Elderly Dr. Luke Croxley narrates a story with a very old theme set against the English village of Lynmouth.

Her gentle husband, Alec, more than 20 years older, seems more interested in radio broadcasts of World War II news than in his wife's notorious affair with a handsome young American actor, Barry Sullivan.

Rita and Barry decide to run away together but a radio performance of Romeo and Juliet apparently turns their minds to a romantic double suicide.

Sir Henry Merrivale is in the neighbourhood posing for a portrait by a local artist (in the garb of a Roman Senator), and agrees to investigate this baffling mystery, which he solves just in time to take his place in the House of Lords.

According to Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, "This is another tale in which Merrivale is loud and tantrum-y but tolerable, and the narration more continuous and sane than usual.