elapt1c/ElapticAI-512 · Datasets at Fast360

text stringlengths 0 149M
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, Doctor—as no
doubt you have divined—in 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 30,000 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 2,000 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 carrée, 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 yourselves 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 darkness—such 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 in-breath 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 centre 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’ 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

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, Doctor—as no

doubt you have divined—in 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 30,000 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 2,000 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 carrée, 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 yourselves 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 darkness—such 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 in-breath 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 centre 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’ 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