> When Hubert Denning, the avuncular figure behind a series of spectacular bullion robberies, is released from prison, he goes to stay with his godson, Roger Farrell, and Roger's wife, Meg. Concerned about possible danger with Uncle Hubert around once more, Meg alerts the Farrells' long-time friend, Antony Maitland. Thus, the barrister is not completely unprepared for a midnight call from Roger informing him that a corpse has turned up in the middle of the Farrells' hallway. Despite Roger's avowal of innocence, the police assume he is the prime suspect in the murder. In order to clear Roger's name, Antony must establish who had gained access to the Farrells' house to kill the intruder and who among their guests the previous Sunday might have taken Meg's key, now mysteriously missing, from her handbag. Was it Roger's own sister or brother-in-law, his business partner, his partner's wife, his friend, Victor Barham, the prominent banker, or Barham's daughter Terry? At the same time, the police assert that one million pounds of Hubert Denning's stolen gold is still unaccounted for, and a notorious criminal, improbably named Boney Nelson, is known to be looking for the missing bullion. Maitland's life is repeatedly threatened as he attempts to unravel this particularly hazardous case and recover a fortune in gold.