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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 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 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 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 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 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'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 me with your filthy hands；〃
remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists。
〃You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins。 Have
the goodness； also； when you address me always to say ‘sir' and
‘please。'〃
〃All right；〃 said Jones with a stare and a snigger。 〃Well；
would you please； sir； march upstairs； where we can get a cab to
carry your Highness to the police…station？〃
〃That is better；〃 said John Clay serenely。 He made a sweeping
bow to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of
the detective。
〃Really； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said Mr。 Merryweather as we followed
them from the cellar； 〃I do not know how the bank can thank you or
repay you。 There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated
in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts at
bank robbery that have ever come within my experience。〃
〃I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with
Mr。 John Clay；〃 said Holmes。 〃I have been at some small expense
over this matter； which I shall expect the bank to refund； but
beyond that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is
in many ways unique； and by hearing the very remarkable narrative
of the Red…headed League。〃
〃You see； Watson；〃 he explained in the early hours of the
morning as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street；
〃it was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible
object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of
the League； and the copying of the Encyclopaedia； must be to get
this not over…bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of
hours every day。 It was a curious way of managing it； but；
really； it would be difficult to suggest a better。 The method was
no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his
accomplice's hair。 The 4 pound a week was a lure which mus