PREFACE 



SEVERAL of the sketches in this volume have 

 appeared in periodicals. ' The Bloody Doctor ' 

 was in Macmillaris Magazine, ' The Confessions 

 of a Duffer,' ' Loch Awe,' and ' The Lady or the 

 Salmon ? ' were in the FisJiing Gazette, but have 

 been to some extent re-written. ' The Double 

 Alibi ' was in Longman's Magazine. The author 

 has to thank the Editors and Publishers for 

 permission to reprint these papers. 



The gem engraved on the cover is enlarged 

 from a small intaglio in the collection of Mr. 

 M. H. N. STORY-MASKELYNE, M.P. Such gems 

 were recommended by Clemens of Alexandria 



