The mysterious house

By medical recommendation, the old lady Sophonisba moves to London, where she rents a comfortable house.

But, standing defiantly across from her new residence, there rises a mansion of dreadful appearance and advanced decay. Although it displays a worn-out sign reading "For Rent," the gloomy dwelling has never attracted tenants — and no one knows why.

Despite its pitiful state of abandonment, the old lady believes she has caught sight, through the stained shutters of the sinister house, of a pair of mysterious, furtive eyes watching her. This deeply troubles the respectable old woman, who entrusts her faithful servant of many years, Trottle, and an old admirer, Jabez Jarber, with solving that disturbing mystery.

Trottle and Jarber — who loathe each other — begin to compete to see who will first and most completely satisfy the curiosity of their beloved, shared muse.