Lot no. 249

Name: Lot no. 249
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In a secluded turret of an old college at Oxford, Abercrombie Smith, a medical student, becomes entangled in a series of bizarre and unsettling events involving his neighbor, Edward Bellingham, an eccentric Egyptologist. Bellingham is obsessed with a mummy, referred to as Lot 249, which he has acquired and studies obsessively. Smith's initial interactions with Bellingham are marked by a sense of unease, particularly after witnessing Bellingham faint in front of the mummy, an incident that hints at deeper psychological issues. As Smith continues his studies, he hears strange noises from Bellingham's room, including a chilling scream that prompts him to investigate. He discovers Bellingham in a state of distress, surrounded by Egyptian artifacts, and learns that the mummy has a sinister connection to Bellingham's mental state. Bellingham's obsession with the mummy grows, and he begins to exhibit erratic behavior, including talking to himself and displaying signs of paranoia. Tensions escalate when Smith's friend, Monkhouse Lee, warns him about Bellingham's dangerous nature, suggesting that he should move out of the turret. Lee's sister is engaged to Bellingham, and Lee fears for her safety. A confrontation between Lee and Bellingham reveals a deep-seated animosity, with Lee vowing to end the engagement. Shortly after, Lee is attacked and nearly drowned, an incident that Smith suspects Bellingham orchestrated using the mummy as a weapon. Smith's suspicions lead him to confront Bellingham directly. He believes that Bellingham has discovered a way to animate the mummy, using it to carry out his malicious intentions. In a climactic encounter, Smith forces Bellingham to destroy the mummy and its associated artifacts, fearing that they pose a threat to himself and others. The confrontation culminates in a tense standoff, where Smith's resolve to eliminate the source of danger is tested. Ultimately, Bellingham is left powerless, and Smith's actions prevent further harm. The narrative concludes with Smith reflecting on the strange events and the dark potential of human curiosity and ambition. The story explores themes of obsession, the thin line between sanity and madness, and the consequences of delving into forbidden knowledge.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1892 · Genre: Mystery, Horror, Thriller · 18,417 words

First lines

Of the dealings of Edward Bellingham with William Monkhouse Lee, and of the cause of the great terror of Abercrombie Smith, it may be that no absolute and final judgment will ever be delivered. It is true that we have the full and clear narrative of Smith himself, and such corroboration as he could look for from Thomas Styles the servant, from the Reverend Plumptree Peterson, Fellow of Old's, and from such other people as chanced to gain some passing glance at this or that incident in a singular chain of events. Yet, in the main, the story must rest upon Smith alone, and the most will think that it is more likely that one brain, however outwardly sane, has some subtle warp in its texture, some strange flaw in its workings, than that the path of Nature has been overstepped in open day in so famed a centre of learning and light as the University of Oxford. Yet when we think how narrow and how devious this path of Nature is, how dimly we can trace it, for all our lamps of science, and how from the darkness which girds it round great and terrible possibilities loom ever shadowly upwards, it is a bold and confident man who will put a limit to the strange by-paths into which the human spirit may wander.

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Lot no. 249 is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1892 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1892 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Adventure, Gothic Fiction
Length: 18,417 words
Structure: 1 section, 320 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a mysterious and suspenseful narrative involving a resurrected mummy and a series of strange occurrences.
Horror — The themes of resurrection and the supernatural create a chilling atmosphere typical of horror literature.
Thriller — The tension and urgency in the storyline contribute to a thrilling reading experience.
Adventure — The exploration of ancient artifacts and the unfolding events provide an adventurous backdrop.