The Curse of the Bronze Lamp — Carter Dickson

THE MYSTERIOUS [MIDDLE] EAST

was where lovely Lady Helen had just returned from. In defiance of the most dire predictions, she carried back to Severn Hall a gift from the Egyptian government: and ancient bronze lamp. It had come from a tomb that Helen and her father had helped excavate.

At the door, Helen stepped out of the car, leaving her friends to follow her into the Hall. Less than three minutes later they did--and Helen had vanished. On the floor, in the middle of the vast entrance hall, were her coat--and the bronze lamp...

Enter--snorting and scoffing at the notion of ancient curses--the one and only, the inimitable Sir Henry Merrivale--that buffoon-like manner effectively concealing a steel-trap mind, unafraid of any and all spirits, including the most well-aged Egyptian ones!