12) “The Master of Hollow Grange” by Sax Rohmer
Plot:
Jack Dillon arrives at Hollow Grange seeking rest and quiet while a storm is brewing. He’s recovering from a war wound. No one appears to greet him. He tells the taxi driver to leave his baggage at the gate and walks up the winding, confusing drive to the gloomy house.
He senses that he’s crossed into fairy. Is this the front door? When he sees a young woman snoozing on the couch, he dubs her Sleeping Beauty.
She lets him in, obviously expecting him. Her name is Phyrné, and Jack finds her beautiful.
“How I envy Hypereides!” he said.
“A blush quickly stained the lovely face of Phyrné, and the roguish eyes were lowered, whereby penitent Dillon, who had jested in the not uncommon belief that a pretty girl is necessarily brainless, knew that the story of the wonder-woman of Thespiæ was familiar to her modern namesake.
‘I am afraid,’ declared Phyrné, ‘that you are very wicked.’”
Bummer for Jack! He’s not dealing with an empty-headed pretty little thing, but someone who understands the insult he’s dealt her.
The arrival of his host, Dr. Kassimere, saves him from further foot-in-mouth disease. Dr. Kassimere welcomes him as the son of a friend. Jack finds his appearance repulsive and compares it to the Egyptian god Thoth. As something of a doctor, he can help our hero recover from his (unspecified) war wound in peace.
Dr. Kassimere spends most of his day in scientific research in his lab, but never discusses what he’s researching. Hmmm… it must be black magic or something equally nefarious.
Phyrné is Dr. Kassimere’s adopted daughter. Her father was Louis Devant, a famous Paris cartoonist, who died penniless in 1911.
While in a local watering hole called the Thresher Inn, Jack hears that Dr. Kassimere has had other young men as guests. They’ve died or disappeared mysteriously. The local parson won’t talk to Dr. Kassimere. Hmmm… it must be black magic or something equally nefarious.
The bar patron tells our hero: “[Parson] spoke about them heathen women livi’ on an island—sort of female Robinson Crusoes, I make ‘em out, I do—as saves poor shipwrecked sailors from the sea and strangles of ‘em ashore.”
Is he saying Phyrné is a Siren?
What does that matter? Jack flies back to Hollow Grange, now madly in love with her. He will ask Dr. Kassimere for her hand. (Hint to Jack: talking to the lady involved increases the chances of a happy outcome).
Thoughts:
This tale makes for a great little adventure, but unless I’m being dense, some things don’t add up. I understand why Jack would fall in love with Phyrné—he’s lonely, in a strange place, and she’s beautiful as well as intelligent—but what does she see in him? He’s insulted her, assumed she was stupid, and, in general, been a jerk to her. He doesn’t court her. She should fall for him because he’s wonderful?
Why doesn’t the evil Dr. Kassimere object? Well, truth be told, he’s got plans. You know, black magic or something equally nefarious.
I had fun with this odd, puzzling little story, but there’s a lot that’s left unexplained. The little lady simply falls in line because that’s what little ladies do, especially the pretty ones, you know. I’m being a little unfair; our hero does get a chance to play knight in shining armor, but the damsel in distress never gets to hear the details. No need to trouble her pretty little head, you know.
I can recommend it despite its flaws. It is fun.
This story can be read here:
This story can be listened to here: (37:17)
Bio: Sax Rohmer (legal name: Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward) (1883-1959) was a UK stage lyricist, journalist, and author. He created the character Fu Manchu and wrote fourteen works based on the evil mastermind, beginning with the 1913 The Mystery of Fu Manchu. Early in his career, he wrote lyrics for the music halls and some mysteries. He served in the First World War.
Title: “The Master of Hollow Grange”
Author: Sax Rohmer
First published: The New Magazine, June 1918
Length: short story
