THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE

 

By

 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 


TO MY OLD FRIEND

 

PROFESSOR WILLIAM K. BURTON,

 

OF THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY, TOKYO,

 

WHO FIRST ENCOURAGED ME, YEARS AGO, TO PROCEED WITH

 

THIS LITTLE STORY,

 

I DESIRE AFFECTIONATELY TO

 

DEDICATE IT.

 

THE AUTHOR.

 


CONTENTS:

 

PREFACE. 5

CHAPTER I. MR. JOHN HARSTON KEEPS AN APPOINTMENT. 6

CHAPTER II. CHARITY A LA MODE. 16

CHAPTER III. THOMAS GILRAY MAKES AN INVESTMENT. 20

CHAPTER IV. CAPTAIN HAMILTON MIGGS OF THE "BLACK EAGLE." 23

CHAPTER V. MODERN ATHENIANS. 31

CHAPTER VI. A RECTORIAL ELECTION. 36

CHAPTER VII. ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND. 41

CHAPTER VIII. A FIRST PROFESSIONAL. 49

CHAPTER IX. A NASTY CROPPER. 55

CHAPTER X. DWELLERS IN BOHEMIA. 59

CHAPTER XI. SENIOR AND JUNIOR. 69

CHAPTER XII. A CORNER IN DIAMONDS. 75

CHAPTER XIII. SHADOW AND LIGHT. 81

CHAPTER XIV. A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING. 88

CHAPTER XV. AN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE. 96

CHAPTER XVI. THE FIRST STEP. 99

CHAPTER XVII. THE LAND OF DIAMONDS. 104

CHAPTER XVIII. MAJOR TOBIAS CLUTTERBUCK COMES IN FOR A THOUSAND POUNDS. 109

CHAPTER XIX. NEWS FROM THE URALS. 117

CHAPTER XX. MR. HECTOR O'FLAHERTY FINDS SOMETHING IN THE PAPER. 121

CHAPTER XXI. AN UNEXPECTED BLOW. 129

CHAPTER XXII. ROBBERS AND ROBBED. 137

CHAPTER XXIII. A MOMENTOUS RESOLUTION. 144

CHAPTER XXIV. A DANGEROUS PROMISE. 147

CHAPTER XXV. A CHANGE OF FRONT. 152

CHAPTER XXVI. BREAKING GROUND. 159

CHAPTER XXVII. MRS. SCULLY OF MORRISON'S. 164

CHAPTER XXVIII. BACK IN BOHEMIA. 171

CHAPTER XXIX. THE GREAT DANCE AT MORRISON'S. 175

CHAPTER XXX. AT THE "COCK AND COWSLIP." 181

CHAPTER XXXI. A CRISIS AT ECCLESTON SQUARE. 190

CHAPTER XXXII. A CONVERSATION IN THE ECCLESTON SQUARE LIBRARY. 196

CHAPTER XXXIII. THE JOURNEY TO THE PRIORY. 202

CHAPTER XXXIV. THE MAN WITH THE CAMP-STOOL. 208

CHAPTER XXXV. A TALK ON THE LAWN. 214

CHAPTER XXXVI. THE INCIDENT OF THE CORRIDOR. 219

CHAPTER XXXVII. A CHASE AND A BRAWL. 224

CHAPTER XXXVIII. GIRDLESTONE SENDS FOR THE DOCTOR. 228

CHAPTER XXXIX. A GLEAM OF LIGHT. 233

CHAPTER XL. THE MAJOR HAS A LETTER. 237

CHAPTER XLI. 243

CHAPTER XLII. THE THREE FACES AT THE WINDOW. 250

CHAPTER XLIII. THE BAIT ON THE HOOK. 256

CHAPTER XLIV. THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 260

CHAPTER XLV. THE INVASION OF HAMPSHIRE. 267

CHAPTER XLVI. A MIDNIGHT CRUISE. 273

CHAPTER XLVII. LAW AND ORDER. 282

CHAPTER XLVIII. CAPTAIN HAMILTON MIGGS SEES A VISION. 287

CHAPTER XLIX. A VOYAGE IN A COFFIN SHIP. 294

CHAPTER L. WINDS UP THE THREAD AND TIES TWO KNOTS AT THE END. 304

 


PREFACE

 

I cannot let this small romance go to press without prefacing it with a word of cordial thanks to Mr. P. G. Houlgrave, of 28, Millman Street, Bedfor