.

　　1911

　　SHERLOCK HOLMES

　　THE ADVENTURE OF THE RED CIRCLE

　　by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

　　"Well, Mrs. Warren, I cannot see that you have any particularcause for uneasiness, nor do I understand why I, whose time is of somevalue, should interfere in the matter. I really have other things toengage me." So spoke Sherlock Holmes and turned back to the greatscrapbook in which he was arranging and indexing some of his recentmaterial.

　　But the landlady had the pertinacity and also the cunning of hersex. She held her ground firmly.

　　"You arranged an affair for a lodger of mine last year," she said-"Mr. Fairdale Hobbs."

　　"Ah, yes- a simple matter."

　　"But he would never cease talking of it- your kindness, sir, and theway in which you brought light into the darkness. I remembered hiswords when I was in doubt and darkness myself. I know you could if youonly would."

　　Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery, and also, to do himjustice, upon the side of kindliness. The two forces made him lay downhis gum-brush with a sigh of resignation and push back his chair."Well, well, Mrs. Warren, let us hear about it then. You don'tobject to tobacco, I take it? Thank you, Watson- the matches! Youare uneasy, as I understand, because your new lodger remains in hisrooms and you cannot see him. Why, bless you, Mrs. Warren, if I wereyour lodger you often would not see me for weeks on end.""No doubt, sir, but this is different. It frightens me, Mr.Holmes. I can't sleep for fright. To hear his quick step moving hereand moving there from early morning to late at night, and yet never tocatch so much as a glimpse of him- it's more than I can stand. Myhusband is as nervous over it as I am, but he is out at his work allday, while I get no rest from it. What is he hiding for? What has hedone? Except for the girl, I am all alone in the house with him, andit's more than my nerves can stand."

　　Holmes leaned forward and laid his long, thin fingers upon thewoman's shoulder. He had an almost hypnotic power of soothing whenhe wished. The scared look faded from her eyes, and her agitatedfeatures smoothed into their usual commonplace. She sat down in thechair which he had indicated.