The Firm of Girdlestone

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.

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, Bedford Row. To this gentleman I owe the accuracy of my African chapters, and I am much indebted to him for the copious details with which he furnished me.

A. CONAN DOYLE.

Contents

I. Mr. John Harston Keeps An Appointment.

II. Charity A La Mode.

III. Thomas Gilray Makes An Investment.

IV. Captain Hamilton Miggs of The “Black Eagle”.

V. Modern Athenians.

VI. A Rectorial Election.

VII. England Versus Scotland.

VIII. A First Professional.

IX. A Nasty Cropper.

X. Dwellers in Bohemia.

XI. Senior and Junior.

XII. A Corner in Diamonds.

XIII. Shadow and Light.

XIV. A Slight Misunderstanding

XV. An Addition to the House.

XVI. The First Step.

XVII. The Land of Diamonds.

XVIII. Major Tobias Clutterbuck Comes In For A Thousand Pounds.

XIX. News from the Urals.

XX. Mr. Hector O’flaherty Finds Something In The Paper.

XXI. An Unexpected Blow.

XXII. Robbers and Robbed.

XXIII. A Momentous Resolution.

XXIV. A Dangerous Promise.

XXV. A Change Of Front.

XXVI. Breaking Ground.

XXVII. Mrs. Scully Of Morrison’s.

XXVIII. Back in Bohemia.

XXIX. The Great Dance at Morrison’s.

XXX. At The “Cock and Cowslip”.

XXXI. A Crisis at Eccleston Square.

XXXII. A Conversation in The Eccleston Square Library.

XXXIII. The Journey to the Priory.

XXXIV. The Man with the Camp-Stool.

XXXV. A Talk on the Lawn.

XXXVI. The Incident of the Corridor.

XXXVII. A Chase and A Brawl.

XXXVIII. Girdlestone Sends for the Doctor.

XXXIX. A Gleam of Light.

XL. The Major Has a Letter.

XLI. The Clouds Grow Darker.

XLII. The Three Faces at the Window.

XLIII. The Bait on the Hook.

XLIV. The Shadow of Death.

XLV. The Invasion Of Hampshire.

XLVI. A Midnight Cruise.

XLVII. Law and Order.

XLVIII. Captain Hamilton Miggs sees a Vision.

XLIX. A Voyage in a Coffin Ship.

L. Winds up the Thread and ties Two Knots at the End.