"What on earth does this mean？" I ejaculated after I had twice readover the extraordinary announcement.
Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair， as was his habit when inhigh spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track， isnt it？" said he. "And now，Mr. Wilson， offyou go at scratch and tell us all about yourself， your house-hold， and the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. Youwill first make a note， Doctor， of the paper and the date."
"It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27， 1890. Just two months ago."
"Very good. Now， Mr. Wilson？"
"Well， it is just as I have been telling you， Mr. Sherlock Holmes，"said Jabez Wilson， mopping his forehead; "I have a small pawnbrokersbusiness at Coburg Square， near the City. Its not a very large affair， and oflate years it has not done more than just give me a living. I used to be ableto keep two assistants， but now I only keep one; and I would have a jobto pay him but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn thebusiness."
"What is the name of this obliging youth？" asked Sherlock Holmes.
"His name is Vincent， Spaulding， and hes not such a youth， either. Itshard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assistant， Mr. Holmes; andI know very well that he could better himself and earn twice what I amable to give him. But， after all， if he is satisfied， why should I put ideas inhis head？"
"Why， indeed？ You seem most fortunate/11 having an employee whocomes under the full market price. It is not a common experience amongemployers in this age. I dont know that your assistant is not as remarkableas your advertisement."
"Oh， he has his faults， too，" said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fel-low for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to beimproving his mind， and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit intoits hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault， but on the whole hes agood worker. Theres no vice in him."
"He is still with you， I presume？"
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