The Adventure of the Red Circle* by Arthur Conan Doyle
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more important than appeared at first sight . it_is clear now that some danger is threatening your lodger . it_is equally clear that his enemies, lying in wait for him near your door, mistook your husband for him in_the foggy morning light . on discovering their mistake they released him . what they_would_have done had it not been a mistake, we_can only conjecture ."

" well, what am I to_do, Mr Holmes ? "

" I_have a great fancy to_see this lodger of yours, Mrs warren ."

"I don't see how that is_to_be managed, unless you break in_the door .I always hear him unlock it as I go down the stair after I leave the tray ."

" he has_to take_the tray in . surely we_could conceal ourselves and_see him do_it ."

the landlady thought for a moment .

" well, sir, there's the box- room opposite . I_could arrange a looking- glass, maybe, and if_you were behind the door-"

" excellent ! " said Holmes ." when does he lunch ? "

" about one, sir ."

" then Dr .Watson and_I_will come round in_time . for_the_present, Mrs warren, good-bye ."

at half- past twelve we_found ourselves upon_the steps of Mrs warren's house- a high, thin, yellow- brick edifice in great Orme street, a narrow thoroughfare at_the northeast side of_the British museum .Standing as it does near the corner of_the street, it commands a view down Howe street, with its more pretentious houses .Holmes pointed with a chuckle to one_of_these, a row of residential flats, which projected so_that they_could_not fail to catch the eye .

" see, Watson ! " said he ."' high red house with stone facings .' there_is the signal station all right . we_know the place, and we_know the code; so surely our task should_be simple . there's a' to let' card in_that window . it_is evidently an empty flat to_which_the confederate has access . well, Mrs warren, what now ? "

" I_have it all ready for_you . if_you_will both come up and leave your boots below on_the landing, I'll put you there now ."

it_was an excellent hiding- place which she had arranged . the mirror was so placed that, seated in_the dark, we_could very plainly see the door opposite . we had hardly settled down in_it, and Mrs warren left us, when a distant tinkle announced that_our mysterious neighbour had rung . presently the landlady appeared with_the tray, laid it down upon a chair beside the closed door, and then, treading heavily, departed .Crouching together in_the angle of_the door, we kept our eyes fixed upon_the mirror . suddenly, as_the landlady's footsteps died away, there_was the creak of aturning key, the handle revolved, and two thin hands darted out and lifted the tray from_the chair . an instant later it_was hurriedly replaced, and I caught a glimpse of a dark, beautiful, horrified face glaring at_the narrow opening of_the box- room . then the door crashed to, the key turned once more, and all was silence .Holmes twitched my sleeve, and together we stole down the stair .

" i_will call again in_the evening," said he to_the expectant landlady ." i_think, Watson, we_can discuss this business better in_our own quarters ."

" my surmise, as_you saw, proved to_be correct," said he, speaking from_the depths of_his easy- chair ." there_has_been a substitution of lodgers . what I_did_not foresee is_that we_should find a woman, and no ordinary woman, Watson ."

" she saw us ."

" well, she saw something to alarm her . that_is certain . the general sequence of events is pretty clear, is_it not ? a couple seek refuge in London from a very terrible and instant danger . the measure of_that danger is_the rigour of_their precautions . the man, who has some work which he_must do, desires to leave the woman in absolute safety while he_does it . it_is_not an easy problem, but he solved it in an original fashion, and so effectively that her presence was not even known to tile landlady who supplies her with food . the printed messages, as is now evident, were to_prevent her sex being discovered by her writing . the man cannot come near the woman, or he_will guide their enemies to her . since he_cannot communicate with her direct, he has recourse to_the agony column of a paper . so_far all is clear ."

" but what_is at_the root of it ? "

"Ah, yes, Watson- severely practical, as usual ! what_is at_the root of it all ? Mrs warren's whimsical problem enlarges somewhat and assumes a more sinister aspect as_we proceed . this much we can_say: that_it_is no ordinary love escapade . you saw the woman's face at_the sign of danger . we_have heard, too, of_the attack upon_the landlord, which_was undoubtedly meant for_the lodger . these alarms, and_the desperate need for secrecy, argue that_the matter is one of life or death . the attack upon Mr warren further shows that_the enemy, whoever they_are, are themselves not aware of_the substitution of_the female lodger for_the male . it_is very curious and complex, Watson ."

" why should you go further in_it ? what have_you to gain from_it ? "

" what, indeed ? it_is art for art's sake, Watson .I suppose when_you doctored you found yourself studying cases without thought of a fee ? "

" for_my education, Holmes ."

" education never ends, Watson . it_is a series of lessons with_the greatest for_the_last . this_is an instructive case . there_is neither money nor credit in_it, and yet one would wish to tidy it up . when dusk comes we_should find ourselves one stage advanced in_our investigation ."

when we returned to Mrs warren's rooms, the gloom of a London winter evening had thickened into one gray curtain, a dead monotone of colour, broken only by_the sharp yellow squares of_the windows and_the blurred haloes of_the gas-lamps . as_we peered from_the darkened sitting- room of_the lodging- house, one more dim light glimmered high up through_the obscurity .

" someone is moving in_that room," said Holmes in a whisper, his gaunt and cager face thrust forward to_the window- pane ." yes, I_can_see his shadow . there he_is again ! he has a candle in_his hand . now he_is peering across . he_wants to_be_sure that she_is on_the lookout . now he begins to flash . take_the message also, Watson, that we_may check each_other .a single flash- that_is A, surely . now, then . how_many did you make it ? Twenty . so did I . that should mean T . at- that's intelligible enough ! another T . surely this_is_the beginning of a second word . now, then- TENTA . dead stop . that_can't be all, Watson ? ATTENTA gives no sense . nor is_it any better as three words at, TEN, TA, unless T .a. are a person's initials . there it goes again ! what's that ? ATTE- why, it_is_the same message over again . curious, Watson, very curious ! now he_is off once more ! at- why, he_is repeating it for_the third time .ATTENTA three times ! how often will_be repeat it ? no, that seems_to_be the finish . he has withdrawn from_the window . what do_you make of it, Watson ? "

"A cipher message, Holmes ."

my companion gave a sudden chuckle of comprehension ." and not a very obscure cipher, Watson," said he ." why, of_course, it_is Italian ! the ameans that_it_is addressed to a woman .' beware ! beware ! beware ! ' how's that, Watson ? "

"I believe you_have hit it ."

" not a doubt of it . it_is a very urgent message, thrice repeated to_make it more so . but beware of what ? wait a bit; he_is coming to_the window once more ."

again we saw the dim silhouette of acrouching man and_the whisk of_the small flame across the window as_the signals were renewed . they came more rapidly than before- so rapid that_it_was hard to_follow them .

PERICOLO- pericolo- eh, what's that, Watson ? ' danger,' isn't it ? yes, by Jove, it's a danger signal . there he goes again ! PERI .Halloa, what on earth-"

the light had suddenly gone out, the glimmering square of window had disappeared, and_the third floor formed a dark band round the lofty building, with its tiers of shining casements . that last warning cry had_been suddenly cut short . how, and by whom ? the same thought occurred on_the instant to_us both .Holmes sprang up from where he crouched by_the window .

" this_is serious, Watson," he cried ." there_is some devilry going forward ! why should such a message stop in_such_a_way ? i_should put Scotland yard in touch with_this business- and yet, it_is too pressing for_us to leave ."

" shall I go for_the police ? "

" we_must define the situation a little more clearly . it may bear some more innocent interpretation . come, Watson, let_us go across ourselves and_see what we_can make of it ."

as_we walked rapidly down Howe street I glanced back at_the building which we had left . there, dimly outlined at_the top window, I could_see the shadow of a head, a woman's head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into_the night, waiting with breathless suspense for_the renewal of_that interrupted message . at_the doorway of_the Howe street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing . he started as_the hall- light fell upon our faces .

"Holmes ! " he cried .

" why, Gregson ! " said my companion as he shook hands with_the Scotland yard detective ."Journeys end with lovers' meetings . what brings you here ? "

" the same reasons that bring you, I expect," said Gregson ." how you got on to_it I_can't imagine ."

" different threads, but leading up_to_the same tangle .I've been taking the signals ."

"Signals ? "

" yes, from_that window . they broke off in_the middle . we came over to_see the reason . but since it_is safe in your hands I_see no object in continuing the business ."

" wait a bit ! " cried Gregson eagerly ."I'll do_you this justice, Mr Holmes, that i_was never in a case yet that I didn't feel stronger for having you on my side . there's only the one exit to_these flats, so we_have him safe ."

" who_is he ? "

" well, well, we score over you for once, Mr Holmes . you_must give_us best this_time ." he struck his stick sharply upon_the ground, on_which acabman, his whip in_his band, sauntered over from afour-wheeler which stood on_the far side of_the street ." may I introduce you to Mr Sherlock Holmes ? " he_said to_the cabman . this_is Mr Leverton, of Pinkerton's American agency ."

" the hero of_the Long_Island cave mystery ? " said Holmes ." sir, I_am pleased to meet you ."

the American, a quiet, businesslike young man, with a clean-shaven, hatchet face, flushed up at_the words of commendation ." I_am on_the trail of_my life now, Mr Holmes," said he ." if I_can get Gorgiano-"

" what ! Gorgiano of_the red circle ? "

"Oh, he has a European fame, has he ? well, we've learned all about him in America . we_know he_is at_the bottom of fifty murders, and yet we_have nothing positive we_can take him on .I tracked him over from New_York, and I've been close to him for a week in London, waiting some excuse to_get my hand on_his collar .Mr Gregson and I ran him to ground in_that big tenement house, and there's only the one door, so he_can't slip us . there's three folk come out since he went in, but I'll swear he wasn't one_of_them ."

" Mr Holmes talks of signals," said Gregson ."I expect, as usual, he_knows a good_deal that we don't ."

in a few clear words Holmes explained the situation as it had appeared to_us . the American struck his hands together with vexation .

" he's on to_us ! " he cried .

" why do_you_think so ? "

" well, it figures out that way, does it not ? here he_is, sending out messages to an accomplice- there_are several of_his gang in London . then suddenly, just as by your own account he_was telling them that there_was danger, he broke short off . what could it mean except that from_the window he had suddenly either caught sight of us in_the street, or in some way come to understand how close the danger was, and_that he_must act right away if he_was to avoid it ? what do_you suggest, Mr Holmes ? "

" that we go up at once and_see for ourselves ."

" but we_have no warrant for_his arrest ."

" he_is in unoccupied premises under suspicious circumstances," said Gregson ." that_is good enough for_the moment . when we_have him by_the heels we_can_see if New_York can't help_us to_keep him .I'll take_the responsibility of arresting him now ."

our official detectives may blunder in_the matter of intelligence, but never in_that of courage .Gregson climbed the stair to arrest this desperate murderer with_the same absolutely quiet and businesslike bearing with_which he_would_have ascended the official staircase of Scotland yard . the Pinkerton man had tried to push past him, but Gregson had firmly elbowed him back . London dangers were the privilege of_the London force .

the door of_the left- hand flat upon_the third landing was standing ajar .Gregson pushed it open . within all was absolute silence and darkness .I struck a match and lit the detective's lantern . as I_did so, and as_the flicker steadied into a flame, we all gave a gasp of surprise . on_the deal boards of_the carpetless floor there_was outlined a fresh track of blood . the red steps pointed towards us and led away from an inner room, the door of which_was closed .Gregson flung it open and held his light full blaze in front of him, while we all peered eagerly over his shoulders .

in_the middle of_the floor of_the empty room was huddled the figure of an enormous man, his clean-shaven, swarthy face grotesquely horrible in its contortion and_his head encircled by a ghastly crimson halo of blood, lying in a broad wet circle upon_the white woodwork . his knees were drawn up, his hands thrown out in agony, and from_the centre of_his broad, brown, upturned throat there projected the white haft of a knife driven blade- deep into his body . giant as he_was, the man must_have gone down like a pole-axed ox before_that terrific blow

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