Preface

Transcribed from the 1921 Eveleigh Nash & Grayson edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

RODNEY STONE

By

A. CONAN DOYLE

London

EVELEIGH NASH & GRAYSON LTD.

148, Strand

1921

PREFACE

Amongst the books to which I am indebted for my material in my endeavour to draw various phases of life and character in England at the beginning of the century, I would particularly mention Ashton's"Dawn of the Nineteenth Century;"Gronow's"Reminiscences;"Fitzgerald's"Life and Times of George IV.;"Jesse's"Life of Brummell;""Boxiana;""Pugilistica;"Harper's"Brighton Road;"Robinson's"Last Earl of Barrymore"and"Old Q.;"Rice's"His tory of the Turf;"Tristram's"Coaching Days;"James's"Naval His tory;"Clark Russell's"Collingwood"and"Nelson."

I am also much indebted to my friends Mr. J. C. Parkinson and Robert Barr for information upon the subject of the ring.

A. CONAN DOYLE.

Haslemere,

September 1, 1896.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

PAGE

I.

Friar's Oak

1

II.

The Walker of Cliffe Royal

18

III.

The Play-actress of Anstey Cross

33

IV.

The Peace of Amiens

50

V.

Buck Tregellis

65

VI.

On the Threshold

86

VII.

The Hope of England

98

VIII.

The Brighton Road

121

IX.

Watier's

136

X.

The Men of the Ring

153

XI.

The Fight in the Coach-house

179

XII.

The Coffee-room of Fladong's

201

XIII.

Lord Nelson

221

XIV.

On the Road

234

XV.

Foul Play

253

XVI.

Crawley Downs

261

XVII.

The Ring-side

277

XVIII.

The Smith's Last Battle

294

XIX.

Cliffe Royal

314

XX.

Lord Avon

326

XXI.

The Valet's Story

340

XXII.

The End

355