture的第三人称单数形式） | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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browse
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| vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草 | |
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dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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gauges
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| n.规格( gauge的名词复数 )；厚度；宽度；标准尺寸v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的第三人称单数 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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lathe
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| n.车床，陶器，镟床 | |
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pendulum
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| n.摆，钟摆 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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westward
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unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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marooned
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| adj.被围困的；孤立无援的；无法脱身的 | |
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mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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algebra
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| n.代数学 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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temporized
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| v.敷衍( temporize的过去式和过去分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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disparagingly
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| adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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structurally
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| 在结构上 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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pivots
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| n.枢( pivot的名词复数 )；最重要的人（或事物）；中心；核心v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的第三人称单数 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
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friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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diagnosis
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| n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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craftsman
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| n.技工，精于一门工艺的匠人 | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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evasions
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| 逃避( evasion的名词复数 )； 回避； 遁辞； 借口 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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