The scene of this story of mystery and romance is laid in the little town of Inkston, near London, shortly after the world war. Interest centres in three characters: the "puzzling unaccounted-for Mr Beaumaroy," recently of the British army overseas, now companion to an eccentric old man; the old man himself, Aloyslus William Saffron, lonely and crazed by the war, who lives in Tower cottage; and Dr Mary Arkroyd, who attends Mr Saffron in his last illness and who changes her mind about Hector Beaumaroy.