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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；
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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 his
sofa； while I came straight round to tell you what had happened。〃
〃Most interesting；〃 said Holmes。 〃Did he observe the appearance of
these mendid 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 a 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；
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The Adventure of the Red Circle
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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woman； Watson。〃
〃She saw us。〃
〃Well； she