'Mr. Incoul's Misadventure' is a novel written by Edgar Saltus. The story begins with an announcement: Henri Harmon Incoul's wife has passed away. Rumors spread that he might move to a foreign land, as he was childless, wealthy, and had nothing to keep him in New York. He was in his late thirties to early forties, but appeared older in conversation due to his measured speech and compression around his lips. He was well-off with a large amount of real estate and securities inherited from his ancestors. His childhood was unhappy as his father was a rigid and stern Presbyterian, and his mother had died when he was young.