It's a time of shortage and rationing. The Honourable Richard Rollison (aka 'The Toff') is in the army, but gets permission to visit his aunt, Lady Matilda Wirrington, who is supposedly on her death bed. Had she died, things would have been different, but as it was a recovery led from one thing to the other and 'The Toff' found himself involved in an investigation of the black market – profiteering by dishonest 'businessmen' in order to earn huge amounts of money out of people's needs in times of inadequate supply. This, though, went beyond that and wholesale murder raised its ugly head as both 'The Toff' and Scotland Yard battle it out with those involved.