The Crystal Egg by H. G. Wells Science Fiction Classics Short Stories (Paperback)

ID: JOUIZPuZw3

Manufacturer: Alan Rodgers Books

Also included in this volume are Wells s The Man Who Could Work Miracles The Plattner Story The Strange Orchid The New Accelerator The Diamond Maker The Apple and The Purple Pileus. From The Crystal Egg There was until a year ago a little and very grimy-looking shop near Seven Dials over which in weather-worn yellow lettering the name of C. Cave Naturalist and Dealer in Antiquities was inscribed. The contents of its window were curiously variegated. They comprised some elephant tusks and an imperfect set of chessmen beads and weapons a box of eyes two skulls of tigers and one human several moth-eaten stuffed monkeys (one holding a lamp) an old-fashioned cabinet a flyblown ostrich egg or so some fishing-tackle and an extraordinarily dirty empty glass fish tank. There was also at the moment the story begins a mass of crystal worked into the shape of an egg and brilliantly polished. The clergyman without any ceremony asked the price of the crystal egg. Five pounds is my price said Mr. Cave with a quiver in his voice.