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Anthony Cade manages a tour group in Bulawayo when his old friend Jimmy McGrath appears with an intriguing proposition. McGrath has been offered a thousand pounds to deliver the memoirs of the late Count Stylptitch to a publisher in London. Because McGrath prefers remaining in Africa, he transfers the errand and passage to Cade. The assignment carries an unexpected undercurrent of peril and international politics.
1 Anthony Cade Signs on
In London, George Lomax pressures Lord Caterham into hosting a weekend gathering at Chimneys to secure Herzoslovakian oil rights. Political stability hinges on restoring Prince Michael to the throne, but sensitive memoirs threaten the delicate deal. Meanwhile, letters stolen from a woman named Virginia Revel add another layer of potential blackmail. Diplomatic necessity forces aristocratic hosts to yield their private homes to statecraft.
2 A Lady in Distress → 3 Anxiety in High Places
Bill Eversleigh uses minor tricks at the Foreign Office to secure a private moment with Virginia Revel at her Pont Street home. Virginia's effortless charm easily bewitches those around her, including diplomats and civil servants alike. George Lomax attempts to enlist her assistance for the upcoming political weekend at Chimneys. Beneath lighthearted banter about fashion and telephone calls, subtle diplomatic chess moves begin taking shape.
4 Introducing a Very Charming Lady
Arriving at the Blitz Hotel under Jimmy McGrath's name, Anthony Cade senses he is being watched. A mysterious foreign visitor, Baron Lolopretjzyl, promptly arrives at his room representing the Loyalist party of Herzoslovakia. The Baron attempts to negotiate for Count Stylptitch’s hidden manuscript, revealing how eagerly political factions seek its contents. Anthony realizes that stepping into another man's identity exposes him to unseen surveillance.
5 First Night in London
A suave stranger attempts to blackmail Virginia Revel using stolen love letters, demanding payment under threat of exposure. Meanwhile, Anthony catches an Italian intruder named Giuseppe ransacking his hotel room for the manuscript. Recognizing that the thieves stole the wrong packet, Anthony realizes Virginia's letters were taken instead of the memoirs. He decides to track down the blackmailer and recover the correspondence himself.
6 The Gentle Art of Blackmail → 7 Mr.
Virginia Revel returns home to find her entire household staff sent away to the country by a fraudulent telegram. A shabby man outside selling leaflets catches her eye just before she discovers the house empty save for her maid. Upon entering her study, she finds the blackmailing Italian sitting motionless in a chair, shot dead. Panic rises as she realizes someone orchestrated the scene to trap her.
8 A Dead Man
Anthony Cade arrives at Virginia's house just after the murder and examines the victim. He finds a dainty pistol nearby engraved with the name Virginia, revealing a deliberate plot to frame her. Knowing the police would immediately suspect her, Anthony decides to secretly remove and conceal the body himself. His quick thinking buys Virginia time while plunging him deeper into a web of crime.
9 Anthony Disposes of a Body
Shockwaves hit the Chimneys estate when a foreign guest staying under the pseudonym Count Stanislaus is found shot dead. Inspector Badgworthy initiates local inquiries, but Scotland Yard soon sends Superintendent Battle to take charge. George Lomax reveals to Battle that the dead man was actually Prince Michael of Herzoslovakia. The presence of high-ranking financiers and foreign delegates complicates the murder investigation.
10 Chimneys → 11 Superintendent Battle Arrives
Anthony Cade voluntarily presents himself at Chimneys after learning local police collected his boots from the village inn. Facing Superintendent Battle, Lord Caterham, and George Lomax, Anthony explains his presence on the grounds during the shooting. He admits travelling under Jimmy McGrath's name and carrying memoirs, though he conceals his recent body disposal in London. Battle carefully weighs Anthony's candid demeanor against the suspicious timing of his arrival.
12 Anthony Tells His Story
Superintendent Battle verifies details of the crime scene while Anthony discovers the Stylptitch manuscript was stolen during a hotel switch. An eccentric American guest, Hiram P. Fish, suddenly enters the room claiming an interest in rare editions and criminology. Fish's innocent demeanor masks sharp powers of observation as he scrutinizes the panelling and windows. Anthony realizes every person staying at Chimneys holds hidden motives.
13 The American Visitor
In the Blue morning-room, financier Herman Isaacstein discusses the massive Herzoslovakian oil concessions dependent on restoring the monarchy. Superintendent Battle gathers background intelligence, refusing to rule out Anthony Cade as a suspect. Walking near the lake with Virginia Revel, Anthony discusses past political rebellions in Herzoslovakia and Prince Michael's history. Both realize that international intrigue, oil wealth, and personal revenge drive the surrounding plot.
14 Mainly Political and Financial → 15 The French Stranger
Tensions escalate over lunch as foreign diplomats, political figures, and mischievous children clash at Chimneys. Lord Caterham retreats to his private study to escape the overwhelming social pressure of hosting statecraft. Virginia confirms to Anthony that the murdered man was indeed Prince Michael, disproving his alternate theory. Anthony sets out to investigate Mademoiselle Brun, the quiet French governess whose room showed mysterious late-night lights.
16 Tea in the Schoolroom
The official inquest concludes with minimal public details to prevent a political panic. That night, Virginia Revel hears disturbing noises emanating from the darkened Council Chamber. She wakes Bill Eversleigh to assist her, and together they creep downstairs armed only with a poker. Their midnight investigation reveals that unknown intruders are actively searching the estate for secret treasures.
17 A Midnight Adventure
Anthony Cade returns from verifying Mademoiselle Brun's background, learning from Battle how easily make-up and clothes alter identities. French detective M. Lemoine joins Superintendent Battle and the group to share confidential intelligence regarding an infamous jewel thief known as King Victor. Battle reveals that the historic Herzoslovakian diamond, stolen years ago, is believed to be hidden inside Chimneys. The investigation transforms from a murder inquiry into a hunt for a master criminal.
18 Second Midnight Adventure → 19 Secret History
Left alone with Superintendent Battle, Anthony Cade decides to confess his full involvement in disposing of Giuseppe's body in London. Battle receives the startling revelation with unruffled calm, explaining his familiarity with aristocratic eccentricity and rash decisions. By coming clean, Anthony removes suspicion from Virginia Revel while cementing a working partnership with Scotland Yard. Battle advises keeping pressure on suspect individuals until someone makes a fatal misstep.
20 Battle and Anthony Confer
Over breakfast, Lord Caterham expresses exasperation at Superintendent Battle's contradictory request for guests to remain despite lifting official travel bans. Mr. Hiram Fish surprises his host by deciding to stay, eager to observe English country life. Meanwhile, evidence turns up in an unlikely place when a hidden weapon is discovered planted inside Herman Isaacstein's luggage. The discovery confirms that the killer intentionally leaves clues to frame innocent visitors.
21 Mr. Isaacstein’s Suit-case
Battle, Lemoine, Anthony, Virginia, and Bundle explore a secret passage hidden behind a Holbein portrait in the Council Chamber. Clues in Count Stylptitch’s cipher point toward hidden steps and specific coded directions. However, Anthony realizes the true meaning of the clue refers to a bright red rose variety planted in the outdoor gardens. A search of the Rose Garden brings them closer to uncovering the long-buried diamond.
22 The Red Signal → 23 Encounter in the Rose Garden
Bundle drives Anthony to London at perilous speeds in her Panhard, giving him insight into Virginia Revel's past marriage. She explains that Virginia married out of pity rather than passion, protecting her independence ever since. Upon arriving, Anthony pursues leads connecting suspect figures to a secluded house in Dover. The trip confirms that sinister international conspirators are organizing their forces across England.
24 The House at Dover
As Tuesday night arrives at Chimneys, Lord Caterham and Virginia reflect on Anthony's sudden absence and Hiram Fish's disappearance. M. Lemoine arrives with dramatic news, claiming Anthony is actually King Victor operating under an alias. Lemoine reveals he tracked Anthony's connections to the secret house in Dover and intercepted revolutionary messages. The revelation forces the household to question whether their charming companion is a master criminal.
25 Tuesday Night at Chimneys
Anthony Cade visits Baron Lolopretjzyl at Harridge’s Hotel with a bold political bargain. He offers to supply the Loyalist party with a legitimate Prince to lead Herzoslovakia in exchange for specific guarantees. Meanwhile back at Chimneys, George Lomax gathers key stakeholders to finalize international oil agreements and settle the estate's mysteries. The convergence of financial moguls and political factions sets the stage for a final confrontation.
26 The 13th of October → 27 The 13th of October (contd.)
Gathering the household together, Anthony unmasks Mademoiselle Brun as the former Queen Varaga of Herzoslovakia, who escaped revolution years ago. Facing exposure by Prince Michael, she shot him and hid the weapon to protect her secret. Furthermore, Lemoine is exposed as the real King Victor in disguise, while Hiram Fish reveals himself as a Pinkerton detective trailing him. The complex network of imposter identities collapses in a single dramatic reveal.
28 King Victor
Anthony explains how he unearthed the diamond hidden in the Rose Garden and thwarted King Victor's scheme. He then stuns the gathered company by revealing his true identity as Prince Nicholas of Herzoslovakia. Having faked his death in Africa to live freely, Anthony steps forward to claim his lineage and save his country's negotiations. Financial and political stability are restored as Isaacstein agrees to complete the crucial loan.
29 Further Explanations
In private consultation with Superintendent Battle, Anthony reflects on his transformation from free-spirited wanderer to monarch. He accepts the crown of Herzoslovakia not out of ambition, but out of love for Virginia Revel and duty to his nation. Outside in the garden, constable Johnson unearths the canvas package containing the stolen diamond, completing Scotland Yard's case. Lord Caterham happily escapes further political hosting as order is fully restored.
30 Anthony Signs on for a New Job → 31 Sundry Details
Discover how international intrigue, stolen memoirs, and hidden identities collide at an historic English country house.