The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

es of light marked the position of the lamps. The flaring shop windows flic

ond floor a rich flood of light, which broke the sombre monotony of the terrace. Passers-by glanced up curiously, and drew each others' attention to the ruddy glare, for it marked the chambers of Francis Pericord, the

igin. The other-thick, sturdy, and blue-eyed, was Jeremy Brown, the well-known mechanician. They had been partners in many an invention, in which the c

d which might affect their whole careers. Between them lay a long brown table, stained and corroded by strong acids, and littered with giant carboys, Faure's accumulators, voltaic piles, co

jecting joints. The girdle was motionless, but the joints with the short arms attached to them flashed round every few seconds, with a

anges, Brown?" as

foot by three. There is power enough there t

ith an alloy

es

d more slowly, and came presently to a dead stop. Again he touched a spring and the arms shivered and woke up again into their crisp m

my motor,"

the other bro

ly. "The motor which you thought of, and whic

with an angry flash of his dark eyes. "You worked out the

won't turn an engine,

orted, drumming nervously with his fingers upon the table

rther argument was useless, he turned his attention to the machine, which was shivering and rockin

plendid?" cr

," said the more ph

immortali

s money

l go down with

hschild's

anion. "Our fortunes are a mere detail. Money is a thing which every heavy-witted plutocrat in the country shares with us

ve my share of that," he said. "I am a pr

can we

tely secret. If we had private grounds of our own it wou

ke it into

Beachy Head. There is, I remember, a large and lofty barn near the house. Will is in Scotland, but

could b

rain to Eastb

be at the

have been following a shadow, or whether fortune is at our feet. One o'clock at Victoria." He walked swiftly down the

nd plans under his arm. At twelve he emerged again smiling, and, opening his pocket-book, he packed away very carefully a small slip of official blue paper. At five minutes to one his cab rolled into Victoria Station. Two giant canvas-covered parce

ght?" h

in answer to

uard's van. Be careful, guard, for it is delicate machinery o

ation was a commonplace whitewashed structure, with straggling stables and out-houses, standing in a grassy hollow which sloped down from the edge of the chalk cliffs. It was a cheerless house even when in use, but now with its smokeless chimneys a

ir purpose. With the help of the cabman they carried their packages down the footpath, and laid them in the da

s secured. As the brown covering fell away it disclosed two great yellow metal fans. These he leaned carefully against the wall. The girdle, the connecting-bands, and the motor were then in turn

rown at last, stepping bac

but his face glowed wit

own remarked, laying out some provi

erwa

up to the table and made a hearty meal, while his Celtic companion st

ound, and brushing the crumbs fr

n eagerly. "What we do to-nig

suggested Brown. "We canno

said Pericord, with

our going out of our

One of us

d act equally well if attac

" said Pericor

have a sack here. Why should not

idea. I see

fted across her face. All was still and silent upon the Downs. They stood and listened before they entered the barn, but not a sound came to their ears, save the dull murm

two trestles, and the broad steel girdle was buckled round it. Then the great flanges, the wires, and the metal box containing the moto

ll circle," said Pericord, glanc

uggested Brown. "Now it is ready. Pr

er, with a fuller sweep. Then a fourth which filled the barn with a blast of driven air. At the fifth the bag of bricks began to dance upon the trestles. At the sixth it sprang into the air, and would have fallen to the ground, but the seventh came to save it, and fluttered it forward through the air. Slowly

in silence. Then Pericord thre

ts!" He danced about like a madman in his delight

the inventor. "And the rudder-how well

and set. "It is registered,"

ted the word first in a whisper, and then in a kind

ere is nothing to be excit

the motor! Und

sullenly. "I consider that

me does no

, b

ll have that patent back if I have to tear your throat out!" A sombre fire burned in his black eyes, and his hands

awing a knife from his pocket. "I

e was livid with anger. "You are a bully as

I wil

say, giv

ot. I did

dashed against the packing-case, over which he fell. The lamp was extinguished, and the whole barn plunged into darknes

ve up the pa

was no

ou give

hrough Pericord's heart. He felt aimlessly about in the dark and his fingers closed upon a hand. It was col

him across. Then the mystery of his silence was explained. He had fallen with his right arm doubled up under him, and his own w

minutes or it might have been hours. A thousand mad schemes flashed through his dazed brain. It was true that he had been only the indirect cause. But who would believe that? He glanced down at his blood-spattered clothing. Everything

ow displaced the connecting-gear, and the machine fell heavily to the ground. Pericord undid the girdle. The motor was uninjured. A sudden, strange thought fl

e sockets. Beneath he slung the motor-box, fastened the wires, and switched on the connection. For a minute or two the huge yellow fans flapped and flickered. Then the body began to move in little jumps down the side of the hillock, gathering a gradual momentum, until at last it heaved up into the air and soared heavily off in the moonlight. He ha

doctors say, though of what nature they are unable to determine. "It is the most delicate machine which is most readily put out of gear," they remark, and point,