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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 businessand 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。〃
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
Two
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 this 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 hand； 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
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
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 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 accomplicethere 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
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
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 form the flat while you were waiting
downstairs；〃 said he at last。 〃Did you observe them closely？〃
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
〃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 womanthe mysterious lodger of Bloomsbury。
Slowly she advanced； her face pale and drawn with