The Seven Dials Mystery

A house party is taking place at Chimneys, which has been rented out by the Marquess of Caterham for two years to Sir Oswald Coote, a self-made millionaire, and his wife. In addition to Sir Oswald and Lady Coote, there is a party of young people staying at Chimneys, three girls and four young men. One of them, Gerald "Gerry" Wade, has a deserved reputation for sleeping in very late in the morning, much to the annoyance of Lady Coote. The other six youngsters plan a joke on Gerald by buying eight alarm clocks and putting them in his room after he has fallen asleep; they are timed to go off at irregular intervals the next morning, starting at 6.30 am.