The action of the novel takes place in London, in the late nineteenth century.
Mr. Utterson, the notary, was a reserved man, taciturn and awkward in society, and still very pretty. He was strict with them, but to the weakness of the neighbors were gracious, preferring to help, not to condemn. But because he often had to be the last decent familiar to many impoverished people and the last good influence in their lives. Of this kind were those ties of friendship that bound Mr. Utterson with his distant relative Mr. Richard Enfield, London Bon vivant. They both loved together for Sunday walks, for which he sacrificed other things.
One Sunday, the case led them to a street of one of the business districts of London. Its inhabitants have succeeded, so the street looked clean and elegant. This neatness was broken only by one building, with a sullen, non-residential. Mr. Enfield told Utterson strange story connected with this building.
Once Enfield came home at three in the morning through the lane. Suddenly he saw a low man, who quickly walked down the street.