Аннотация
Книга начинается с описания жизни Джона Сегрейва, упоминая его происхождение из падающей в упадок семьи и его работу в торговом доме. Джон не является амбициозным человеком, но обладает ярким умом и энергией. Во время сна он видит странный сон о белом доме, который после пробуждения не может вспомнить полностью.
Мейзи Веттерман, дочь богатого Рудольфа Веттермана, интересуется Джоном и устраивает у себя дома ужин, на который приглашает его. Ее подруга, Аллегра, sarcastically comments on this romantic interest of Maizie. During the conversation Maysey admits that she cannot explain why she is attracted to John, despite his modesty.
Allegro is entertained by the role of a court jester and sarcastically comments on the situation around Maysey and John. Maysey expresses hope for a romantic relationship with John despite the circumstances. The conversation between the girls reflects the relationships in society at that time, and also hints at the possibility of a further development of the relationship between Maize and John.
The excerpt describes the relationship between John Segreave and Allegra Kerr. John falls in love with Allegra but encounters her family curse - a history of madness and misfortune that has haunted their family for generations. He confesses his feelings to her and his intention to leave the service to undertake an expedition to West Africa. Allegra rejects him and says that she will never marry because of the curse in her family.
John sees the house again in his nightmares and senses the presence of a repulsive creature, waking up in horror. He wants to meet Allegro, but learns that her mother passed away and Allegra stays in the house, immersed in her sorrow. John takes a parting look and leaves, leaving her with Maysey, who reveals to him the horrors of madness in Allegra's family. John leaves for Africa, ending his hopes for happiness with Allegra.
The action takes place in a residential house, where a young woman Olga Stormer plans to arrange an original intrigue with her friend Denny. Olga plans to escape from her partner Jake Levitt and tries to accuse him of the murder of another woman, an actress named Ryan. However, everything turns into a real thriller when Levitt discovers the body and gets entangled in a deadly game. He is forced to hide and tries to unravel the mystery of the murder to prove his innocence. However, his plans are in danger when the maid becomes a witness to the murder and he is forced to evade the police. In the end, it turns out that everything was orchestrated by Olga as part of a theatrical intrigue, and she wins in her life drama game.
