An Oxford athlete notices a strange series of events surrounding an Egyptology student who owns many ancient Egyptian artefacts, including a mummy.

Physiologist Ainslie Grey believes that love is merely a combination of chemical reactions and bodily processes. However, his sister's fiance reveals a past marriage to a woman who, unbeknownst to him, is now married to Grey.

Young doctor Tom Crabbe has just settled his medical practice in the small town of Bridport. Unfortunately, there are already too many doctors in town, and no patient comes to him, so he and a friend cook up a story to convince the townsfolk to see him.

Lee Monkhouse takes a job as a tutor at a boys' school but all is not as it seems. The headmaster appears to be hiding something, while one of the other tutors, Theophilus St. James, terrorises the students...

In Rome, Lee has discovered a new catacomb, rumours of which attract his rival Hugo Danvers. Lee refuses to give up the secret unless Danvers trades one of his own.

The Crabbes are joined in Brisport by Lee and psychical researcher Harvey Deacon. Though Vicky is dismissive of spiritualism, she is discomforted when they attend a séance with frustrated local artist Oliver Mountjoy Bunn, which takes a terrifying turn.