Professor Adler, distinguished historian and Athos's former owner, had died in a tragic accident. At least, that has been the official story until now. But a former employee of the professor's is very insistently interested in his estate—and suddenly dies himself under suspicious circumstances.

Does the gardener of the neighboring property, seemingly a very friendly two-legged, have both men on his conscience? Athos's and Pearl's sleuthing instincts are called for, because the police may be on the wrong trail . . .