
A cramped, dust‑laden shop on Seven Dials brims with oddities—tusks, skulls, a moth‑eaten monkey holding a lamp, and in the centre, a gleaming crystal egg that catches every eye. When a thin clergyman and a restless young man step inside, their bargaining over the egg’s price quickly turns uneasy, as the shopkeeper, Mr. Cave, fumbles with nervous explanations and a sudden, inexplicable interruption by his own wife. Her brusque demand that the egg be sold for five pounds throws the scene into further confusion, hinting that the object may be more than a mere curiosity.
Amid the clutter and the heated exchange, the young man’s calm suggestion to reconvene in two days adds a layer of suspense, implying that the crystal holds secrets yet to be uncovered. Listeners are drawn into a vivid Victorian world where ordinary antiques conceal extraordinary possibilities, setting the stage for a tale that balances intrigue, atmosphere, and a touch of the uncanny.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (407K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-11-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1866–1946
A pioneer of modern science fiction, this English writer imagined time travel, alien invasion, and invisible men with a mix of adventure and sharp social insight. His stories still feel lively because they pair big ideas with very human fears and hopes.
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