Colonel Middleton is entrusted by his critically ill military superior, Sir John Danvers, with carrying some valuable family jewels from India back to his nephew, Ralph, in England. Ralph is a younger son, but is favoured over his brother, Sir Charles Danvers, who becomes a suspect when, in the course of a large house party and some amateur theatricals, the jewels go missing. The story follows what happens to the jewels. (Summary by Simon Evers)