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passage； and so； after opening a third door； into a huge vault or
cellar； which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes。
〃You are not very vulnerable from above；〃 Holmes remarked； as he
held up the lantern and gazed about him。
〃Nor from below；〃 said Mr。 Merryweather； striking his stick upon
the flags which lined the floor。 〃Why； dear me； it sounds quite
hollow！〃 he remarked； looking up in surprise。
〃I must really ask you to be a little more quiet；〃 said Holmes
severely。 〃You have already imperiled the whole success of our
expedition。 Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit
down upon one of those boxes； and not to interfere？〃
The solemn Mr。 Merryweather perched himself upon a crate； with a
very injured expression upon his face； while Holmes fell upon his
knees upon the floor； and； with the lantern and a magnifying lens；
began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones。 A few
seconds sufficed to satisfy him； for he sprang to his feet again；
and put his glass in his pocket。
〃We have at least an hour before us；〃 he remarked； 〃for they can
hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed。
Then they will not lose a minute； for the sooner they do their work
the longer time they will have for their escape。 We are at
present； doctoras no doubt you have divinedin the cellar of the
City branch of one of the principal London banks。 Mr。 Merryweather
is the chairman of directors； and he will explain to you that there
are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take a
considerable interest in this cellar at present。〃
〃It is our French gold；〃 whispered the director。 〃We have had
several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it。〃
〃Your French gold？〃
〃Yes。 We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources；
and borrowed； for that purpose； thirty thousand napoleons from the
Bank of France。 It has become known that we have never had
occasion to unpack the money； and that it is still lying in our
cellar。 The crate upon which I sit contains two thousand napoleons
packed between layers of lead foil。 Our reserve of bullion is much
larger at present than is usually kept in a single branch office；
and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject。〃
〃Which were very well justified；〃 observed Holmes。 〃And now it is
time that we arranged our little plans。 I expect that within an
hour matters will come to a head。 In the meantime； Mr。
Merryweather； we must put the screen over that dark lantern。〃
〃And sit in the dark？〃
〃I am afraid so。 I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket； and I
thought that； as we were a partie carree； you might have your
rubber after all。 But I see that the enemy's preparations have
gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light。 And；
first of all； we must choose our positions。 These are daring men；
and； though we shall take them at a disadvantage； they may do us
some harm； unless we are careful。 I shall stand behind this crate；
and do you conceal yourself behind those。 Then； when I flash a
light upon them； close in swiftly。 If they fire； Watson； have no
compunction about shooting them down。〃
I placed my revolver； cocked； upon the top of the wooden case
behind which I crouched。 Holmes shot the slide across the front of
his lantern； and left us in pitch darknesssuch an absolute
darkness as I have never before experienced。 The smell of hot
metal remained to assure us that the light was still there； ready
to flash out at a moment's notice。 To me； with my nerves worked up
to a pitch of expectancy； there was something depressing and
subduing in the sudden gloom； and in the cold； dank air of the
vault。
〃They have but one retreat；〃 whispered Holmes。 〃That is back
through the house into Saxe…Coburg Square。 I hope that you have
done what I asked you； Jones？〃
〃I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door。〃
〃Then we have stopped all the holes。 And now we must be silent and
wait。〃
What a time it seemed！ From comparing notes afterwards； it was but
an hour and a quarter； yet it appeared to me that the night must
have almost gone； and the dawn be breaking above us。 My limbs were
weary and stiff； for I feared to change my position； yet my nerves
were worked up to the highest pitch of tension； and my hearing was
so acute that I could not only hear the gentle breathing of my
companions； but I could distinguish the deeper； heavier inbreath of
the bulky Jones from the thin； sighing note of the bank director。
From my position I could look over the case in the direction of the
floor。 Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light。
At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement。 Then it
lengthened out until it became a yellow line； and then； without any
warning or sound； a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared； a
white； almost womanly hand； which felt about in the center of the
little area of light。 For a minute or more the hand； with its
writhing fingers； protruded out of the floor。 Then it was
withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared； and all was dark again save
the single lurid spark； which marked a chink between the stones。
Its disappearance； however； was but momentary。 With a rending；
tearing sound； one of the broad white stones turned over upon its
side； and left a square； gaping hole； through which streamed the
light of a lantern。 Over the edge there peeped a clean…cut； boyish
face； which looked keenly about it； and then； with a hand on either
side of the aperture； drew itself shoulder…high and waist…high；
until one knee rested upon the edge。 In another instant he stood
at the side of the hole； and was hauling after him a companion；
lithe and small like himself； with a pale face and a shock of very
red hair。
〃It's all clear；〃 he whispered。 〃Have you the chisel and the bags？
Great Scott！ Jump； Archie； jump； and I'll swing for it！〃
Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the
collar。 The other dived down the hole； and I heard the sound of
rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts。 The light flashed
upon the barrel of a revolver； but Holmes's hunting crop came down
on the man's wrist； and the pistol clinked upon the stone floor。
〃It's no use； John Clay；〃 said Holmes blandly； 〃you have no chance
at all。〃
〃So I see；〃 the other answered； with the utmost coolness。 〃I fancy
that my pal is all right； though I see you have got his coat…
tails。〃
〃There are three men waiting for him at the door；〃 said Holmes。
〃Oh； indeed。 You seem to have done the thing very completely。 I
must compliment you。〃
〃And I you；〃 Holmes answered。 〃Your red…headed idea was very new
and effective。〃
〃You'll see your pal again presently；〃 said Jones。 〃He's quicker
at climbing down holes than I am。 Just hold out while I fix the
derbies。〃
〃I beg that you will not touch m