Master Hugh Kate & their children attend the Midsummer's Eve fire Next morning early Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St Beornwald & moments later is summoned Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton & nearby villages who have gone missing recently Most are soon found some alive some dead Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor Someone has slain him & placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labour service collect rents & enforce other obligations Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case There is quite another reason for murder