Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 54109-h.htm or 54109-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54109/54109-h/54109-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54109/54109-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/roundfirestories00doylrich Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [Illustration: “I BURST WITH A SHRIEK INTO MY OWN LIFE.” [_Page 12._] ROUND THE FIRE STORIES by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Author of “The White Company,” etc., etc. With a Frontispiece by A. Castaigne London Smith, Elder & Co., 15, Waterloo Place 1908 (All rights reserved) Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Beccles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE [Illustration] 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