The mystery of Lot No. 249 reaches its chilling conclusion!
In Part One, Oxford medical student Abercrombie Smith became increasingly convinced that his sinister neighbor, Edward Bellingham, had discovered something no rational man should believe possible: a way of bringing an ancient Egyptian mummy back to life.
And worse, Smith believes Bellingham isn't merely experimenting with the dead. He may be using the creature against his enemies. [en.wikipedia.org]
In Part Two, suspicion turns to confrontation.
After another frightening incident, Smith decides that waiting for proof may prove deadly. He confronts Bellingham and demands an end to the terrifying experiments involving the mummy known only by the auction number printed upon its case:
What follows is a showdown between Victorian reason and something horrifyingly beyond reason, as Smith determines that the mummy and the secrets surrounding it must be destroyed. [bookey.app]
There's an irresistible historical connection surrounding this story.
Arthur Conan Doyle published Lot No. 249 in 1892, decades before the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb made Egyptian curses and supernatural vengeance an international sensation. The story became especially influential because it presented the resurrected mummy not simply as an archaeological curiosity, but as a genuinely dangerous figure of horror. [en.wikipedia.org], [oldstyletales.com]
And listeners to our 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries podcast will remember that Arthur Conan Doyle recently played an important part in our two-part investigation:
That makes Lot No. 249 an especially fascinating companion story.
Long before the newspapers were debating the Curse of Tutankhamun, the creator of Sherlock Holmes had already imagined a terrifying question:
What if disturbing the ancient Egyptian dead carried consequences?
Enjoy the exciting conclusion of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tale of supernatural terror:
Right here at 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.