After a long and tiring day, Miss Bartlett and her young cousin Lucy find themselves in a strange pension in Florence, where they are offered a less-than-ideal arrangement. They had been expecting a view from their room of the river Arno and instead they were stuck looking over the interior courtyard.

However, the evening takes an unexpected turn when they run into Mr. Beebe, a clergyman from their hometown. As they chat, they find themselves surrounded by a friendly crowd of tourists offering advice and insight, including an ill-mannered old man and his son who offer to exchange rooms. With Mr. Beebe's help, they must decide whether to accept the offer and discover the truth behind this peculiar family and their mysterious behaviour.