The Silver Mirror

The narrative follows an accountant tasked with examining the accounts of a company involved in a legal trial. As he delves into the ledgers, he experiences increasing stress and insomnia, leading him to consult a doctor. During his late-night work sessions, he becomes captivated by an old silver mirror that reflects strange visions. Initially, he sees a clouded image in the mirror, which eventually reveals a woman with intense emotions, accompanied by a man in distress. As the protagonist continues his work, the visions become more vivid, depicting a dramatic scene involving the woman and the man, suggesting a historical event. The accountant becomes obsessed with the mirror and its reflections, which seem to correlate with his mental state. He describes the woman as beautiful yet tormented, and the man as frightened, both caught in a moment of impending danger. The visions escalate, revealing a violent confrontation where the man is attacked by a group of men while the woman looks on in horror. The accountant's mental strain culminates in a breakdown, and he loses consciousness. Upon awakening in a hospital, he learns from his doctor that the scenes he witnessed correspond to the historical murder of David Rizzio, a courtier of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1566. The mirror is believed to have belonged to Mary, and its reflections were a manifestation of the traumatic event that occurred in her presence. The story explores themes of obsession, the intersection of past and present, and the psychological impact of stress and historical trauma. The protagonist's journey through the ledgers and the mirror serves as a conduit for uncovering a dark chapter in history, ultimately leading to a profound realization about the nature of memory and experience.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1926 · Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Historical Fiction · 5,394 words

First lines

Jan. 3. -- This affair of White and Wotherspoon's accounts proves to be a gigantic task. There are twenty thick ledgers to be examined and checked. Who would be a junior partner? However, it is the first big bit of business which has been left entirely in my hands. I must justify it. But it has to be finished so that the lawyers may have the result in time for the trial. Johnson said this morning that I should have to get the last figure out before the twentieth of the month. Good Lord! Well, have at it, and if human brain and nerve can stand the strain, I'll win out at the other side. It means office-work from ten to five, and then a second sitting from about eight to one in the morning. There's drama in an accountant's life. When I find myself in the still early hours, while all the world sleeps, hunting through column after column for those missing figures which will turn a respected alderman into a felon, I understand that it is not such a prosaic profession after all.

What this Textopian page supports

The Silver Mirror is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1926 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Date: 1926 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Historical Fiction, Supernatural, Drama
• Length: 5,394 words
• Structure: 1 section, 38 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Silver Mirror by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Silver Mirror?
• How does this short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

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Genres

• Mystery — The plot revolves around uncovering the truth behind the visions seen in the mirror, which are linked to a historical murder.
• Psychological Thriller — The protagonist experiences intense psychological strain and visions that blur the line between reality and hallucination.
• Historical Fiction — The narrative connects to a real historical event, the murder of Rizzio, and incorporates historical details.
• Supernatural — The mirror serves as a conduit for supernatural visions, suggesting a connection to the past.

Tags

mystery · detective · suspense · crime · investigation · adventure · historical · fiction · thriller · literature · short story · England

More by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

• The Parish Magazine (1914)
• The Great Brown-Pericord Motor (1914)
• The Holocaust of Manor Place (1901)
• The Debatable Case of Mrs. Emsley (1901)
• The Love Affair of George Vincent Parker (1901)
• The Disintegration Machine (1927)
• The Bully of Brocas Court (1914)
• The Brown Hand (1914)
• All works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle