Colonel March has been invited to a French chateau by Dr Charles Hodek.
Dr. Hodek and Professor Rogel have been conducting experiments on suspended animation in an elaborate pressure chamber.
They believe that signals have been sent from another planet and the only way to reach the planet is for a spaceman to be in long term hibernation.
During an experiment, a volunteer dies, starved of oxygen. The dead man was having an affair with Hodek's wife...
March meets an old friend, Dr. Ivy, at their club. Dr. Ivy excitedly tells March that he has recently purchased an Etruscan stamp and after chatting amiably for a couple of minutes, Dr. Ivy also tells March that one of his patients, Harold Hartley, has been the victim of several near fatal accidents. Soon thereafter March learns of another serious accident to Hartley and he and Ames go to investigate. Hartley is recuperating in the home of Phyllis Barton, a woman he is engaged to and the widow of John Barton, a scientist who died in a plane crash. Also in the home is Phyllis' son Andrew who behaves very strangely and at one point tells March that his deceased father told him to kill Hartley. Dr. Ivy remarks that "The little fellow is potty, ought to be locked away." But March feels differently and keeps a close eye on Andrew and discovers the truth about the talking head...
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