Brood of the Witch-Queen · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Brood of the Witch-Queen by Sax Rohmer.
Chapter 1
Prefatory Notice
The author's prefatory note explains that the story of Antony Ferrara is meant to illustrate historical practices of sorcery from Ancient Egypt and medieval Europe, and that Ferrara's powers are within the bounds claimed for a fully equipped Adept.
Chapter 2
Brood of the Witch-Queen
The chapter introduces the central conflict between Dr. Bruce Cairn and his son Robert against the sinister Antony Ferrara, who is revealed to be the adopted son of the late Sir Michael Ferrara and is suspected of practicing black magic. The narrative establishes Ferrara's malevolent influence, his connection to ancient Egyptian sorcery, and the threat he poses to Myra Duquesne, Sir Michael's ward. Dr. Cairn and Robert begin their investigation into Ferrara's occult activities, setting the stage for a battle between rationality and supernatural evil.
Chapter 3
I: Antony Ferrara
Robert Cairn confides in his friend Sime about his disturbing observations of Antony Ferrara, including Ferrara's strange behavior, his fire on a hot night, the incense in his rooms, and the unsettling objects and photographs he keeps. Cairn recounts a visit to Ferrara's rooms after a storm, where he saw a mummy, strange artifacts, and a photograph of Myra Duquesne. Later, Cairn attempts to visit Ferrara again but is met with suspicious behavior, deepening his unease.
Chapter 4
II: The Phantom Hands
Robert Cairn visits Sir Michael Ferrara's house and speaks with Myra Duquesne, who describes strange nocturnal occurrences including phantom hands and a chilling presence. Meanwhile, Cairn investigates a mysterious death at a hospital, recognizing the deceased as a woman he had seen at Oxford in connection with Antony Ferrara. The chapter deepens the sense of supernatural threat and the connection between Ferrara and the unfolding events.
Chapter 5
III: The Ring of Thoth
Dr. Cairn and Robert Cairn discuss the mysterious events surrounding Sir Michael Ferrara's death and Antony Ferrara's involvement. Dr. Cairn reveals his knowledge of Egyptian magic and the Book of Thoth, while Myra Duquesne, in a somnambulant state, accuses Antony Ferrara of wearing the sacred ring of Thoth and being a murderer. The chapter ends with tension between the characters as they await further developments.
Chapter 6
At Ferrara's Chambers
Robert Cairn visits Antony Ferrara in his luxurious Piccadilly chambers, where Ferrara displays his collection of occult curiosities, including beetles bred inside a mummy's skull. Later, Robert reports to his father, Dr. Bruce Cairn, about Sir Michael's will, which leaves equal shares to Myra Duquesne and Antony Ferrara. Dr. Cairn advises Robert to maintain contact with Ferrara as a strategic move to watch him and protect Myra.
Chapter 7
The Rustling Shadows
Robert Cairn encounters Myra Duquesne outside Antony Ferrara's chambers and learns she visits him. Later, Robert experiences terrifying supernatural phenomena in his own rooms, including a putrid odor and shadowy crawling things. Dr. Bruce Cairn advises him to resist the manifestations and return to his chambers, warning that Ferrara poses a threat due to Myra's inheritance.
Chapter 8
VI: The Beetles
Dr. Cairn confronts Antony Ferrara in his chambers, discovering a square of linen covered with Dermestes beetles from a mummy's skull, which Ferrara had been using to project terrifying insect apparitions into Robert Cairn's rooms. Dr. Cairn destroys the beetles in the fire and warns Ferrara against his evil sorcery, then leaves as the phantoms vanish. Later that night, Robert calls his father in panic as the beetle shapes return, and Dr. Cairn rushes back to Ferrara's chambers to intervene again.
Chapter 9
VII: Sir Elwin Groves’ Patient
Dr. Bruce Cairn sends Myra Duquesne to a Scottish manor for safety after Sir Michael's will divides the legacy between her and Antony Ferrara. Sir Elwin Groves consults Dr. Cairn about Lord Lashmore's mysterious throat wounds, which resemble fang marks, and the strange attacks occurring in his locked bedroom. The incidents suggest a supernatural agency, possibly linked to Ferrara, who is a regular visitor at the Lashmore house.
Chapter 10
The Secret of Dhoon
Lord Lashmore visits Dr. Cairn to consult him about mysterious throat wounds and a family curse. Dr. Cairn reveals his knowledge of the secret chamber at Dhoon Castle and the hidden history of Mirza, a Polish Jewess who married the third Baron Lashmore. Lashmore recounts the horrifying initiation on his twenty-first birthday, when his father led him to a subterranean cell beneath the moat where the preserved corpse of Paul Dhoon, a vampire, lay impaled with an aspen stake.
Chapter 11
IX: The Polish Jewess
Lord Lashmore reveals the history of the Dhoon family curse, tracing it back to Mirza, a Polish Jewess and sorceress who became a vampire after death. Dr. Cairn explains that her spirit remains earthbound and may be controlled by unholy means. He plans to visit Dhoon Castle to investigate further. Later, Robert Cairn informs his father that he saw Antony Ferrara with Lady Lashmore, and Dr. Cairn warns him to be cautious, noting that Ferrara is a menace who cannot be touched by modern law.
Chapter 12
X: The Laughter
Dr. Cairn interviews Lady Lashmore, who confesses to horrific recurring dreams of a dark cavern and a vampire's thirst, linked to attacks on her husband. Dr. Cairn deduces that Antony Ferrara used a séance to install the spirit of the vampire Mirza into Lady Lashmore, who then attacked Lord Lashmore. Despite precautions, Lord Lashmore is found dead from sheer horror, and Lady Lashmore is found unconscious with a bruise, as servants fled after hearing eerie laughter.
Chapter 13
XI: Cairo
Robert Cairn, recovering from a severe nervous breakdown, travels to Cairo for rest. He meets Dr. Sime, who tells him about a local superstition involving an 'Afreet' (demon) believed to be causing an early khamsin (hot wind). A fortune-teller elaborates on the legend, describing a man-like evil entity crossing the Sahara to Egypt. Cairn reflects on the power of collective thought and superstition, hinting at a connection to Antony Ferrara.
Chapter 14
The Mask of Set
During a carnival at a Cairo hotel garden, Robert Cairn pursues a woman in a yashmak through the festive crowd. A sudden khamsin wind sweeps in, causing panic as scorpions appear and the garden empties. Cairn alone sees a figure in a crocodile mask—the mask of Set—advancing toward the hotel. Sime dismisses the vision, suggesting it was an Afreet.
Chapter 15
XIII: The Scorpion Wind
During a violent khamsin sandstorm in Cairo, Robert Cairn confides in Dr. Sime about Antony Ferrara's sorcerous crimes, including the murders of a girl and Sir Michael Ferrara. Cairn becomes agitated after glimpsing a figure in a crocodile mask, later revealed to be Ferrara himself. Ferrara taunts Cairn from a window, claiming the storm follows him. Cairn collapses and wakes in a hospital, where Sime informs him he contracted plague during his delirium.
Chapter 16
XIV: Dr. Cairn Arrives
Dr. Bruce Cairn arrives in Port Said, driven by the urgent need to confront Antony Ferrara and protect his son Robert. Overwhelmed by guilt for not acting sooner against Ferrara's evil, he reflects on the menace Ferrara poses. As he tries to sleep, he becomes entranced by a bright star that seems to draw near, leading him into a restless slumber.
Chapter 17
XV: The Witch-Queen
Dr. Cairn experiences a vivid dream in which a veiled woman leads him to a room where he is given a dagger and urged to stab the sleeping Antony Ferrara. He is about to strike when an explosion awakens him, and he finds himself in his son Robert's room, the dagger at his feet. They realize Ferrara orchestrated the scenario through hypnotic suggestion and a false wireless message, and they resolve to confront the supernatural forces arrayed against them.
Chapter 18
Lair of the Spiders
Dr. Cairn and Robert Cairn trace the location of the sarcophagus of the Witch-Queen to a house in Port Said. They discover a hidden cellar containing the sarcophagus, where Antony Ferrara lies in a trance. As Dr. Cairn prepares to kill Ferrara with a knife, a mass of tarantula spiders descends upon them, forcing a panicked retreat. The ensuing fire destroys the house and neighboring buildings. Afterwards, Robert receives a parcel from Ferrara containing his charred penknife and a mocking note.
Chapter 19
The Story of Ali Mohammed
Dr. Cairn, Robert Cairn, and Dr. Sime discuss the alarming report of Ali Mohammed, who witnessed a swarm of bats, a woman's scream, and a foul odor emanating from the Pyramid of Méydûm. Dr. Cairn connects these events to Antony Ferrara and the disappearance of Lady Lashmore, revealing the pyramid as an ancient stronghold of sorcery and setting the stage for a urgent confrontation.
Chapter 20
XVIII: The Bats
Dr. Cairn, Robert Cairn, and Sime journey to the Pyramid of Méydûm, where they suspect Antony Ferrara is conducting a horrific sorcerous ritual. They discover decapitated bats at the pyramid entrance, confirming their fears. The group enters the pyramid, navigating treacherous passages to reach the King's Chamber, where they find it empty but sense an underlying horror.
Chapter 21
XIX: Anthropomancy
Dr. Cairn and Dr. Sime infiltrate the Pyramid of Méydûm, discovering a hidden chamber where Antony Ferrara performs a necromantic ritual involving a suspended white object. Sime fires multiple shots at Ferrara, but the bullets have no effect. They escape as the passage seals behind them, with Sime's hair turned white from the horror.
Chapter 22
XX: The Incense
Robert Cairn and Dr. Bruce Cairn return from Egypt to London after receiving a letter from Myra Duquesne revealing that Antony Ferrara is back and visiting her frequently. They rush to the house of James Saunderson in Dulwich Common, where they find Myra pale and ethereal. Upon entering the house, both Cairns detect a familiar, unholy incense—the secret perfume of Ancient Egyptian black magic—which they associate with Ferrara and past deaths. Dr. Cairn confirms that only Ferrara could have made and used it, signaling that the final confrontation may be near.
Chapter 23
XXI: The Magician
Dr. Cairn and Robert Cairn discuss the threat posed by Antony Ferrara, who uses ancient Egyptian sorcery and a hellish incense. They lament their helplessness as Ferrara visits Mr. Saunderson's house, where Myra Duquesne stays, and they fear using her as a lure. Dr. Cairn reveals Ferrara obtained his incense from the Pyramid of Méydûm and that he is a true magician. They resolve to watch night and day.
Chapter 24
XXII: Myra
Robert Cairn and Myra Duquesne share a romantic moment in the garden, where he confesses his love and kisses her. Myra reveals that Antony Ferrara recently visited her, confessed his love, and asked for a lock of her hair, which she reluctantly gave. She describes feeling a sinister change in him. The conversation turns to Myra's health and Mr. Saunderson's orchids, particularly a mysterious new orchid she tends to.
Chapter 25
The Face in the Orchid-House
Dr. Bruce Cairn watches over the dying Myra Duquesne, puzzled by her mysterious illness. After consulting with other doctors, he learns from gardener Crombie about a strange face seen in the orchid-houses, which Crombie associates with Antony Ferrara. Dr. Cairn returns to Half-Moon Street with his son Robert, leaving Myra's fate uncertain.
Chapter 26
Flowering of the Lotus
Dr. Cairn and Robert race to save Myra Duquesne, whose life is mysteriously linked to a strange orchid. Consulting Sir Michael Ferrara's unpublished manuscript, Dr. Cairn realizes the orchid is a magical plant from ancient Egyptian sorcery. He destroys the orchid, and Myra immediately recovers.
Chapter 27
Cairn Meets Ferrara
Robert Cairn, struggling to maintain silence about the supernatural threat posed by Antony Ferrara, visits the British Museum to research for articles about Egypt. There, he is drawn to the Egyptian Rooms and discovers a ring he believes belongs to the Witch-Queen. Ferrara appears, wearing an identical ring, and taunts Cairn about his past lives and Myra Duquesne. Cairn, restrained by the public setting, cannot attack Ferrara, who escapes after dropping a silk cord. Cairn returns to his chambers, disturbed by the encounter and the lingering threat.
Chapter 28
The Ivory Hand
Robert Cairn, alone in his chambers, struggles with paranoia and supernatural phenomena as he examines a silken cord left by Antony Ferrara. He experiences auditory hallucinations, a mysterious shadow, and an unconscious writing episode. After a phone call from his father, Dr. Cairn reveals that the cord was stolen from the British Museum, and Ferrara likely planted it as a focus for his sorcery. Robert then feels a spectral hand on his shoulder—the ivory hand of the Witch-Queen—and falls into a trance vision of a ritual before being roused by the telephone.
Chapter 29
XXVII: The Thug’s Cord
Robert Cairn, isolated in his chambers, faces a supernatural attack by Antony Ferrara. After a phone call cuts off, he experiences eerie silence, a failing lamp, and disembodied white hands that attempt to strangle him with a silken cord. Dr. Cairn arrives just in time, breaking through the door and saving Robert from the invisible assault.
Chapter 30
XXVIII: The High Priest, Hortotef
In the breakfast-room of Dr. Cairn's house, Robert Cairn reflects on the impending final struggle against Antony Ferrara. Myra Duquesne, still recovering from illness, reveals she has had another strange dream involving a silver lamp and an iron box. Dr. Cairn explains that Ferrara is directing elemental spirits (Salamanders) against the house. He then reveals the truth: Ferrara is the vessel for the Khu (magical powers) of the ancient Egyptian high priest Hortotef, who has possessed the body of his own son. Dr. Cairn describes the Book of Thoth, a powerful magical text that Ferrara possesses, and notes that Ferrara is using photography to focus malignant forces on their home. Robert resolves to track the photographer to find Ferrara's hiding place.
Chapter 31
The Wizard's Den
Robert Cairn tracks Antony Ferrara to a secluded barn near Dulwich Common, which Myra had dreamt of, revealing Ferrara's hidden lair for his sorcerous activities. Dr. Cairn and Robert prepare for a supreme attack that night, vowing to stay together with Myra in the library.
Chapter 32
The Elemental
Dr. Cairn, Robert Cairn, and Myra Duquesne gather in the library, bracing for an attack from Antony Ferrara. Dr. Cairn has prepared protective seals and wax pellets. Myra screams and faints as a fiery grey elemental with blazing eyes materializes at the window, radiating intense heat. Dr. Cairn throws seven wax pellets and utters ancient Egyptian words, dispersing the elemental and saving them.
Chapter 33
The Book of Thoth
Dr. Cairn and Robert Cairn break into a barn where Antony Ferrara has hidden his occult tools. Dr. Cairn destroys the Book of Thoth, robbing Ferrara of his armor and control over his summoned servant. The next morning, they find the barn empty with an overpowering odor of burning flesh, and Dr. Cairn declares the brood of the Witch-Queen extinct.
Chapter 34
Endnotes
The endnotes provide a single citation from Collectanea Hermetica, Vol. VIII, suggesting that the mummy-case (sarcophagus) served as a material basis for preserving the magical powers (Khu) of an Adept.
