Much concerned over his failure to locate Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie who have mysteriously disappeared Kerrigan urges Corenti, the chief of the Venice police to more strenuous efforts. While riding on the canal Kerrigan's attention is arrested by a gondola whose passenger he recognizes. It is Rudolph Adlam. On the balcony of a venetian palace that has not been occupied for years a woman appears. She throws a rose to Adlam which he deftly catches and raises to his lips. Horrified Kerrigan recognizes her the woman known as Zombie, a human corpse walking among the living. He immediately reports this to Corenti and no time is lost searching the palace. However the search proves fruitless and having returned to his hotel Kerrigan is persuaded to pay another visit to the palace...