the adventure of the red circle-第3章

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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　a　cabman；　his　whip　in　his　band；　sauntered　over　from　a

four…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。　Beside　his　right　hand　a　most　formidable

horn…handled；　two…edged　dagger　lay　upon　the　floor；　and　near　it　a　black

kid　glove。

　　〃By　George！　it's　Black　Gorgiano　himself！〃　cried　the　American

detective。　〃Someone　has　got　ahead　of　us　this　time。〃

　　Here　is　the　candle　in　the　window；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　Gregson。　〃Why；

whatever　are　you　doing？〃

　　　Holmes　had　stepped　across；　had　lit　the　candle；　and　was　passing　it

backward　and　forward　across　the　window…panes。　Then　he　peered　into

the　darkness；　blew　the　candle　out；　and　threw　it　on　the　floor。

　　〃I　rather　think　that　will　be　helpful；〃　said　he。　He　came　over　and

stood　in　deep　thought　while　the　two　professionals　were　examining　the

body。　〃You　say　that　three　people　came　out　from　the　flat　while　you　were

waiting　downstairs；〃　said　he　at　last。　〃Did　you　observe　them　closely？〃

　　〃Yes；　I　did。〃

　　〃Was　there　a　fellow　about　thirty；　black…bearded；　dark；　of　middle

size？〃

　　〃Yes；　he　was　the　last　to　pass　me。〃

　　〃That　is　your　man；　I　fancy。　I　can　give　you　his　description；　and　we

have　a　very　excellent　outline　of　his　footmark。　That　should　be　enough

for　you。〃

　　〃Not　much；　Mr。　Holmes；　among　the　millions　of　London。〃

　　〃Perhaps　not。　That　is　why　I　thought　it　best　to　summon　this　lady　to

your　aid。〃

　　We　all　turned　round　at　the　words。　There；　framed　in　the　doorway；

was　a　tall　and　beautiful　woman…　the　mysterious　lodger　of　Bloomsbury。

Slowly　she　advanced；　her　face　pale　and　drawn　with　a　frightful

apprehension；　her　eyes　fixed　and　staring；　her　terrified　gaze　riveted

upon　the　dark　figure　on　the　floor。

　　〃You　have　killed　him！〃　she　muttered。　〃Oh；　Dio　mio；　you　have　killed

him！〃　Then　I　heard　a　sudden　sharp　intake　of　her　breath；　and　she　sprang

into　the　air　with　a　cry　of　joy。　Round　and　round　the　room　she　danced；

her　hands　clapping；　her　dark　eyes　gleaming　with　delighted　wonder；

and　a　thousand　pretty　Italian　exclamations　pouring　from　her　lips。　It

was　terrible　and　amazing　to　see　such　a　woman　so　convulsed　with　joy

at　such　a　sight。　Suddenly　she　stopped　and　gazed　at　us　all　with　a

questioning　stare。

　　〃But　you！　You　are　police；　are　you　not？　You　have　killed　Giuseppe

Gorgiano。　Is　it　not　so？〃

　　〃We　are　police；　madam。〃

　　She　looked　round　into　the　shadows　of　the　room。

　　〃But　where；　then；　is　Gennaro？〃　she　asked。　〃He　is　my　husband；　Gennaro

Lucca。　am　Emilia　Lucca；　and　we　are　both　from　New　York。　Where　is

Gennaro？　He　called　me　this　moment　from　this　window；　and　I　ran　with　all

my　speed。〃

　　〃It　was　I　who　called；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃You！　How　could　you　call？〃

　　〃Your　cipher　was　not　difficult；　madam。　Your　presence　here　was

desirable。　I　knew　that　I　had　only　to　flash　〃Vieni〃　and　you　would

surely　come。〃

　　The　beautiful　Italian　looked　with　awe　at　my　companion。

　　〃I　do　not　understand　how　you　know　these　things；〃　she　said。　〃Giuseppe

Gorgiano…　how　did　he〃　She　paused；　and　then　suddenly　her　face　lit

up　with　pride　and　delight。　〃Now　I　see　it！　My　Gennaro！　My　splendid；

beautiful　Gennaro；　who　has　guarded　me　safe　from　all　harm；　he　did　it；

with　his　own　strong　hand　he　killed　the　monster！　Oh；　Gennaro；　how

wonderful　you　are！　What　woman　could　ever　be　worthy　of　such　a　man？〃

　　〃Well；　Mrs。　Lucca；〃　said　the　prosaic　Gregson；　laying　his　hand　upon

the　lady's　sleeve　with　as　little　sentiment　as　if　she　were　a　Notting

Hill　hooligan；　〃I　am　not　very　clear　yet　who　you　are　or　what　you　are；

but　you've　said　enough　to　make　it　very　clear　that　we　shall　want　you　at

the　Yard。〃

　　〃One　moment；　Gregson；〃　said　Holmes。　〃I　rather　fancy　that　this　lady

may　be　as　anxious　to　give　us　information　as　we　can　be　to　get　it。　You

understand；　madam；　that　your　husband　will　be　arrested　and　tried　for

the　death　of　the　man　who　lies　before　us？　What　you　say　may　be　used　in

evidence。　But　if　you　think　that　he　has　acted　from　motives　which　are

not　criminal；　and　which　he　would　wish　to　have　known；　then　you　cannot

serve　him　better　than　by　telling　us　the　whole　story。〃

　　〃Now　that　Gorgiano　is　dead　we　fear　nothing；〃　said　the　lady。　〃He

was　a　devil　and　a　monster；　and　there　can　be　no　judge　in　the　world

who　would　punish　my　husband　for　having　killed　him。〃

　　〃In　that　case；〃　said　Holmes；　〃my　suggestion　is　that　we　lock　this

door；　leave　things　as　we　found　them；　go　with　this　lady　to　her　room；

and　form　our　opinion　after　we　have　heard　what　it　is　that　she　has　to

say　to　us。〃

　　Half　an　hour　later　we　were　seated；　all　four；　in　the　small

sitting…room　of　Signora　Lucca；　listening　to　her　remarkable　narrative

of　those　sinister　events；　the　ending　of　which　we　had　chanced　to

witness。　She　spoke　in　rapid　and　fluent　but　very　unconventional

English；　which；　for　the　sake　of　clearness；　I　will　make　grammatical。

　　〃I　was　born　in　Posilippo；　near　Naples；〃　said　she；　〃and　was　the

daughter　of　Augusto　Barelli；　who　was　the　chief　lawyer　and　once　the

deputy　of　that　part。　Gennaro　was　in　my　father's　employment；　and　I　came

to　love　him；　as　any　woman　must。　He　had　neither　money　nor　position…

nothing　but　his　beauty　and　strength　and　energy…　so　my　father　forbade

the　match。　We　fled　together；　were　married　at　Bari；　and　sold　my

jewels　to　gain　the　money　which　would　take　us　to　America。　This　was　four

years　ago；　and　we　have　been　in　New　York　ever　since。

　　〃Fortune　was　very　good　to　us　at　first。　Gennaro　was　able　to　do　a

service　to　an　Italian　gentleman…　he　saved　him　from　some　ruffians　in

the　place　called　the　Bowery；　and　so　made　a　powerful　friend。　His　name

was　Tito　Castalotte；　and　he　was　the　senior　partner　of　the　great　firm

of　Castalotte　and　Zamba；　who　are　the　chief　fruit　importers　of　New

York。　Signor　Zamba　is　an　invalid；　and　our　new　friend　Castalotte　has

all　power　within　the　firm；　which　employs