Firm of Girdlestone

Conan Doyle Sir Arthur

Description

Today, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's place in the literary canon is secured by his series of detective stories featuring the idiosyncratic but brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes. However, Doyle's literary talents were wide-ranging, and he dabbled in many genres over the course of his career. The Firm of Girdlestone is a novel in the classic suspense tradition in which a greedy father-and-son team resort to terrible crimes to keep their floundering business afloat.

Sujets

• Thriller

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 novembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775450153
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE
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SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
 
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The Firm of Girdlestone First published in 1890 ISBN 978-1-775450-15-3 © 2010 The Floating Press
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
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Contents
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Preface Chapter I - Mr. John Harston Keeps an Appointment Chapter II - Charity a la Mode Chapter III - Thomas Gilray Makes an Investment Chapter IV - Captain Hamilton Miggs of the "Black Eagle" Chapter V - Modern Athenians Chapter VI - A Rectorial Election Chapter VII - England Versus Scotland Chapter VIII - A First Professional Chapter IX - A Nasty Cropper Chapter X - Dwellers in Bohemia Chapter XI - Senior and Junior Chapter XII - A Corner in Diamonds Chapter XIII - Shadow and Light Chapter XIV - A Slight Misunderstanding Chapter XV - An Addition to the House Chapter XVI - The First Step Chapter XVII - The Land of Diamonds Chapter XVIII - Major Tobias Clutterbuck Comes in for a Thousand Pounds Chapter XIX - News from the Urals Chapter XX - Mr. Hector O'Flaherty Finds Something in the Paper Chapter XXI - An Unexpected Blow Chapter XXII - Robbers and Robbed Chapter XXIII - A Momentous Resolution Chapter XXIV - A Dangerous Promise Chapter XXV - A Change of Front Chapter XXVI - Breaking Ground Chapter XXVII - Mrs. Scully of Morrison's Chapter XXVIII - Back in Bohemia Chapter XXIX - The Great Dance at Morrison's Chapter XXX - At the "Cock and Cowslip" Chapter XXXI - A Crisis at Eccleston Square Chapter XXXII - A Conversation in the Eccleston Square Library Chapter XXXIII - The Journey to the Priory Chapter XXXIV - The Man with the Camp-Stool Chapter XXXV - A Talk on the Lawn Chapter XXXVI - The Incident of the Corridor Chapter XXXVII - A Chase and a Brawl Chapter XXXVIII - Girdlestone Sends for the Doctor Chapter XXXIX - A Gleam of Light Chapter XL - The Major Has a Letter Chapter XLI - The Clouds Grow Darker Chapter XLII - The Three Faces at the Window Chapter XLIII - The Bait on the Hook Chapter XLIV - The Shadow of Death Chapter XLV - The Invasion of Hampshire Chapter XLVI - A Midnight Cruise Chapter XLVII - Law and Order Chapter XLVIII - Captain Hamilton Miggs Sees a Vision Chapter XLIX - A Voyage in a Coffin Ship Chapter L - Winds Up the Thread and Ties Two Knots at the End Endnotes
Preface
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I cannot let this small romance go to press without prefacing it with aword of cordial thanks to Mr. P. G. Houlgrave, of 28, Millman Street,Bedford Row. To this gentleman I owe the accuracy of my Africanchapters, and I am much indebted to him for the copious details withwhich he furnished me.
A. CONAN DOYLE.
Chapter I - Mr. John Harston Keeps an Appointment
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The approach to the offices of Girdlestone and Co. was not a verydignified one, nor would the uninitiated who traversed it form anyconception of the commercial prosperity of the firm in question.Close to the corner of a broad and busy street, within a couple ofhundred yards of Fenchurch Street Station, a narrow doorway opens into along whitewashed passage. On one side of this is a brass plate with theinscription "Girdlestone and Co., African Merchants," and above it acurious hieroglyphic supposed to represent a human hand in the act ofpointing. Following the guidance of this somewhat ghostly emblem, thewayfarer finds himself in a small square yard surrounded by doors, uponone of which the name of the firm reappears in large white letters, withthe word "Push" printed beneath it. If he follows this laconicinvitation he will make his way into a long, low apartment, which is thecounting-house of the African traders.
On the afternoon of which we speak things were quiet at the offices.The line of pigeon-holes in the wire curtain was deserted by the public,though the linoleum-covered floor bore abundant traces of a busymorning. Misty London light shone hazily through the glazed windows andcast dark shadows in the corners. On a high perch in the background aweary-faced, elderly man, with muttering lips and tapping fingers, castup endless lines of figures. Beneath him, in front of two long shiningmahogany desks, half a score of young men, with bent heads and stoopingshoulders, appeared to be riding furiously, neck and neck, in the raceof life. Any habitue of a London office might have deduced from theirrelentless energy and incorruptible diligence that they were under theeyes of some member of the firm.
The member in question was a broad-shouldered, bull-necked young man,who leaned against the marble mantel-piece, turning over the pages of analmanac, and taking from time to time a stealthy peep over the top of itat the toilers around him. Command was imprinted in every line of hisstrong, square-set face and erect, powerful frame. Above the mediumsize, with a vast spread of shoulder, a broad aggressive jaw, and brightbold glance, his whole pose and expression spoke of resolution pushed tothe verge of obstinacy. There was something classical in the regularolive-tinted features and black, crisp, curling hair fitting tightly tothe well-rounded head. Yet, though classical, there was an absence ofspirituality. It was rather the profile of one of those Roman emperors,splendid in its animal strength, but lacking those subtle softnesses ofeye and mouth which speak of an inner life. The heavy gold chain acrossthe waistcoat and the bright stone which blazed upon the finger were thenatural complement of the sensuous lip and curving chin. Such was Ezra,only child of John Girdlestone, and heir to the whole of his vastbusiness. Little wonder that those who had an eye to the future bentover their ledgers and worked with a vigour calculated to attract theattention of the junior partner, and to impress him with a due sense oftheir enthusiastic regard for the interests of the firm.
It was speedily apparent, however, that the young gentleman's estimateof their services was not entirely based upon their present performance.With his eyes still fixed upon the almanac and a sardonic smile upon hisdark face, he uttered a single word—
"Parker!"
A flaxen-haired clerk, perched at the further end of the high glisteningdesk, gave a violent start, and looked up with a scared face.
"Well, Parker, who won?" asked the junior partner.
"Won, sir!" the youth stammered.
"Yes, who won?" repeated his employer.
"I hardly understand you, sir," the clerk said, growing very red andconfused.
"Oh yes, you do, Parker," young Girdlestone remarked, tapping hisalmanac sharply with the paper-knife. "You were playing odd man outwith Robson and Perkins when I came in from lunch. As I presume youwere at it all the time I was away, I have a natural curiosity to knowwho won."
The three unhappy clerks fixed their eyes upon their ledgers to avoidthe sarcastic gaze of their employer. He went on in the same quiettones—
"You gentlemen draw about thirty shillings a week from the firm.I believe I am right in my figures, Mr. Gilray?" addressing the seniorclerk seated at the high solitary desk apart from the others. "Yes, Ithought so. Now, odd man out is, no doubt, a very harmless andfascinating game, but you can hardly expect us to encourage it so far asto pay so much an hour for the privilege of having it played in ourcounting-house. I shall therefore recommend my father to deduct fiveshillings from the sum which each of you will receive upon Saturday.That will cover the time which you have devoted to your own amusementsduring the week."
He paused, and the three culprits were beginning to cool down andcongratulate themselves, when he began again.
"You will see, Mr. Gilray, that this deduction is made," he said,"and at the same time I beg that you will deduct ten shillings from yourown salary, since, as senior clerk, the responsibility of keeping orderin this room in the absence of your employers rests with you, and youappear to have neglected it. I trust you will look to this, Mr.Gilray."
"Yes, sir," the senior clerk answered meekly. He was an elderly manwith a large family, and the lost ten shillings would make a differenceto the Sunday dinner. There was nothing for it but to bow to theinevitable, and his little pinched face assumed an expression of gentleresignation. How to keep his ten young subordinates in order, however,was a problem which vexed him sorely.
The junior partner was silent, and the remaining clerks were workinguneasily, not exactly knowing whether they might not presently beincluded in the indictment. Their fears were terminated, however, bythe sharp sound of a table-gong and the appearance of a boy with theannouncement that Mr. Girdlestone would like a moment's conversationwith Mr. Ezra. The latter gave a keen glance at his subjects andwithdrew into the back office, a disappearance which was hailed by tenpens being thrown into the air and deftly caught again, while as manyderisive and triumphant young men mocked at the imploring efforts of oldGilray in the interests of law and order.
The sanctum of Mr. John Girdlestone was approached by two doors, one ofoak with ground-glass panels, and the other covered with green baize.The room itself was small, but lofty, and the walls were ornamented bynumerous sections of ships stuck upon long flat boards, very much as theremains of fossil fish are exhibited in museums, together with maps,charts, photographs, and lists of sailings innumerable. Above thefire-place was a large water-colour painting of the barque Belinda asshe appeared when on a reef to the north of Cape Palmas. An inscriptionbeneath this work of art announced that it had been pai