It could easily be a red herring to unnerve us, but if it wasn't the property of the occupant, I have to wonder if they ever left.

[He pauses for a moment, looking between the fountain and the foliage.]

Perhaps we ought to investigate somewhere else for now and see if we can find anything to make this more manageable? I don't think either of us want to be sticking our hands into any more unknowns.