PREFACE
In a previous volume, “The Green Flag,” I have assembled a number of my stories which deal with warfare or with sport. In the present collection those have been brought together which are concerned with the grotesque and with the terrible—such tales as might well be read “round the fire” upon a winter’s night. This would be my ideal atmosphere for such stories, if an author might choose his time and place as an artist does the light and hanging of his picture. However, if they have the good fortune to give pleasure to any one, at any time or place, their author will be very satisfied.
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
Windlesham,
Crowborough.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
|---|---|---|
| I. | The Leather Funnel | [1] |
| II. | The Beetle Hunter | [18] |
| III. | The Man with the Watches | [41] |
| IV. | The Pot of Caviare | [65] |
| V. | The Japanned Box | [85] |
| VI. | The Black Doctor | [103] |
| VII. | Playing with Fire | [129] |
| VIII. | The Jew’s Breastplate | [149] |
| IX. | The Lost Special | [177] |
| X. | The Club-footed Grocer | [202] |
| XI. | The Sealed Room | [229] |
| XII. | The Brazilian Cat | [248] |
| XIII. | The Usher of Lea House School | [276] |
| XIV. | The Brown Hand | [299] |
| XV. | The Fiend of the Cooperage | [321] |
| XVI. | Jelland’s Voyage | [340] |
| XVII. | B. 24 | [351] |
| “I burst with a Shriek into my own Life.” | [Frontispiece]. | |
| (From a drawing by A. Castaigne.) | ||
ROUND THE FIRE STORIES