the adventure of the red circle-第2章

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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

that　the　affair　will　grow　more　intelligible。〃

　　So　it　proved；　for　in　the　morning　I　found　my　friend　standing　on　the

hearthrug　with　his　back　to　the　fire　and　a　smile　of　complete

satisfaction　upon　his　face。

　　〃How's　this；　Watson？〃　he　cried；　picking　up　the　paper　from　the　table。

'High　red　house　with　white　stone　facings。　Third　floor。　Second　window

left。　After　dusk。　G。'　That　is　definite　enough。　I　think　after　breakfast

we　must　make　a　little　reconnaissance　of　Mrs。　Warren's　neighbourhood。

Ah；　Mrs。　Warren！　what　news　do　you　bring　us　this　morning？〃

　　Our　client　had　suddenly　burst　into　the　room　with　an　explosive　energy

which　told　of　some　new　and　momentous　development。

　　〃It's　a　police　matter；　Mr。　Holmes〃　she　cried。　〃I'll　have　no　more

of　it。　He　shall　pack　out　of　there　with　his　baggage。　I　would　have

gone　straight　up　and　told　him　so；　only　I　thought　it　was　but　fair　to

you　to　take　your　opinion　first。　But　I'm　at　the　end　of　my　patience；　and

when　it　comes　to　knocking　my　old　man　about…〃

　　〃Knocking　Mr。　Warren　about？〃

　　〃Using　him　roughly；　anyway。〃

　　〃But　who　used　him　roughly？〃

　　〃Ah！　that's　what　we　want　to　know！　It　was　this　morning；　sir。　Mr。

Warren　is　a　timekeeper　at　Morton　and　Waylight's；　in　Tottenham　Court

Road。　He　has　to　be　out　of　the　house　before　seven。　Well；　this　morning

he　had　not　gone　ten　paces　down　the　road　when　two　men　came　up　behind

him；　threw　a　coat　over　his　head；　and　bundled　him　into　a　cab　that　was

beside　the　curb。　They　drove　him　an　hour；　and　then　opened　the　door

and　shot　him　out。　He　lay　in　the　roadway　so　shaken　in　his　wits　that

he　never　saw　what　became　of　the　cab。　When　he　picked　himself　up　he

found　he　was　on　Hampstead　Heath；　so　he　took　a　bus　home；　and　there　he

lies　now　on　the　sofa；　while　I　came　straight　round　to　tell　you　what　had

happened。〃

　　〃Most　interesting；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Did　he　observe　the　appearance　of

these　men…　did　he　hear　them　talk？〃

　　〃No；　he　is　clean　dazed。　He　just　knows　that　he　was　lifted　up　as　if　by

magic　and　dropped　as　if　by　magic。　Two　at　least　were　in　it；　and　maybe

three。〃

　　〃And　you　connect　this　attack　with　your　lodger？〃

　　〃Well；　we've　lived　there　fifteen　years　and　no　such　happenings　ever

came　before。　I've　had　enough　of　him。　Money's　not　everything。　I'll　have

him　out　of　my　house　before　the　day　is　done。〃

　　〃Wait　a　bit；　Mrs。　Warren。　Do　nothing　rash。　I　begin　to　think　that

this　affair　may　be　very　much　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　a　turning　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　A　means　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　a　crouching　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　acros