A Study in Scarlet (Serial Edition Cover) — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

A STUDY IN SCARLET. 73 in his ways. The very night of his arrival he became very much the worse for drink, and, indeed, after twelve o'clock in the day he could hardly ever be said to be sober. His manners toward the maid-servants were disgustingly free and familiar. Worst of all, he speedily assumed the same attitude toward my daughter, Alice, and spoke to her more than once in a way which, fort. unately, she is too innocent to understand. On one occasion he actually seized her in his arms and em. braced her—an outrage which caused his own secretary to reproach him for his unmanly conduct.’ ““But why did you stand all this?’ I asked. ‘] suppose that you can get rid of your boarders when you wish.’ “Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my pertinent question. “Would to God that I had given him notice on the very day he came,’ she said. ‘ But it was a sore tempta- tion. They were paying a pound a day each—fourteen pounds a week, and this is a slack season. I am a widow, and my boy in the navy has cost me much. I grudged to lose the money. I acted forthe best. This last was too much, however, and I gave him notice to leave on account of it. That was the reason of his going.’ “* Well?’ ““My heart grew light when I saw him drive away. My son is on leave just now, but I did not tell him anything of this, for his temper is violent, and he ig passionately fond of his sister: When I closed the door behind them a load seemed to be lifted from my mind. Alas! in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell, S (C©