The Surprises of an Empty Hotel

Regular patron Francis Marchmont arrives at the mostly deserted Hotel Continental, which is suffering from a diphtheria outbreak. There, he encounters a mysterious woman named "Mrs. Lucie Fairbanks," sparking an unexpected friendship. However, he soon learns that she and another woman are in fierce competition, both vying for the fortune of his despised adversary, the deceased copper magnate Thomas Cadwallader Bennet. This revelation sets off a night filled with intrigue and confusion, as identities blur in the eerie emptiness of the hotel.