Billy Weaver, a 17-year-old boy, travels to Bath, England on business. Along the way, he catches sight of a bed and breakfast and is strangely charmed by the sign outside the door and the cozy setting within, so he decides to put up there for the night. He is greeted by a middle-aged, cheerful and talkative landlady, who insists upon sitting and conversing with the young man, serving him tea (Dahl refers to the tea tasting of "bitter almonds", implying it contains cyanide).