In "Staunton's Dinner," Vane Staunton returns after an absence of many years and hosts a dinner for his former friends. But they are horrified to find that he is terribly changed and now appears to possess awful powers, including the power to kill a man with only a thought! In the curiously homoerotic "A Knight of the Road," set in 17th century England, a handsome but cold-blooded stranger shows up in a lonely village and just might be the Devil himself! The darkly comical "The Disappearance of Mrs. Macrecham" recounts the strange adventures of Hereward Waller, who finds himself in an awkward predicament when he believes he has turned his landlady into a cat. And in "The Ring," Pugh and Tress from Marsh's earlier collection Curios reprise their roles as they seek to solve the mystery of an apparently cursed 16th century ring.
The twelve stories in this volume showcase Marsh's diverse talents and include tales of ghosts, crime, and the occult. As always, the tales are told with Marsh's characteristic blend of horror, mystery, and humour.
This edition includes the unabridged text of Marsh's story collection, taken from the exceedingly rare first edition published by Methuen in 1901. Also featured is a reproduction of the original cover.