Because of Wilson's despair at losing the job he ended up recruiting Holmes, which lead to the foiling of their raid. However, wasn't this a daft and reckless move on the part of the criminals? Relieving Wilson of his cushy fake job at the office was sure to arouse his suspicions. For all these reasons I expected them to come tonight.'

Saturday would suit them better than any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. But it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the bullion might be removed. 'Well, when they closed their league offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr Jabez Wilson's presence - in other words, that they had completed their tunnel. 'And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight?' I asked. Holmes is then able to guess the date when the duo plan to carry out their raid on the basis of this announcement.

Wilson came to the office as usual to see a sign that read: When Clay had finished the tunnel, Morris disbanded the League. Wilson was supervised by Clay's accomplice, William Morris, who acted as the League's enforcer and who served to make sure Wilson never left the offices they had hired for him to use. Whilst he was out, the criminal John Clay, who had taken a job in Wilson's shop, was digging a tunnel to the nearby bank. In reality, the society was just a ruse to get Wilson out of his house between the hours of 10 and 2. In this Sherlock Holmes story, Holmes and Watson are recruited by a flustered pawnbroker, Jabez Wilson, who has been tricked into joining a fake society, the Red-Headed League. Spoilers ahead for The Red-Headed League.

The red headed league story