A Warning to the Curious

"A Warning to the Curious" is a short ghost story by the British author M.R. James. It first appeared in print in the literary journal London Mercury in August 1925. It was republished later the same year as part of the anthology A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories. 

The story concerns a young antiquary and archaeologist named Paxton. While on vacation on the south-east coast of England, Paxton hears the legend of the three holy crowns. According to the legend, England was kept safe from being invaded when three crowns were buried long ago at sites near the coast. One of the crowns was later dug up, one is now beneath the sea but one still remains buried in the earth and keeps England safe from invasion. Members of a family named Ager long guarded the site where the crown was buried. When the last surviving member of the family, William Ager, died at the age of 28, the crown was left without a living guardian. Paxton finds out where the crown is buried and digs it up. He soon comes to regret doing so. He feels that a ghost is constantly watching him and presents a genuine danger to him. He decides to put the crown back where he found it. He is uncertain, however, that the ghost will forgive him even if he does return the crown.

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