 When a real estate agent is found bludgeoned to death with a Zulu war club in an empty house, police question Christopher Jago as a person of interest. Even though he was at the crime scene and subsequently fled overseas, they don t feel there is enough evidence to charge him with the crime. Her father, the wealthy owner of a successful real estate agency, hires Rumpole to bring a private prosecution against him, a practice that is legal in England. Liz Probert, Rumpole s radical protegee, becomes indignant, accuses Rumpole of selling out to a rich client, and joins the defense against her mentor. Rumpole is distracted by an unwelcome house-guest during the Christmas holidays and Ballard s accusation that Erskine-Brown has stolen someone else s brief.