A chance meeting on a train brought together Lord Ickenham and Bill Oakshott—although being told that the love of his life, Hermione, was engaged to none other than Pongo, Lord Ickenham's nephew, did make Bill feel like he'd been struck behind the ear. But Pongo has troubles of his own to deal with when he accidently breaks one of Hermione's father's prized statues—and winds up replacing it with a smuggling vessel full of jewels.