56065    'We are close there now,' my friend remarked.

56066    'This fellow Merryweather is a bank director and personally interested in the matter.

56067    I thought it as well to have Jones with us also.

56068    He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession.

56069    He has one positive virtue.

56070    He is as brave as a bulldog, and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone.

56071    Here we are, and they are waiting for us.'

56072    We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning.

56073    Our cabs were dismissed, and, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a narrow passage, and through a side door, which he opened for us.

56074    Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive iron gate.

56075    This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate.

56076    Mr. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes.

56077    'You are not very vulnerable from above,' Holmes remarked, as he held up the lantern and gazed about him.

56078    'Nor from below,' said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor.

56079    'Why, dear me, it sounds quite hollow!' he remarked, looking up in surprise.