The golden fleece : or, Who wins the prize?

At the heart of the story lies Burnesbey Abbey, a centuries‑old manor that suddenly falls into the hands of two very different men. Caleb Coffin, an elderly merchant with a velvet cap, tortoiseshell spectacles and a cynic’s sparkle, lounges in his favourite easy‑chair, turning the ancient walls into his personal stage. Across the drawing‑room sits his former ward, Meredith, a city‑savvy clerk accustomed to ledger books rather than moss‑covered corridors. Their first meeting crackles with humor and a touch of rivalry, each teasing the other’s new circumstances while pondering whether wealth changes a person’s nature.

The narrative quickly sketches a colorful cast—talk of owls versus eagles, of night‑time wisdom versus bright ambition—while hinting at a larger contest symbolised by a golden fleece. As the two men exchange barbed observations and hints of past grievances, listeners are invited into a world where inheritance, pride, and the promise of a prize set the stage for witty, heartfelt drama that unfurls through witty dialogue and vivid countryside scenes.