The Beast in the Jungle Summary

Touring a country manor house full of artistic treasures, fine paintings and curios one October afternoon, John Marcher encounters May Bartram. Marcher's theory is that he was invited along only because he got lost in the crowd. May is a guest staying at the house, and knowledgeable about the treasures it contains. Lingering over a portrait together, May reminds him that they met in Italy some seven or ten years ago. She even remembers that on a boat ride there, he confided a great secret to her. Marcher is shocked and embarrassed to recall that he had confided his great secret to May. The secret is that he believes that a something great will happen to him, an earth-shaking event both strange and terrible.

The friendship continues after May receives a small inheritance that allows...