To ask you to help me identify this story. Please!

[HalfTermHalfTerm]

I know it’s not an AIBU, but I need help!

I’ve remembered a small plot point from a novel/story I’ve read. I’m fairly certain it’s two male characters discussing how a young man they know was driven mad by someone (as a prank) chasing him down the street dressed as a ghost. He was basically never the same again. It must be relevant to the plot (so I’m wondering if it’s a crime or ghost type story), but it’s not a main event, if you see what I mean.

I think it’s around the same era as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, but I’ve tried googling various combinations and nothing comes up. I don’t know whether it’s because it’s not a main event?

Hopefully I’ve jogged someone’s memory 😬

Is it a Sherlock Holmes story? It rings a bell…

That sounds like one of Mrs Henry Wood's novels. The Channings?

@Stath it might be a Sherlock Holmes story, I have read a few of them. I’ve tried looking it up with The Hound of the Baskervilles and got nothing, so I don’t think it’s that.

@pontefractals I don’t think I’ve read any of those, but thank you!

Could it be Needful Things by Stephen King?

@Stath

Is it a Sherlock Holmes story? It rings a bell…

Nope.

It's not in needful things.

Is it Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

I don't think I recognise it - and haven't read much crime /horror etc anyway - but one thing that springs to mind is the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Or, if you've ever read any, stories by Henry Lawson.

I think the only EAP I’ve read is The Fall of the House of Usher and I don’t think it’s in that.

I have read a fair bit of Stephen King, but it’s in something much older than that I think.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

It rings a slight bell with me, like it was part of a detective story - maybe one set at Christmas? In a stately home? I’m getting a picture of a long driveway up to the stately home.
Or could it be a MR James?

I’ve found it! It’s Black Beauty! So roughly right about the time period, very much not correct about the genre…

A short crisis

M R James sounds a good guess... Rats maybe? Although that wasn’t someone dressed up...

@HalfTermHalfTerm

I’ve found it! It’s Black Beauty! So roughly right about the time period, very much not correct about the genre…

A short crisis

😂😂😂 I would never have got that!

Sounds like a story Stephen Fry would tell.

Stephen Fry?

@OnceUponAMidnightBeery I actually thought it might have been that as I re read it not that long ago, but Google didn’t bring anything up- Google books saved the day though!

@HalfTermHalfTerm

I’ve found it! It’s Black Beauty! So roughly right about the time period, very much not correct about the genre…

A short crisis

I was just about to type this! It's when John is giving his lecture about "only ignorance" and he mentions a young man who was frightened out of his wits by some other men dressing up as a ghost and chasing him in the moonlight.

@HalfTermHalfTerm glad I wasn’t that far off track if it’s still going, Abe books forum is great too.

I don’t think I ever read Black Beauty...

@Elliania Yes, that’s right! I am very impressed you got it from my not very accurate description. Turns out it was the boy’s older brother…

@OnceUponAMidnightBeery I love it, even though I think it is aimed at young adults/older children. Buy tissues from eBay too