Pharos, The Egyptian

An unexplained packet reaches Sir William Betford with an account from his old friend Cyril Forrester, an artist drawn to Egypt and the supernatural. Betford trusts Forrester's character, yet struggles to decide whether the experiences he describes can be believed. This opening letter makes uncertainty part of the novel's structure, asking how much weight a disturbing personal record should carry.

In Egypt, Forrester's own memories come into conflict with the explanations offered by Pharos. A night at the Pyramid, a vision near the Sphinx and preparations to take a mummy toward Luxor deepen the atmosphere of unease. Valerie accompanies the men as they prepare to travel up the Nile, while the crew's deference to Pharos suggests his unusual authority. Guy Boothby's paranormal novel offers readers Egyptian settings, disputed perceptions and a mystery shaped by the tension between rational explanation and seemingly impossible events.