Transcribed from the 1899 Grant Richards edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Book cover] A DUET WITH AN OCCASIONAL CHORUS BY A. CONAN DOYLE [Picture: Decorative graphic] * * * * * LONDON GRANT RICHARDS 9 HENRIETTA STREET 1899 * * * * * Edinburgh: T. and A CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty * * * * * TO MRS. MAUDE CROSSE DEAR MAUDE,—All the little two-oared boats which put out into the great ocean have need of some chart which will show them how to lay their course. Each starts full of happiness and confidence, and yet we know how many founder, for it is no easy voyage, and there are rocks and sandbanks upon the way. So I give a few pages of your own private log, which tell of days of peace, and days of storm—such storms as seem very petty from the deck of a high ship, but are serious for the two-oared boats. If your peace should help another to peace, or your storm console another who is storm-tossed, then I know that you will feel repaid for this intrusion upon your privacy. May all your voyage be like the outset, and when at last the oars fall from your hands, and those of Frank, may other loving ones be ready to take their turn of toil—and so, _bon voyage_! Ever your friend, THE AUTHOR. _Jan._ 20, 1899. CONTENTS PAGE THE OVERTURE 1 THE OVERTURE CONTINUED 9 THE OVERTURE CONCLUDED 24 THE TWO SOLOS 34 IN BRITAIN’S VALHALLA 48 TWO SOLOS AND A DUET 71 KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 88 THE HOME-COMING 100 LAYING A COURSE 112 CONFESSIONS 128 CONCERNING MRS. BEETON 146 MR. SAMUEL PEPYS 158 A VISIT TO MR. SAMUEL PEPYS 170 TROUBLE 185 A RESCUE 204 THE BROWNING SOCIETY 218 AN INVESTMENT 236 A THUNDERCLOUD 251 DANGER 269 NO. 5 CHEYNE ROW 290 THE LAST NOTE OF THE DUET 311 THE TRIO 326 THE OVERTURE I ABOUT THAT DATE THESE are the beginnings of some of the letters which they wrote about that time. _Woking_, _May_ 20_th_.