“‘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?’
…
“Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Abbots, and Archery, and Armour, and Architecture, and Attica, and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the Bs before very long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly filled a shelf with my writings. "
…
“And you did very wisely,” said Holmes. “Your case is an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear.”
“Grave enough!” said Mr. Jabez Wilson. “Why, I have lost four pound a week.”
“As far as you are personally concerned,” remarked Holmes, “I do not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some thirty pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have lost nothing by them.”
– The Red-Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyles
“Yes, but what was the point? The purpose?” - Mr. Wilson (in the TV Sherlock Holmes Granada TV serial version with the great Jeremy Brett)
Oh yes, had Comptons 1974 series beautiful blue and white covers. I read them cover to cover. Funny you purchased them one volume at a time, “A” was three books while “B” was only one. They also sold yearly yearbooks and science books to keep the whole set current. I still remember the first chapter form the science year book, A visit to a large Planet the Pioneer missions to Jupiter.
Morgyn
January 16, 2022, 12:08am
164
That’s an XKCD .
(ETA: There’s an XKCD for everything .)
Bullitt
January 16, 2022, 4:35am
165
Yep, and @DesertDog posted the same thing 3 days ago. It is a good one.
Morgyn
January 16, 2022, 4:54am
166
He posted it without saying it was XKCD, which is why I posted saying that is was XKCD in response to him.
And he posted the permanent link. I should have clicked, first. My apologies, @DesertDog , sometimes I’m an idiot.
I figured it would be instantly recognized as XKCD by this lot – Munroe has a distinctive style even when it’s just text. Your link lets them see the mouse-over, though.
