the adventure of the red circle-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　RED　CIRCLE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle



　　〃Well；　Mrs。　Warren；　I　cannot　see　that　you　have　any　particular

cause　for　uneasiness；　nor　do　I　understand　why　I；　whose　time　is　of　some

value；　should　interfere　in　the　matter。　I　really　have　other　things　to

engage　me。〃　So　spoke　Sherlock　Holmes　and　turned　back　to　the　great

scrapbook　in　which　he　was　arranging　and　indexing　some　of　his　recent

material。

　　But　the　landlady　had　the　pertinacity　and　also　the　cunning　of　her

sex。　She　held　her　ground　firmly。

　　〃You　arranged　an　affair　for　a　lodger　of　mine　last　year；〃　she　said…

〃Mr。　Fairdale　Hobbs。〃

　　〃Ah；　yes…　a　simple　matter。〃

　　〃But　he　would　never　cease　talking　of　it…　your　kindness；　sir；　and　the

way　in　which　you　brought　light　into　the　darkness。　I　remembered　his

words　when　I　was　in　doubt　and　darkness　myself。　I　know　you　could　if　you

only　would。〃

　　Holmes　was　accessible　upon　the　side　of　flattery；　and　also；　to　do　him

justice；　upon　the　side　of　kindliness。　The　two　forces　made　him　lay　down

his　gum…brush　with　a　sigh　of　resignation　and　push　back　his　chair。

　　〃Well；　well；　Mrs。　Warren；　let　us　hear　about　it　then。　You　don't

object　to　tobacco；　I　take　it？　Thank　you；　Watson…　the　matches！　You

are　uneasy；　as　I　understand；　because　your　new　lodger　remains　in　his

rooms　and　you　cannot　see　him。　Why；　bless　you；　Mrs。　Warren；　if　I　were

your　lodger　you　often　would　not　see　me　for　weeks　on　end。〃

　　〃No　doubt；　sir；　but　this　is　different。　It　frightens　me；　Mr。

Holmes。　I　can't　sleep　for　fright。　To　hear　his　quick　step　moving　here

and　moving　there　from　early　morning　to　late　at　night；　and　yet　never　to

catch　so　much　as　a　glimpse　of　him…　it's　more　than　I　can　stand。　My

husband　is　as　nervous　over　it　as　I　am；　but　he　is　out　at　his　work　all

day；　while　I　get　no　rest　from　it。　What　is　he　hiding　for？　What　has　he

done？　Except　for　the　girl；　I　am　all　alone　in　the　house　with　him；　and

it's　more　than　my　nerves　can　stand。〃

　　Holmes　leaned　forward　and　laid　his　long；　thin　fingers　upon　the

woman's　shoulder。　He　had　an　almost　hypnotic　power　of　soothing　when

he　wished。　The　scared　look　faded　from　her　eyes；　and　her　agitated

features　smoothed　into　their　usual　commonplace。　She　sat　down　in　the

chair　which　he　had　indicated。

　　〃If　I　take　it　up　I　must　understand　every　detail；〃　said　he。　〃Take

time　to　consider。　The　smallest　point　may　be　the　most　essential。　You

say　that　the　man　came　ten　days　ago　and　paid　you　for　a　fortnight's

board　and　lodging？〃

　　〃He　asked　my　terms；　sir。　I　said　fifty　shillings　a　week。　There　is　a

small　sittingroom　and　bedroom；　and　all　complete；　at　the　top　of　the

house。〃

　　〃Well？〃

　　〃He　said；　'I'll　pay　you　five　pounds　a　week　if　I　can　have　it　on　my

own　terms。'　I'm　a　poor　woman；　sir；　and　Mr。　Warren　earns　little；　and

the　money　meant　much　to　me。　He　took　out　a　ten…pound　note；　and　he

held　it　out　to　me　then　and　there。　'You　can　have　the　same　every

fortnight　for　a　long　time　to　come　if　you　keep　the　terms；'　he　said。　'If

not；　I'll　have　no　more　to　do　with　you。'〃

　　〃What　were　the　terms？〃

　　〃Well；　sir；　they　were　that　he　was　to　have　a　key　of　the　house。　That

was　all　right。　Lodgers　often　have　them。　Also；　that　he　was　to　be　left

entirely　to　himself　and　never；　upon　any　excuse；　to　be　disturbed。〃

　　〃Nothing　wonderful　in　that；　surely？〃

　　〃Not　in　reason；　sir。　But　this　is　out　of　all　reason。　He　has　been

there　for　ten　days；　and　neither　Mr。　Warren；　nor　I；　nor　the　girl　has

once　set　eyes　upon　him。　We　can　hear　that　quick　step　of　his　pacing　up

and　down；　up　and　down；　night；　morning；　and　noon；　but　except　on　that

first　night　he　has　never　once　gone　out　of　the　house。〃

　　〃Oh；　he　went　out　the　first　night；　did　he？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　and　returned　very　late…　after　we　were　all　in　bed。　He　told

me　after　he　had　taken　the　rooms　that　he　would　do　so　and　asked　me　not

to　bar　the　door。　I　heard　him　come　up　the　stair　after　midnight。〃

　　〃But　his　meals？〃

　　〃It　was　his　particular　direction　that　we　should　always；　when　he

rang；　leave　his　meal　upon　a　chair；　outside　his　door。　Then　he　rings

again　when　he　has　finished；　and　we　take　it　down　from　the　same　chair。

If　he　wants　anything　else　he　prints　it　on　a　slip　of　paper　and　leaves

it。〃

　　〃Prints　it？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　prints　it　in　pencil。　just　the　word；　nothing　more。

Here's　one　I　brought　to　show　you…　SOAP。　Here's　another…　MATCH。　This　is

one　he　left　the　first　morning…　DAILY　GAZETTE。　I　leave　that　paper

with　his　breakfast　every　morning。〃

　　〃Dear　me；　Watson；〃　said　Holmes；　staring　with　great　curiosity　at

the　slips　of　foolscap　which　the　landlady　had　handed　to　him；　〃this　is

certainly　a　little　unusual。　Seclusion　I　can　understand；　but　why　print？

Printing　is　a　clumsy　process。　Why　not　write？　What　would　it　suggest

Watson？〃

　　〃That　he　desired　to　conceal　his　handwriting。〃

　　〃But　why？　What　can　it　matter　to　him　that　his　landlady　should　have

a　word　of　his　writing？　Still；　it　may　be　as　you　say。　Then；　again；　why

such　laconic　messages？〃

　　〃I　cannot　imagine。〃

　　〃It　opens　a　pleasing　field　for　intelligent　speculation。　The　words

are　written　with　a　broad…pointed；　violet…tinted　pencil　of　a　not

unusual　pattern。　You　will　observe　that　the　paper　is　torn　away　at　the

side　here　after　the　printing　was　done；　so　that　the　'S'　of　'SOAP'　is

partly　gone。　Suggestive；　Watson；　is　it　not？〃

　　〃Of　caution？〃

　　〃Exactly。　There　was　evidently　some　mark；　some　thumbprint；

something　which　might　give　a　clue　to　the　person's　identity。　Now；

Mrs。　Warren；　you　say　that　the　man　was　of　middle　size；　dark；　and

bearded。　What　age　would　he　be？〃

　　〃Youngish；　sir…　not　over　thirty。〃

　　〃Well；　can　you　give　me　no　further　indications？〃

　　〃He　spoke　good　English；　sir；　and　yet　I　thought　he　was　a　foreigner　by

his　accent。〃

　　〃And　he　was　well　dressed？〃

　　〃Very　smartly　dressed；　sir…　quite　the　gentleman。　Dark　clothes…

nothing　you　would　note。〃

　　〃He　gave　no　name？〃

　　〃No；　sir。〃

　　〃And　has　had　no　letters　or　callers？〃

　　〃None。〃

　　〃But　surely　you　or　the　girl　enter　his　room　of　a　morning？〃

　　〃No；　sir；　he　looks　after　himself　entirely。〃

　　〃Dear　me！　that　is　certainly　remarkable。　What　about　his　luggage？〃

　　〃He　had　one　big　brown　bag　with　him…　nothing　else。〃

　　〃Well；　we　don't　seem　to　have　much　material　to　help　us。　Do　you　say

nothing　has　come　out　of　that　room…　absolutely　nothing？〃

　　The　landlady　drew　an　envelope　from　her　bag；　from　it　she　shook　out

two　burnt　matches　and　a　cigarette…end　upon　the　table。

　　〃They　were　on　his　tray　this　morning。　I　brought　them　because　I　had

heard　that　you　can　read　great　things　out　of　small　ones。〃

　　Holmes　shrugged　his　shoulders。

　　〃There　is　nothing　here；〃　said　he。　〃The　matches　have；　of　course；　been

used　to　light　cigarettes。　That　is　obvious　from　the　shortness　of　the

burnt　end。　Half　the　match　is　consumed　in　lighting　a　pipe　or　cigar。　But

dear　me！　this　cigarette　stub　is　certainly　remarkable。　The　gentleman

was　bearded　and　moustached；　you　say？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir。〃

　　〃I　don't　understand　that。　I　should　say　that　only　a　clean…shaven

man　could　have　smoked　this。　Why；　Watson；　even　your　modest　moustache

would　have　been　singed。〃

　　〃A　holder？〃　I　suggested。

　　〃No；　no；　the　end　is　matted。　I　suppose　there　could　not　be　two

people　in　your　rooms；　Mrs。　Warren？〃

　　〃No；　sir。　He　eats　so　little　that　I　often　wonder　it　can　keep　life

in　one。〃

　　〃Well；　I　think　we　must　wait　for　a　little　more　material。　After　all；

you　have　nothing　to　complain　of。　You　have　received　your　rent　and　he　is

not　a　troublesome　lodger；　though　he　is　certainly　an　unusual　one。　He

pays　you　well。　and　if　he　choses　to　lie　concealed　it　is　no　direct

business　of　yours。　We　have　no　excuse　for　an　intrusion　upon　his　privacy

until　we　have　some　reason　to　think　that　there　is　a　guilty　reason　for

it。　I've　taken　up　the　matter；　and　I　won't　lose　sight　of　it。　Report

to　me　if　anything　fresh　occurs；　and　rely　upon　my　assistance　if　it

should　be　needed。

　　〃There　are　certainly　some　points　of　interest　in　this　case；

Watson；〃　he　remarked　when　the　landlady　had　left　us。　〃It　may；　of

course；　be　trivial…　individual　eccentricity；　or　it　may　be　very　much

deeper　than　appears　on　the　surface。　The　first　thing　that　strikes　one

is　the　obvious　possibility　that　the　person　now　in　the　rooms　may　be

entirely　different　from　the　one　who　engaged　them。〃

　　〃Why　should　you　think　so？〃

　　〃Well；　apart　from　this　cigarette…end；　was　it　not　suggestive　that　the

only　time　the　lodger　went　out　was　immediately　after　his　taking　the

rooms？　He　came　back…　or　someone　came　back…　when　all　witnesses　were　out

of　the　way。　We　have　no　proof　that　the　person　who　came　back　was　the

person　who　went　out。　Then；　again；　the　man　who　took　the　rooms　spoke

English　well。　This　other；　however；　prints　'match'　when　it　should

have　been　'matches。'　I　can　imagine　that　the　word　was　taken　out　of　a

dictionary；　which　would　give　the　noun　but　not　the　plural。　The

laconic　style　may　be　to　conceal　the　absence　of　knowledge　of　English。

Yes；　Watson；　there　are　good　reasons　to　suspect　that　there　has　been　a

substitution　of　lodgers。〃

　　〃But　for　what　possible　end？〃

　　〃Ah！　there　lies　our　problem。　There　is　one　rather　obvious　line　of

investigation。〃　He　took　down　the　great　book　in　which；　day　by　day；　he

filed　the　agony　columns　of　the　various　London　journals。　〃Dear　me！〃

said　he；　turning　over　the　pages；　〃what　a　chorus　of　groans；　cries；

and　bleatings！　What　a　rag…bag　of　singular　happenings！　But　surely　the

most　valuable　hunting…ground　that　ever　was　given　to　a　student　of　the

unusual！　This　person　is　alone　and　cannot　be　approached　by　letter

without　a　breach　of　that　absolute　secrecy　which　is　desired。　How　is　any

news　or　any　message　to　reach　him　from　without？　Obviously　by

advertisement　through　a　news　paper。　There　seems　no　other　way；　and

fortunately　we　need　concern　ourselves　with　the　one　paper　only。　Here

are　the　Daily　Gazette　extracts　of　the　last　fortnight。　'Lady　with　a

black　boa　at　Prince's　Skating　Club'…　that　we　may　pass。　'Surely　Jimmy

will　not　break　his　mother's　heart'…　that　appears　to　be　irrelevant。　'If

the　lady　who　fainted　in　the　Brixton　bus'…　she　does　not　interest　me。

'Every　day　my　heart　longs…'　Bleat；　Watson…　unmitigated　bleat！　Ah；　this

is　a　little　more　possible。　Listen　to　this：　'Be　patient。　Will　find　some

sure　means　of　communication。　Meanwhile；　this　column。　G。'　That　is　two

days　after　Mrs。　Warren's　lodger　arrived。　It　sounds　plausible；　does

it　not？　The　mysterious　one　could　understand　English；　even　if　he

could　not　print　it。　Let　us　see　if　we　can　pick　up　the　trace　again。　Yes；

here　we　are…　three　days　later。　'Am　making　successful　arrangements。

Patience　and　prudence。　The　clouds　will　pass。　G。'　Nothing　for　a　week

after　that。　Then　comes　something　much　more　definite：　'The　path　is

clearing。　If　I　find　chance　signal　message　remember　code　agreed…　one　A；

two　B；　and　so　on。　You　will　hear　soon。　G。'　That　was　in　yesterday's

paper；　and　there　is　nothing　in　to…day's。　It's　all　very　appropriate

to　Mrs。　Warren's　lodger。　If　we　wait　a　little；　Watson；　I　don't　doubt

t