Lovejoy decides to leave the district for a while after pulling one trick too many on his arch-rival, Gimbert. But a part-time job threatens to land him in bigger trouble.

When Lovejoy acquires an antique clock without any works, he discovers that the past and present honour of a regiment and a family are at stake.

Lovejoy is involved in a murder, and an eccentric millionaire invites him to join in what promises to be the biggest art scandal of this, or any, century.