Seth is an English university librarian whose love life consists of clandestine assignations with charming academic, Martin Burnell. At work, he sorts through boxes of papers bequeathed by the late Professor Lanyard, among which he finds a page of indecipherable code. Finding himself hopelessly behind with the project, Seth accepts the help of postgrad student, Tim Sellors. Seth enjoys every minute of their work together, as they become good friends. And he knows he'll be sad to see Tim go when he leaves at the end of the year. But as Seth lifts the lid on the final Lanyard box, he could never imagine what secrets might be revealed.