 Once again, Rumpole finds himself defending a member of the Timson clan, this time Hugh Timson on a charge of possession of stolen goods. Specifically, he is found to have a garage full of expensive wine. Rumpole is concerned that his story, to the effect that he purchased the wine from some unknown individual he met in a pub, will not wash with Mr. Justice Graves who has heard this story before. Rumpole also takes on a new pupil, Ms Liz Probert and even tricks Ballard into thinking that she is the daughter of a well-known clergyman, when in fact her father is the well-known left-wing councilman  Red  Ron Probert.