David Obeney, recuperating after a mental illness, arrives at his sister's home in England in time to be the ""goat"" of a plot to get rid of Verinder, unpopular, unfaithful husband, and involved in smuggling first editions out of the country. A house burns, a revolver disappears, blackmail is attempted, two are murdered and one suicides before David is completely exonerated. Satisfactory suspense.