The story begins in the offices of Mr Randolph Reed, whose business was real estate. He had a mansion available for the summer that had never been let before. It was rather dilapidated - as his prospective client pointed out - but it was a house of such quality, and it offered a unique opportunity. Mr Burton was a young man, both successful and charming, and he was eager to take the house. He was a rather perplexed by one condition of the lease - that he must accept the four staff put forward by the absent owners - but he went ahead. When interviewed the butler seemed a credit to his profession; the cook's youth took him by surprise, but she was beautiful, she was charming, and her food was said to be divine; he was less taken with the maid who seemed a little sullen, or by the 'useful boy' who seemed rather bold, but he was sure that butler would keep them in line. (Goodreads)