A Study in Scarlet (Serial Edition Cover) — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

ma A STUDY IN SCARLET. “¢ Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth,’ the girl answered, firmly. ““Vou had best tell me all about it now,’ I said, ‘Half confidences are worse than none. Besides, you do not know how much we know of it.’ “On your head be it, Alice!’ cried her mother; and then, turning to me, ‘I will tell you all, sir. Do not imagine that my agitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a hand in this terrible affair. He is utterly mnocent of it. My dread is, however, that in your eyes and in the eyes of others he may appear to be compromised. ‘That, however, is surely impossible. His high character, his profession, his antecedents would all forbid it.’ “*VYour best way is to make a clean breast of the facts,’ I answered. ‘Depend upon it, if your son is in- nocent he will be none the worse.’ ““* Perhaps, Alice, you had better leave us together,’ she said, and her daughter withdrew. ‘ Now, sir,’ she continued, ‘I had no intention of telling you all this, but since my poor daughter has disclosed it, I have no alternative. Having once decided to speak, I will tell you all without omitting any particular.’ “Tt is your wisest course,’ said I. **¢ Mr. Drebber has been with us nearly three weeks. He and his secretary, Mr. Stangerson, had been travel- ing on the Continent. I noticed a ‘‘ Copenhagen” label upon each of their trunks, showing that that had been their last stopping-place. Stangerson was a quiet, reserved man, but his employer, I am sorry to say, was ar otherwise. He was coarse in his habits and brutish GOMmIGEbDoOoks (E(0)