About the book: 1904 / In the country house of Yoxley Old Place lives a scientist, Professor Coram, a very sick man. He either lies in bed, or hobbles around the house with a stick, or the gardener takes him in a stroller around the park. A year ago he hired a secretary, Mr. Willoughby Smith, a university graduate, a polite, quiet, studious young man. A secretary dies in a professor's office under circumstances that undeniably point to murder..