[1] Dr. Horace Bianchon discovers near the town of Vendôme an abandoned manor: La Grande Bretèche.

Madame de Merret, the late owner of the manor, forbade anyone from entering the house upon her death, be it workmen, visitors, or government officials, for 50 years.

One day, Madame de Merret's husband returned early from a business trip when her lover was at the house.

Terrified, Madame de Merret passed along a message to the mason asking him to break a hole in the door when her husband was not looking before completely walling the closet off.

The mason does that, and Madame de Merret catches a final glimpse of the maddened eyes of her lover through the hole.