What is "the monkey's paw"?

The monkey's paw is a talisman...... good luck charm. An enchantment was placed on the paw by "an old fakir". The paw is actually a monkey's, and it is mumified.

"It had a spell put on it by an old fakir," said the sergeant-major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it."