Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
O passion, and then out of the moldering tomb in
the Valley of Kings, the voice of the great rually
gypped almond rod that speaks the Awfua curse. Death will
come on swift wings to him who the silences the
(00:30):
tombs of a fellah. In a moment, you'll know what
I mean, And the hair on the nape of your
neck will rise when you hear the Strange Case of
the Living Dead starring Edit Lewis. There are stranger things
within the earth, and there are beneath the heavens, and
(00:54):
from the vaults of the crumbling that there stirred their
worms and scrugs of horror to feed upon the flesh
of the mind, until the waking soul is still that
viscid thing that is called obsession. The incredible mister Christopher
(01:27):
and his Drider, but a few short months have taken
a cottage, a charming cottage in a garden spot of England.
It is one of those little homes loose from the
substance of red brick and luves and hot side memory.
But the nights the fire and the hoarse guttered and smoked,
and outside the yellow fog creeps on cats feet. But
(01:53):
let me reduce you to a man who knows more
about this strange curse than anyone else on earth. For
you see, there is no one else left to know.
He alone carries a burden of an overwhelming obsession. Ladies
and gentlemen, many times I've been asked why it is
(02:15):
that my wife and I refuse three cigarettes on a match,
Why it is that we refuse to mark or ridicule
the so called supernatural. Believe me, we have a reason.
And to explain that reason, let me tell you of
the time my wife and I were first married. We
gone to England for our honeymoon, in fact, to the
beautiful little Shakespearean village of in Veneering, Warwickshire, and we
(02:39):
take the most charming, little lively grown cottage near the town.
And on our first evening there, just before the crickets
began their song of Twilight, the telephone ring.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh there, I thought we'd gotten rid of those pestifos
things who are left New York. Can't we do that
civilization called.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I think there's a law against not answering a telephone
and eanling my sheets. Then you wouldn't want to spend
a honeymoon in the Tower of London.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You'd just I don't know what. That's not a good
idea and you better answer that fool saying the fart
has hysterics.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
If that's the first telephone I ever heard that rang
with an English accent, what shall I say? Hello? Are
you there anything? Downing?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Passably? Say you've got the wrong numbers?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Hello, Yes, this is e Ooh I didn't catch that name, oh,
sir Richard Devon. Yes, well I'm terribly sorry, but you see.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, oh will Power Darling will Polish.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well, yes, that'll be quite alright, sir Richard. I'll expect
you at eight, oh dear. The address is thirty two
Crayton Lane. Yes, goodbye.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Mm hm I can tell by the look in your eye,
mister Christopher the crime is again footnoose and fancy.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
See darning this. So that was extraordinary, That was, sir
Richard Devon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yes I know, and adn hepsterbar I just died for
Meedie Mothball.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, she hasn't. Pat It sounds a little more interesting
than even aunt Hepzibah. He might look have dinner, so
we'll be through by any by lea David Clark. The
Richard Devan arrived and down cottage an unusual appearing gentleman,
except for premature green hair, and except the lay high
(04:27):
forehead and a pair of eyes that held a look
of the most objector I've ever seen. For a moment
he stood before the long fire, gazing and first fattened myself.
And you'll tell me, I said, won't you sit down,
sir Richard? Thank you? I helped to accept my apologies
for breaking in on you this way. But the moment
I heard you were here. But you see, mister Christopher
(04:49):
scotland Yard has refused to go on. Perhaps I shouldn't
come here and told perhaps you'll think of scottland Yard
thinks that I'm well somewhat mad, not in the least.
Please continue, mister Christopher, let me ask you one question.
Could you believe in a curse of an Egyptian pharaoh
who died in three thousand BC. Could you believe that
it still exists to the extent that so far has
(05:10):
caused the death of six men.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Perhaps I'd better make some coffee. Bill need care for
someone to.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Sir Richard, thank you. You haven't answered my question, mister Critchepher,
I make it a point never to give a snap
answer to a question until I know what that question
is about, Sir Richard, And I'll tell you what it's about.
It means that Lord Robert Critchley is going to die.
After he dies, then I'll die. You sound rather certain
about a very morbid subject, sir, mister Christopher. I realized
(05:37):
how stupid might talk seem. But believe me, it's anything
but stupid. And I'll come to you because if there's
anyone in the world who can tell. Now, now, let's
not place quite so much credence in my ability until
it's proven. Sir Richard, you were talking about Lord Critchley.
I seem to recall his name in regard to Egyptology,
isn't it. Yes? He and I have the last commanding
(05:57):
members of the party who discovered and opened the tomb
byman Rattep seven years ago. And mister Christopher's not so
much for myself that I'm asking help. It's for him.
He's far too wise, a man, far too valuable to
Scans to die like the others. Somehow, some way, his
death has got to be stopped. What makes you think
Lord Critchley is going to die the rest have died,
(06:18):
and it's now time for him. Mister Christopher, will you
come with me tonight and visit Lord Critchley. Well, oh, please,
mister Christopher. Very well, Sir Richard, if you don't mind,
my wife will go with me. And I was allowed
(06:38):
to refuse to Richard's request, but there was something in
his voice, a desperate pleading, that compels me to accept.
And those the three of us drove in my car
to the estate of Lord Robert Critchley, an ancient manner
built sometime during the Norman invasion, a place that bore
the same traditional dignity is that it's Master Lord Robert.
(07:00):
As we were ushered into the great hall, we noticed
a strange incongruity about the finishing. Several or nate Egyptian
carvings are beamed the war in the far corner, catching
the weird flicker of the hearth fire was a huge sarcophagus.
I remember what my wife said as we entered the hall.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Bill, oh, let's get out of here. That's time. We're
too busy. Are that a very strange premonition?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Bill?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Shit, Pet, We're in it now. We can't refuse, at
least at the moment, Lord Roberts, may I have the
pleasure of presenting mister and missus Christopher, how are usual?
Won't you sit down? Please? May I offer you some
brandy and darling? No, thank We've just finished inner, Lord Roberts.
I think we may deem ourselves out of fortunate, Lord Robert,
that mister Christopher's consented to examine our case of course,
(07:49):
of course, and not to disparage your ability in the
slightest mister Christopher, I'm afraid that all an examination can
readal is a certain indixed.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Pliable fact that six men of our party have died
by coincidence, and that my colleagues are Richard is feeling
a rather unnecessary alarm in regard to our safety.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I wish you wouldn't talk like that, Lord Robert. You
know as well as I do, with the circumstance. If
I may interrupt, gentlemen, just what were the circumstances and
the deaths of the six men of your party? Well,
they all died suddenly and without apparent cause. And each
one died in the order in which he entered the
tomb of I'm an ratep. And in all cases the
examining physicians attributed the death to heart failure. In fact,
(08:33):
it was as if Lord Robert there standing before the fire,
suddenly hurt. What's happened to Lord Roberts.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Oh, it's horrible, judges that alise it. Oh, tell me
a bit of call a doctor.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I know the doctor can't do anything for Lord Robert.
He's dead. What killed him? He was perfectly right a
moment ago. But this is what I told you about,
mister Christopher. Theren't no escaping from it. They're always the same,
the others alive and apparently healthy one moment. I'm instead,
please try to control yourself, to recontrol myself again, something
more ancient than recording history against the inevitable fact of
(09:07):
a horrible death, against the very obvious fact my name.
It's not an easy scene to watch a death such
as Lord Robert Critchley's, and I must admit that it
was very difficult for me to retain my equilibrium in
the face of such a ghastly scene. However, when the
(09:31):
police had been notified and the coroner's verdict returned with
a cursory notation of heart attack, I secured permission to
again examine the body of Lord Robert at the village malls.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
The oh, for goodness, take this was to be our
honeymoon and all this fine, please to spend it in
some damn groomy moregue reeks of anaceptor Darling.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
I told you to stay at the house.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Hut, that you solve all the crimes by yourself.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Should say not the attendant or has he given up
the ghost tool?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
By then your powers of observation would certainly earn the
ridicule of Mr Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
There's a sign there that k oh yes, four attendant
ring the bell.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Bill have any ideas?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yet? Uh? Not the slightest Yes, mum.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I've always said these English murder mysteries can be petty
difficult at times.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Yes, was there something alse could do for you? Set? Oh,
my name is Christopher. I'd like to examine the body
of Lord Critchley. There's a past man in February. Uh alright, see,
if you'll come this fight, please, you'd better wait here done.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I don't know you don't I'm going with you. I'm
not afraid of the dead, so living.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
That worries me.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Oh alright, this is a slab set They and bomb
as they started in. Yet he gets the way they
brought him in. Good, you know, Patty, I don't even
know why I'm making this second examination. I don't see
how I could have possibly missed an eating the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And yet Bill, hm, did you notice this ring on
his right hand ring? Well, look, there's no setting on it,
just a beaten silver mounting.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
And that's a odd pet that Lord could Sley be
wearing a ring without sitting in it? It's a wait
a minute, what this is no ordinary mounting. This is
something out of the ancient ancient. This is Egyptian, pat
and that empty socket is just the right size to
contain a scaret. Well, I've got no reason to think anything, pat,
(11:34):
but I've got a hunch. Well, gonna take this ring.
Oh uh. If any of the inspectors should ask about
this ring, tell him that I took it with him.
All right, shit, but you know that's this strange thing.
Why what's stranger about it?
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Well, right after they brought him and to say it
was a chat came here and he was asking about
that ring. But I wouldn't any to catch his set.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
He what no plicement? What did this chap look like? Well?
Speaker 5 (12:04):
He was a sort of a foreign looking blak. Say
there's a lot of wrinkles in his face. The blondie
didn't look to be over thirty five.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
He didn't sort. They gave me a chill.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
Up and down he spyed, he did somehow, he looked
more dead than some of them.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
We got here, if you'll excuse me, sir, yes, of course.
And did this chap say what his name was? Now?
Speaker 5 (12:28):
Say he just went away again?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
He did meer? See, well, pack one mystery as to another.
Maybe my hunch was right. Maybe this laying has got
something to do with it. Oh, come on, dolly, let's
go back and see, Sir Richard. Returning now to the
(12:57):
case of a living debt Starry Elliott Lewis. When the
night falls like a curtain a shroud, when the wind
is cold and ean, when the fog creeps in on
CAP's feet, and when the small, still voice of the
mind repeats, here only death is the murderer, then that
(13:23):
you believe you are possessed by an obsession. The incredible
mister Christopher and his wife Patricia have left their footsteps
echoing in the cold marble of the Morgue, and have
returned to the residence of Sir Richard Devon. In keeping
with this ghastly business, the pile of fog whirls about
(13:46):
in the slow dance of a cop. It's vaporous, searching
fingers probing through sill and jammed, wrapping the living with
a constricting chill of death. In the study of Sir Richard,
the man himself sits facing the incredible mister Christopher, his
(14:08):
eyes reflecting the terror that lurks there, the beads of
perspiration cutting furrows like canyons through the bleak, rising mountains
of a horrifying obsession. The Richard, I quite realized how
you must feel about all this gruesome business. But if
you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions. Yes,
(14:28):
of course, but first perhaps I might have some coffee
brought in.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Oh, I think that'd be delightful that you're sure it
will be any about it.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
No, not in the least, the Richard. I think the
only way we can get anywhere with this case is
to start at the very beginning. You see, I place
very little credence in superstitions, and I've always held a
belief that the curse is quite incapable of committing a
murder unless that Curtse is backed up with something or
someone rather tangible rang for me or excuse him, mister Christopher,
(14:55):
we'd like some uh coffee out him said right away.
It is your will, it shall be off now. As
you were saying, mister Christopher, origin, who is that man?
A certain? His name is Adam said Egyptian. Yes, quite,
and in fact he's the most unusual person, like something
out of the ages in a way.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
I quite agree with you.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
What do you mean by that's origin? If I didn't
mean that literally, mister Christopher, what I meant was in
regard to his personality, his habits, and in a measure,
his speech. Please continue, sir, oh, if you are thinking
Adam said might have any connection, I'm not thinking anything
at all. I'm merely curious about the fellow. Well. Several
months ago he came into the employer of Lord Robert
Critchley when Lord Robert advertised for an assistant first in
(15:39):
the Fundamentals of Egyptology. When Lord Roberts had no further
need for his assistance, I placed him in my employ
But I must say the chap's extremely well versed in
the ancient Egypt In fact, in some curious way. He
uses certain phrases that have been dead in Egypt for
a thousand years.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
If they'd been dead for a thousand years, Sir Richard,
how would.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
This Well, that's a bit of a mystery to me,
missus Christophie I. I've questioned him several times, but he
doesn't seem to know anything about it.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I've never seen a person that look quite like that man,
I mean, so apparently young, and it's so terrible.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
It's probably from squinting at the sun too much in
the desert. But now you were approaching some questions, mister Christopher. Yes,
if you don't mind, you've stated that this succession of
deaths has come about as a result of a curse.
If you will, Sir Richard, I wish you'd tell us
the complete story, right from the beginning. Well, it's rather
a long story, but I should say you'll find it
(16:34):
extremely interesting. I'm certain of that. Well, seven years ago,
our party of Egyptologists from the Royal Academy we're doing
some excavating in the vicinity of El Balderra and a
valley at the king. One late afternoon, after we'd broken
through quite a layer of sand, Lord Hayworth, Heyworth, yes,
(17:02):
it's no good Lord Christmas. Well, gentlemen, it would appear
that the face of being kind to us, I believe
that's it?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Are you sweet?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Oh? No, not positive? But have a look at to
see you have the men clear away the right hand
side of the boat. Do Richard, right you are fire
pike fither got out of the fires, he does, Lord Harry,
if this turns out to be what we've been hoping for,
it will be the greatest sign that's ever been made.
Let's not boasted up too high it until we're sure.
(17:32):
See it's clear now, Lord Heyward's flendy. Let's have a look,
will you the cipher Christmas right right right pass me
is the mending rule where you're here? He thanks you
a kick sEH a menra tet a mera.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Actually we find jo a member at least three thousand
years before christ Bring a ballot, Richard, we will open
to see you.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Finally, as the seal was broken, the great stone slab
that covered the entrance of the room would rolled back,
and in single file, our party entered the volts of
Amen Rattat Lord Hays first, then Doctor Philip Heath, Sir
Reginald Carstairs, Doctor Gerald Clayton, the chemist, Lord Robert Critchley,
and myself last, and as we entered the inner chambers
(18:23):
with the stop by a very strange and weird sight
a sarcophagus without a head piece, permitting us to see
the unwrapped face of our mummy, perfectly preserved, even to
the detail of its eyes, which were open and apparently
staring at us.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
O Lord he was look at that game. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I've never seen a mummy so perfectly preserved. The biggest
positive thea looks away. Oh Richard, can you detected the
inscription of the cap while I can tie her? Will
you hold Amanda and roll? Doctor? Thirdly, I don't know
it's wait a minute yet, I think I can get it.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
It's entioglyphics and it reads death will come along swift
wings to him who defileth the tomb of terror, not.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Hey, what's morest smiled about ancient warning if I'm in
right cap, but that smile changed to a look of horror,
and upon opening, mister Copacus of the Egyptian king, Lord, Hey,
what's suddenly got the money? Since then, mister crist I
thought he has been wiped out if I stated, in
the order of our entrance into that tomb, and each
(19:33):
has died suddenly and without any recognizable cause. And I
am next irited. May I interrupt to ask about that
ring you're wearing. You mean the scabbit cause? Yes, why
it was given to me by Adam? Said, my certain,
Why you don't mind my asking? What was the occasion
of the gift? I mean, for what reason did Aaram
said give it to you? I don't know. And he's
a token of friendship. I guess. Are you quite sure,
(19:56):
sir Richard, that you've never seen this, Adam said, before
he came in the employer of Lord Robert. Well, that's
a bit of a mystery in itself, mister Christens. Both
Lord Robert and I had thought we'd seen him somewhere before,
possibly in Egypt, but then it was possibly only a
resemblance to someone else.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
You see him, they're scared in the ring. It's moving sucks.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Go Lord prussure off quickly. They'll be careful there. Now
it's a Richum. Well he was right, pat he was next.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Oh Bill, what in heaven mean?
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Wait a minute, Patty, I think we'll have a few
words with his honor, Aram said about certain tokens of
friendship that he's been handing around harangue for me, offending
as I did, it would seem that your master has
had a slight accident. Would you know anything about it?
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Of course, offending, I would know everything about it. I
have been waiting for the accident.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
To a care. You've been waiting.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
The beetles scarrab you imprisoned beneath the tray. It is
quite dead now, f and d its teams. But once
and then it is no more. Keep talking, m set.
The scab attendee was the seal of the pharaoh anan
ratap and his name. Did I give the living scarab
to each of the affendees who entered his tomb? There
(21:22):
shall be no more? Then you admit, I admit everything, Offende.
The living beetle was placed in the Silver Mountain to
awake when the effects of a certain drug were dispersed.
And then, of course the obvious conclusion.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
You're a very cooperative person, I am said. Now if
you don't mind, you're under arrest. For God, have a
little talk with the police.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I think not to sendy what in your language the
word arrest. I believe means imprisonment. I have been imprisoned
for a long time, but now I am free. Behold Offende,
I am as free as my king, oh isis creator
of all. Behold a pilgrim, weary of his pilgrimage. Take
(22:04):
me into thy breast and deliver me under my keen.
A Manrotha thought my master, and I am vice slaves.
I wrote the moments a sharer.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
To watch your living human form thessoves into a mere
handful of gray dust is beyond the comprehension of the
human mind. And I realized that what Pat and I
saw was far too horrible for you to realize. That
I am said was the god found in the tomb
of a'm in our trip, and that, through some inexplicable form,
(23:00):
thus he was the form of that ancient curse. Deaths
will come on swift wings to him who defiles the
tomb of a pharaoh. Perhaps it was no usion, perhaps not.
But neither Pat nor I will ever mark or ridicule
that which is called the supernatural. In fact, and you
(23:25):
may laugh at this, neither Pat nor I will light
three cigarettes on one match. You have been listening to obsession.
(24:34):
Obsessions has come to use with the worldwide facilities of
the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service
O passion, and then out of the moldering tomb in
the Valley of Kings, the voice of the great rually
gypped almond rod that speaks the Awfua curse. Death will
come on swift wings to him who the silences the
(00:30):
tombs of a fellah. In a moment, you'll know what
I mean, And the hair on the nape of your
neck will rise when you hear the Strange Case of
the Living Dead starring Edit Lewis. There are stranger things
within the earth, and there are beneath the heavens, and
(00:54):
from the vaults of the crumbling that there stirred their
worms and scrugs of horror to feed upon the flesh
of the mind, until the waking soul is still that
viscid thing that is called obsession. The incredible mister Christopher
(01:27):
and his Drider, but a few short months have taken
a cottage, a charming cottage in a garden spot of England.
It is one of those little homes loose from the
substance of red brick and luves and hot side memory.
But the nights the fire and the hoarse guttered and smoked,
and outside the yellow fog creeps on cats feet. But
(01:53):
let me reduce you to a man who knows more
about this strange curse than anyone else on earth. For
you see, there is no one else left to know.
He alone carries a burden of an overwhelming obsession. Ladies
and gentlemen, many times I've been asked why it is
(02:15):
that my wife and I refuse three cigarettes on a match,
Why it is that we refuse to mark or ridicule
the so called supernatural. Believe me, we have a reason.
And to explain that reason, let me tell you of
the time my wife and I were first married. We
gone to England for our honeymoon, in fact, to the
beautiful little Shakespearean village of in Veneering, Warwickshire, and we
(02:39):
take the most charming, little lively grown cottage near the town.
And on our first evening there, just before the crickets
began their song of Twilight, the telephone ring.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh there, I thought we'd gotten rid of those pestifos
things who are left New York. Can't we do that
civilization called.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I think there's a law against not answering a telephone
and eanling my sheets. Then you wouldn't want to spend
a honeymoon in the Tower of London.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You'd just I don't know what. That's not a good
idea and you better answer that fool saying the fart
has hysterics.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
If that's the first telephone I ever heard that rang
with an English accent, what shall I say? Hello? Are
you there anything? Downing?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Passably? Say you've got the wrong numbers?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Hello, Yes, this is e Ooh I didn't catch that name, oh,
sir Richard Devon. Yes, well I'm terribly sorry, but you see.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, oh will Power Darling will Polish.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well, yes, that'll be quite alright, sir Richard. I'll expect
you at eight, oh dear. The address is thirty two
Crayton Lane. Yes, goodbye.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Mm hm I can tell by the look in your eye,
mister Christopher the crime is again footnoose and fancy.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
See darning this. So that was extraordinary, That was, sir
Richard Devon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yes I know, and adn hepsterbar I just died for
Meedie Mothball.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, she hasn't. Pat It sounds a little more interesting
than even aunt Hepzibah. He might look have dinner, so
we'll be through by any by lea David Clark. The
Richard Devan arrived and down cottage an unusual appearing gentleman,
except for premature green hair, and except the lay high
(04:27):
forehead and a pair of eyes that held a look
of the most objector I've ever seen. For a moment
he stood before the long fire, gazing and first fattened myself.
And you'll tell me, I said, won't you sit down,
sir Richard? Thank you? I helped to accept my apologies
for breaking in on you this way. But the moment
I heard you were here. But you see, mister Christopher
(04:49):
scotland Yard has refused to go on. Perhaps I shouldn't
come here and told perhaps you'll think of scottland Yard
thinks that I'm well somewhat mad, not in the least.
Please continue, mister Christopher, let me ask you one question.
Could you believe in a curse of an Egyptian pharaoh
who died in three thousand BC. Could you believe that
it still exists to the extent that so far has
(05:10):
caused the death of six men.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Perhaps I'd better make some coffee. Bill need care for
someone to.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Sir Richard, thank you. You haven't answered my question, mister Critchepher,
I make it a point never to give a snap
answer to a question until I know what that question
is about, Sir Richard, And I'll tell you what it's about.
It means that Lord Robert Critchley is going to die.
After he dies, then I'll die. You sound rather certain
about a very morbid subject, sir, mister Christopher. I realized
(05:37):
how stupid might talk seem. But believe me, it's anything
but stupid. And I'll come to you because if there's
anyone in the world who can tell. Now, now, let's
not place quite so much credence in my ability until
it's proven. Sir Richard, you were talking about Lord Critchley.
I seem to recall his name in regard to Egyptology,
isn't it. Yes? He and I have the last commanding
(05:57):
members of the party who discovered and opened the tomb
byman Rattep seven years ago. And mister Christopher's not so
much for myself that I'm asking help. It's for him.
He's far too wise, a man, far too valuable to
Scans to die like the others. Somehow, some way, his
death has got to be stopped. What makes you think
Lord Critchley is going to die the rest have died,
(06:18):
and it's now time for him. Mister Christopher, will you
come with me tonight and visit Lord Critchley. Well, oh, please,
mister Christopher. Very well, Sir Richard, if you don't mind,
my wife will go with me. And I was allowed
(06:38):
to refuse to Richard's request, but there was something in
his voice, a desperate pleading, that compels me to accept.
And those the three of us drove in my car
to the estate of Lord Robert Critchley, an ancient manner
built sometime during the Norman invasion, a place that bore
the same traditional dignity is that it's Master Lord Robert.
(07:00):
As we were ushered into the great hall, we noticed
a strange incongruity about the finishing. Several or nate Egyptian
carvings are beamed the war in the far corner, catching
the weird flicker of the hearth fire was a huge sarcophagus.
I remember what my wife said as we entered the hall.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Bill, oh, let's get out of here. That's time. We're
too busy. Are that a very strange premonition?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Bill?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Shit, Pet, We're in it now. We can't refuse, at
least at the moment, Lord Roberts, may I have the
pleasure of presenting mister and missus Christopher, how are usual?
Won't you sit down? Please? May I offer you some
brandy and darling? No, thank We've just finished inner, Lord Roberts.
I think we may deem ourselves out of fortunate, Lord Robert,
that mister Christopher's consented to examine our case of course,
(07:49):
of course, and not to disparage your ability in the
slightest mister Christopher, I'm afraid that all an examination can
readal is a certain indixed.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Pliable fact that six men of our party have died
by coincidence, and that my colleagues are Richard is feeling
a rather unnecessary alarm in regard to our safety.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I wish you wouldn't talk like that, Lord Robert. You
know as well as I do, with the circumstance. If
I may interrupt, gentlemen, just what were the circumstances and
the deaths of the six men of your party? Well,
they all died suddenly and without apparent cause. And each
one died in the order in which he entered the
tomb of I'm an ratep. And in all cases the
examining physicians attributed the death to heart failure. In fact,
(08:33):
it was as if Lord Robert there standing before the fire,
suddenly hurt. What's happened to Lord Roberts.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Oh, it's horrible, judges that alise it. Oh, tell me
a bit of call a doctor.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I know the doctor can't do anything for Lord Robert.
He's dead. What killed him? He was perfectly right a
moment ago. But this is what I told you about,
mister Christopher. Theren't no escaping from it. They're always the same,
the others alive and apparently healthy one moment. I'm instead,
please try to control yourself, to recontrol myself again, something
more ancient than recording history against the inevitable fact of
(09:07):
a horrible death, against the very obvious fact my name.
It's not an easy scene to watch a death such
as Lord Robert Critchley's, and I must admit that it
was very difficult for me to retain my equilibrium in
the face of such a ghastly scene. However, when the
(09:31):
police had been notified and the coroner's verdict returned with
a cursory notation of heart attack, I secured permission to
again examine the body of Lord Robert at the village malls.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
The oh, for goodness, take this was to be our
honeymoon and all this fine, please to spend it in
some damn groomy moregue reeks of anaceptor Darling.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
I told you to stay at the house.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Hut, that you solve all the crimes by yourself.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Should say not the attendant or has he given up
the ghost tool?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
By then your powers of observation would certainly earn the
ridicule of Mr Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
There's a sign there that k oh yes, four attendant
ring the bell.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Bill have any ideas?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yet? Uh? Not the slightest Yes, mum.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I've always said these English murder mysteries can be petty
difficult at times.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Yes, was there something alse could do for you? Set? Oh,
my name is Christopher. I'd like to examine the body
of Lord Critchley. There's a past man in February. Uh alright, see,
if you'll come this fight, please, you'd better wait here done.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I don't know you don't I'm going with you. I'm
not afraid of the dead, so living.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
That worries me.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Oh alright, this is a slab set They and bomb
as they started in. Yet he gets the way they
brought him in. Good, you know, Patty, I don't even
know why I'm making this second examination. I don't see
how I could have possibly missed an eating the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And yet Bill, hm, did you notice this ring on
his right hand ring? Well, look, there's no setting on it,
just a beaten silver mounting.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
And that's a odd pet that Lord could Sley be
wearing a ring without sitting in it? It's a wait
a minute, what this is no ordinary mounting. This is
something out of the ancient ancient. This is Egyptian, pat
and that empty socket is just the right size to
contain a scaret. Well, I've got no reason to think anything, pat,
(11:34):
but I've got a hunch. Well, gonna take this ring.
Oh uh. If any of the inspectors should ask about
this ring, tell him that I took it with him.
All right, shit, but you know that's this strange thing.
Why what's stranger about it?
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Well, right after they brought him and to say it
was a chat came here and he was asking about
that ring. But I wouldn't any to catch his set.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
He what no plicement? What did this chap look like? Well?
Speaker 5 (12:04):
He was a sort of a foreign looking blak. Say
there's a lot of wrinkles in his face. The blondie
didn't look to be over thirty five.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
He didn't sort. They gave me a chill.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
Up and down he spyed, he did somehow, he looked
more dead than some of them.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
We got here, if you'll excuse me, sir, yes, of course.
And did this chap say what his name was? Now?
Speaker 5 (12:28):
Say he just went away again?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
He did meer? See, well, pack one mystery as to another.
Maybe my hunch was right. Maybe this laying has got
something to do with it. Oh, come on, dolly, let's
go back and see, Sir Richard. Returning now to the
(12:57):
case of a living debt Starry Elliott Lewis. When the
night falls like a curtain a shroud, when the wind
is cold and ean, when the fog creeps in on
CAP's feet, and when the small, still voice of the
mind repeats, here only death is the murderer, then that
(13:23):
you believe you are possessed by an obsession. The incredible
mister Christopher and his wife Patricia have left their footsteps
echoing in the cold marble of the Morgue, and have
returned to the residence of Sir Richard Devon. In keeping
with this ghastly business, the pile of fog whirls about
(13:46):
in the slow dance of a cop. It's vaporous, searching
fingers probing through sill and jammed, wrapping the living with
a constricting chill of death. In the study of Sir Richard,
the man himself sits facing the incredible mister Christopher, his
(14:08):
eyes reflecting the terror that lurks there, the beads of
perspiration cutting furrows like canyons through the bleak, rising mountains
of a horrifying obsession. The Richard, I quite realized how
you must feel about all this gruesome business. But if
you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions. Yes,
(14:28):
of course, but first perhaps I might have some coffee
brought in.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Oh, I think that'd be delightful that you're sure it
will be any about it.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
No, not in the least, the Richard. I think the
only way we can get anywhere with this case is
to start at the very beginning. You see, I place
very little credence in superstitions, and I've always held a
belief that the curse is quite incapable of committing a
murder unless that Curtse is backed up with something or
someone rather tangible rang for me or excuse him, mister Christopher,
(14:55):
we'd like some uh coffee out him said right away.
It is your will, it shall be off now. As
you were saying, mister Christopher, origin, who is that man?
A certain? His name is Adam said Egyptian. Yes, quite,
and in fact he's the most unusual person, like something
out of the ages in a way.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
I quite agree with you.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
What do you mean by that's origin? If I didn't
mean that literally, mister Christopher, what I meant was in
regard to his personality, his habits, and in a measure,
his speech. Please continue, sir, oh, if you are thinking
Adam said might have any connection, I'm not thinking anything
at all. I'm merely curious about the fellow. Well. Several
months ago he came into the employer of Lord Robert
Critchley when Lord Robert advertised for an assistant first in
(15:39):
the Fundamentals of Egyptology. When Lord Roberts had no further
need for his assistance, I placed him in my employ
But I must say the chap's extremely well versed in
the ancient Egypt In fact, in some curious way. He
uses certain phrases that have been dead in Egypt for
a thousand years.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
If they'd been dead for a thousand years, Sir Richard,
how would.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
This Well, that's a bit of a mystery to me,
missus Christophie I. I've questioned him several times, but he
doesn't seem to know anything about it.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I've never seen a person that look quite like that man,
I mean, so apparently young, and it's so terrible.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
It's probably from squinting at the sun too much in
the desert. But now you were approaching some questions, mister Christopher. Yes,
if you don't mind, you've stated that this succession of
deaths has come about as a result of a curse.
If you will, Sir Richard, I wish you'd tell us
the complete story, right from the beginning. Well, it's rather
a long story, but I should say you'll find it
(16:34):
extremely interesting. I'm certain of that. Well, seven years ago,
our party of Egyptologists from the Royal Academy we're doing
some excavating in the vicinity of El Balderra and a
valley at the king. One late afternoon, after we'd broken
through quite a layer of sand, Lord Hayworth, Heyworth, yes,
(17:02):
it's no good Lord Christmas. Well, gentlemen, it would appear
that the face of being kind to us, I believe
that's it?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Are you sweet?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Oh? No, not positive? But have a look at to
see you have the men clear away the right hand
side of the boat. Do Richard, right you are fire
pike fither got out of the fires, he does, Lord Harry,
if this turns out to be what we've been hoping for,
it will be the greatest sign that's ever been made.
Let's not boasted up too high it until we're sure.
(17:32):
See it's clear now, Lord Heyward's flendy. Let's have a look,
will you the cipher Christmas right right right pass me
is the mending rule where you're here? He thanks you
a kick sEH a menra tet a mera.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Actually we find jo a member at least three thousand
years before christ Bring a ballot, Richard, we will open
to see you.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Finally, as the seal was broken, the great stone slab
that covered the entrance of the room would rolled back,
and in single file, our party entered the volts of
Amen Rattat Lord Hays first, then Doctor Philip Heath, Sir
Reginald Carstairs, Doctor Gerald Clayton, the chemist, Lord Robert Critchley,
and myself last, and as we entered the inner chambers
(18:23):
with the stop by a very strange and weird sight
a sarcophagus without a head piece, permitting us to see
the unwrapped face of our mummy, perfectly preserved, even to
the detail of its eyes, which were open and apparently
staring at us.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
O Lord he was look at that game. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I've never seen a mummy so perfectly preserved. The biggest
positive thea looks away. Oh Richard, can you detected the
inscription of the cap while I can tie her? Will
you hold Amanda and roll? Doctor? Thirdly, I don't know
it's wait a minute yet, I think I can get it.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
It's entioglyphics and it reads death will come along swift
wings to him who defileth the tomb of terror, not.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Hey, what's morest smiled about ancient warning if I'm in
right cap, but that smile changed to a look of horror,
and upon opening, mister Copacus of the Egyptian king, Lord, Hey,
what's suddenly got the money? Since then, mister crist I
thought he has been wiped out if I stated, in
the order of our entrance into that tomb, and each
(19:33):
has died suddenly and without any recognizable cause. And I
am next irited. May I interrupt to ask about that
ring you're wearing. You mean the scabbit cause? Yes, why
it was given to me by Adam? Said, my certain,
Why you don't mind my asking? What was the occasion
of the gift? I mean, for what reason did Aaram
said give it to you? I don't know. And he's
a token of friendship. I guess. Are you quite sure,
(19:56):
sir Richard, that you've never seen this, Adam said, before
he came in the employer of Lord Robert. Well, that's
a bit of a mystery in itself, mister Christens. Both
Lord Robert and I had thought we'd seen him somewhere before,
possibly in Egypt, but then it was possibly only a
resemblance to someone else.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
You see him, they're scared in the ring. It's moving sucks.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Go Lord prussure off quickly. They'll be careful there. Now
it's a Richum. Well he was right, pat he was next.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Oh Bill, what in heaven mean?
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Wait a minute, Patty, I think we'll have a few
words with his honor, Aram said about certain tokens of
friendship that he's been handing around harangue for me, offending
as I did, it would seem that your master has
had a slight accident. Would you know anything about it?
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Of course, offending, I would know everything about it. I
have been waiting for the accident.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
To a care. You've been waiting.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
The beetles scarrab you imprisoned beneath the tray. It is
quite dead now, f and d its teams. But once
and then it is no more. Keep talking, m set.
The scab attendee was the seal of the pharaoh anan
ratap and his name. Did I give the living scarab
to each of the affendees who entered his tomb? There
(21:22):
shall be no more? Then you admit, I admit everything, Offende.
The living beetle was placed in the Silver Mountain to
awake when the effects of a certain drug were dispersed.
And then, of course the obvious conclusion.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
You're a very cooperative person, I am said. Now if
you don't mind, you're under arrest. For God, have a
little talk with the police.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I think not to sendy what in your language the
word arrest. I believe means imprisonment. I have been imprisoned
for a long time, but now I am free. Behold Offende,
I am as free as my king, oh isis creator
of all. Behold a pilgrim, weary of his pilgrimage. Take
(22:04):
me into thy breast and deliver me under my keen.
A Manrotha thought my master, and I am vice slaves.
I wrote the moments a sharer.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
To watch your living human form thessoves into a mere
handful of gray dust is beyond the comprehension of the
human mind. And I realized that what Pat and I
saw was far too horrible for you to realize. That
I am said was the god found in the tomb
of a'm in our trip, and that, through some inexplicable form,
(23:00):
thus he was the form of that ancient curse. Deaths
will come on swift wings to him who defiles the
tomb of a pharaoh. Perhaps it was no usion, perhaps not.
But neither Pat nor I will ever mark or ridicule
that which is called the supernatural. In fact, and you
(23:25):
may laugh at this, neither Pat nor I will light
three cigarettes on one match. You have been listening to obsession.
(24:34):
Obsessions has come to use with the worldwide facilities of
the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!