When Brewster, my bodyguard, comes to me about a murder of a pugilistтАФand whatтАЩs more, says his wife has summoned meтАФI must hasten to St. Giles to find a killer before Brewster is arrested for the crime. This is made difficult because my wifeтАЩs late husbandтАЩs odious cousin has materialized to try to wrest her son into his care. After all, seven-year-old Peter is a viscount, and his cousin wants to get closer to the title.
But how close? If PeterтАЩs life is in danger, I must remain, but Brewster risks hanging for the death of his wifeтАЩs brother-in-law. HeтАЩs done too much for me to turn my back on him, but the devil if IтАЩll let the Breckenridge cousin get his clutches on Peter.
It will take all my perseverance, and a few wiles, to plough through these difficulties. In the meantime, I meet a Runner who teaches me about crime and punishment in this enlightened age, and BrewsterтАЩs old trainer, who made him the excellent pugilistтАФand thiefтАФhe is today.