The Mandarin's Pearl
A solicitor visits a forensic expert to discuss the peculiar case of Fred Calverley, a young man exhibiting signs of mental distress after a series of traumatic events, including a railway accident and a storm at sea. Calverley believes he is being followed and has experienced strange delusions, including seeing himself with a different face. The solicitor reveals that Calverley purchased a pendant featuring a large pearl in Marseilles, which he later learns is of significant value. The pendant's history is tied to a tragic tale involving a murdered Chinese mandarin, whose spirit seems to haunt Calverley. Calverley recounts his experiences, including a vision of the mandarin in a mirror, which leads him to believe he is cursed. He becomes increasingly anxious, feeling compelled to return the pearl to the mandarin's family. After several unsettling encounters with the mandarin's apparition, Calverley decides to dispose of the pearl by throwing it into the river, hoping to rid himself of the curse. However, the narrative takes a dark turn when Calverley is found dead, having hanged himself in his room. The investigation reveals that his cousin Alfred and Captain Raggerton conspired to drive him to madness and suicide, motivated by financial gain from a will favoring Alfred. They used a trick involving a mirror to create the illusion of the mandarin's ghost, manipulating Calverley's fragile mental state. The forensic expert, upon discovering the truth, regrets not intervening to prevent Calverley's tragic fate. The story concludes with the revelation of the sinister plot, leaving a lingering sense of tragedy and the consequences of greed and manipulation.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural Fiction · 13,025 words
First lines
Mr. Brodribb stretched out his toes on the kerb before the blazing fire with the air of a man who is by no means insensible to physical comfort.
"You are really an extraordinarily polite fellow, Thorndyke," said he.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mandarin's Pearl is listed on Textopian as a novel by R. Austin Freeman, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: R. Austin Freeman
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural Fiction, Detective Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 13,025 words
- Structure: 1 section, 206 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Mandarin's Pearl by R. Austin Freeman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder mystery involving a cursed pearl and supernatural elements, typical of the mystery genre.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense surrounding the characters' fates and the supernatural occurrences create a thrilling atmosphere.
- Supernatural Fiction — The story includes elements of the supernatural, particularly the ghostly appearances and the curse associated with the pearl.
- Detective Fiction — The character of Thorndyke serves as a detective figure, investigating the strange occurrences and unraveling the mystery.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · thriller · historical · adventure · suspense · investigation · intrigue · Asia · cultural · treasure