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〃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；
Mrs。 Warren； good…bye。〃
At half…past twelve we found ourselves upon the steps of Mrs。
Warren's house… a 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 more 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…place 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 from 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 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 tile 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； Watson… severely 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 attack 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
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 cager 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 flash… that is A； surely。 Now； then。 How many did
you make it？ Twenty。 So did I。 That should mean T。 AT… that's
intelligible enough！ Another T。 Surely this is the beginning of a
second word。 Now； then… TENTA。 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？ ATTE… why； it is the same message over again。 Curious；
Watson； very curious！ Now he is off once more！ AT… why； he is
repeating it for the third time。 ATTENTA three times！ How often will
be repeat it？ No； that seems to be the finish。 He has withdrawn from
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 more rapidly than before…