The Haunted Pajamas

"The Haunted Pajamas" by Francis Perry Elliott is a humorous novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in a modern-day context and follows the misadventures of the main character, Mr. Lightnut, who receives a peculiar gift of red silk pajamas from an old acquaintance in China. As he navigates a series of comical and bizarre events involving his attire, both absurd misunderstandings and encounters begin to unfold at an alarming pace. At the start of the narrative, Mr. Lightnut discovers a mysterious package containing a pair of vivid red silk pajamas addressed to him. Intrigued but skeptical, he questions the origins of this odd gift and is reminded of its sender, Roland Mastermann, who has an eccentric interest in mummies and psychical phenomena. As he contemplates the significance of the pajamas, an unexpected encounter occurs with his devoted but slightly odd servant, Jenkins, leading to a freakish misunderstanding involving potential danger. This opening sets the stage for a blend of humor and suspense, suggesting that the pajamas may hold more than just peculiar fashion value as the story unfolds.