Summary

In Chapter 1, Eustace is woken from a nightmare by the sound of gunshots. From his bedroom window, he sees Mr. Crowe, his employer, wielding an old pistol at a surly figure. Eustace makes his way to the drive but by the time he traverses the large mansion the assailant is crumpled in a ball on the ground. He attempts to reason with his employer, to concoct a plan to dispose of the body and vehicle, but Mr. Crowe is incensed and leads the woman he is with, Arabella, into the house with little regard for the dead body.

Clara visits Eustace’s room in Chapter 2, to give him a new essay she has written. The young girl often asked the butler to reader her writings and it was not unusual for her to leave her work in his chambers. However, she is...