Griffin was eager to get away from crowded London. There he could be an easy target of so many searching eyes. Therefore, he took a train to the village of Iping. He booked two rooms at the local inn. The arrival of a stranger at
an inn in winter was quite an unusual event. So, the landlady Mrs. Hall was more than happy to receive him. She tried to be friendly with him. However, Griffin snubbed her. He told clearly that his reason for coming to Iping was “a desire for solitude”. He didn't want to be disturbed. He also told that an accident had affected his face.
Mrs. Hall was convinced that her strange guest was an eccentric scientist. She excused his strange habits and irritable behaviour because he had paid her in advance. The opinion of the people towards Griffin changed after the burglary in the clergyman's house and the strange behaviour of Mrs. Hall's furniture. Mrs. Hall thought that the room was haunted by spirits and her guest Griffin had caused those spirits to enter into her furniture. The neighbours thought that the trouble was caused by the witchcraft. The news of the burglary at the clergyman's house made them suspect that it was caused by the stranger. Griffin had no money earlier but when he produced ready cash suddenly, their suspicion rested on him.