The story opens one evening in
Norfolk with the Reverend Dr. Hall being informed by his housekeeper that
Squire Francis Bowles has suddenly died. Dr. Hall visits the widow, Madam Bowles, and the Squire's stepson, Joseph Calvert, who state that the Squire's wishes were to be buried on the north side of the church, without a coffin. The clerk, Wickem, is instructed to have the grave ready for the following night. The Squire's will leaves all his property to Madam Bowles, but no money is found besides a few hundred pounds held by
agents. Looking through the Squire's papers, Joseph finds a draft of a letter to Mr. Fowler of
Gloucester which reads: Joseph writes to Mr. Fowler, who sends him a large package. One evening, Joseph leaves the Hall to carry out a mysterious experiment, taking with him a cloth that was intended to be laid over Squire Bowles' face upon his burial. The following morning, a frightened Joseph obliquely tells his mother of a conversation he has had, saying "Why in God's name did you leave his face bare?", "Oh, but he's angry", "He's free! And I daren't meet him! I daren't take the drink and go where he is! I daren't lie here another night", and "Oh, why did you do it? We could have waited." Madam Bowles determines that they will sail from
Yarmouth to
Holland that evening, saying "such as they can't follow". At Yarmouth Quay, Madam Bowles and Joseph are met by a boatman, who mentions that there is one other passenger sailing that night. The boatman states that the passenger is hooded, has "a cur'ous way of speakin'," appears to know them, and is "a-comin' this way now." The story then refers to an entry in the
Assize records of Norwich about a woman who confessed to poisoning her husband, and was strangled and then burnt at the stake; her son was hanged. The story ends with an extract from Bishop Moore's "book of recipes", held in the
University Library at Cambridge, reading: == Publication ==