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〃About one； sir。〃
〃Then Dr。 Watson and I will come round in time。 For the present；
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Mrs。 Warren； good…bye。〃
At half…past twelve we found ourselves upon the steps of Mrs。
Warren's housea 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 ore 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…plate 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 form 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
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
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 the 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； Watsonseverely 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 attach 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
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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 eager 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 flashthat is A； surely。 Now； then。 How many
did you make it？ Twenty。 Do did In。 That should mean T。 ATthat's
intelligible enough。 Another T。 Surely this is the beginning of a second
word。 Now； thenTENTA。 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？
ATTEwhy； it is the same message over again。 Curious； Watson； very
curious。 Now he is off once more！ ATwhy he is repeating it for the
third time。 ATTENTA three times！ How often will he repeat it？ No；
that seems to be the finish。 He has withdrawn form 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 mor rapidly than beforeso rapid that it was hard to follow them。
〃PERICOLOpericoloeh； what's that； Watson？ 'Danger；' isn't it？
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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 fr