A Study in Scarlet (Serial Edition Cover) — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

58 A STUDY IN SCARLED. ‘‘Would he not consider it as too dangerous?” ‘‘Not at all. If my view of the case is correct, and I have every reason to believe that it is, this man would rather risk anything than lose the ring. According to my notion he dropped it while stooping over Drebber’s body, and did not miss it at the time. After leaving the house he discovered his loss, and hurried back, but found the police already in possession, owing to his own folly in leaving the candle burning. He had to pretend te be drunk in order to allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate. Now put yourself in that man’s place. On thinking the matter over, it must have occurred to him that it was possible that he had lost the ring in the road after leav- ing the house. What would he do then? He would eagerly look out for the evening papers, in the hope of secing it among the articles found. His eye, of course, would light upon this. He would be overjoyed. Why should he fear a trap? ‘There would be no reason in his eyes why the finding of the ring should be connected with the murder. He would come. He will come. You shall see him within an hour.” “And then?” I asked. | “Oh, you can leave me to deal with him then. Have you any arms?” “ T have my old service revolver and a few cartridges.” “You had better clean it and load it. He will bea desperate man, and though I shall take him unawares, it is as well to be ready for anything.” I went to my bedroom and followed his advice. When I returned with the pistol the table had been Gomichooks. G