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The Adventure of the Red Circle - Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventure of the Red Circle

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Mrs. Warren, the diligent innkeeper of a quaint establishment, had an inexplicable sense of unease about her latest lodger. This mysterious individual had taken up residence in one of her rooms, never venturing beyond its closed door, and had effectively vanished from sight for several consecutive days. Perplexed by this uncommon behavior, Mrs. Warren decided to enlist the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusted companion, Dr. John Watson, to shed light on the enigmatic presence.

As Sherlock Holmes delved into the task at hand, he soon discovered that there was more to this reticent guest than initially met the eye. However, the intrigue did not stop there, for intertwined within the complex web of this investigation lay a chilling tale of mystery and murder. Together with Dr. Watson, Holmes embarked on a captivating journey that would challenge their deductive abilities and unearth secrets long hidden within the walls of the inn.

Transcending the realm of ordinary inquiries, this captivating narrative takes readers on a thrilling ride through the labyrinthine corridors of the human mind. The indomitable Sherlock Holmes, with his unparalleled intellect and keen eye for detail, stands poised to unravel the tangled threads of this perplexing case. Join him and Dr. Watson as they navigate treacherous twists, confront unexpected adversaries, and inch closer to untangling the truth behind this enigmatic resident.

Prepare to be captivated by the ethereal charm of this idyllic inn, entwined with the sinister undercurrents of a cold-blooded crime. With each passing moment, suspense heightens, as Holmes peels away layer after layer of deception, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation. Only time will tell if justice will prevail, if the dark secrets will be unearthed, and if the unsuspecting innkeeper's trust will ever be restored.

In this tale of entangled destinies, hidden motives, and unspoken truths, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson prove once again that their unparalleled partnership can overcome any challenge. Will they succeed in unraveling the enigma that lies within the sealed confines of this mysterious guest's room? Can they bring a killer to justice before another life is lost? Join them on this gripping journey, where every clue holds significance, and every twist leads closer to the heart of a spine-tingling secret.

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Part I

“Well, Mrs. Warren, I cannot see that you have any particular cause for uneasiness, nor do I understand why I, whose time is of some value, should interfere in the matter. I really have other things to engage me.” So spoke Sherlock Holmes and turned back to the great scrapbook in which he was arranging and indexing some of his recent material.

But the landlady had the pertinacity and also the cunning of her sex. 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 the way in which you brought light into the darkness. I remembered his words when I was in doubt and darkness myself. I know you could if you only would.”

Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery, and also, to do him justice, upon the side of kindliness. The two forces made him lay down his gum-brush with a sigh of resignation and push back his chair.

“Well, well, Mrs. Warren, let us hear about it, then. You don't object to tobacco, I take it? Thank you, Watson– the matches! You are uneasy, as I understand, because your new lodger remains in his rooms and you cannot see him. Why, bless you, Mrs. Warren, if I were your 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 here and moving there from early morning to late at night, and yet never to catch so much as a glimpse of him– it's more than I can stand. My husband is as nervous over it as I am, but he is out at his work all day, while I get no rest from it. What is he hiding for? What has he done? Except for the girl, I am all alone in the house with him, and it's more than my nerves can stand.”

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

“If I take it up I must understand every detail,” said he. “Take time to consider. The smallest point may be the most essential. You say that the man came ten days ago and paid you for a fortnight's board and lodging?”

“He asked my terms, sir. I said fifty shillings a week. There is a small sitting-room and bedroom, and all complete, at the top of the house.”

“Well?”

He said, “I'll pay you five pounds a week if I can have it on my own terms. I'm a poor woman, sir, and Mr. Warren earns little, and the money meant much to me.” He took out a ten-pound note, and he held it out to me then and there. “You can have the same every fortnight for a long time to come if you keep the terms,” he said. “If not, I'll have no more to do with you.”

“What were the terms?”

“Well, sir, they were that he was to have a key of the house. That was all right. Lodgers often have them. Also, that he was to be left entirely to himself and never, upon any excuse, to be disturbed.”

“Nothing wonderful in that, surely?”

“Not in reason, sir. But this is out of all reason. He has been there for ten days, and neither Mr. Warren, nor I, nor the girl has once set eyes upon him. We can hear that quick step of his pacing up and down, up and down, night, morning, and noon; but except on that first night he had never once gone out of the house.”

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