 Rumpole reluctantly agrees accompany Hilda and her male cousin to a very elite, exclusive restaurant. Rumpole objects to the pretentious atmosphere, fancy fair, and skimpy portions and demands comfort food like steak and kidney pudding. Jean Pierre O Higgins, the gourmet restaurateur, is insulted that Rumpole would expect him to prepare such proletarian dish and an argument ensues. An even greater uproar arises when a live mouse jumps out from the serving dish at another table. The diners are Erskine-Brown and a pretty colleague that he s attempting to romance. Embarrassed by Rumpole s behavior, Hilda leaves him for her more genteel cousin. When a recalcitrant O Higgins comes to Rumpole to beg his help in saving his license and reputation, Rumpole does agree to defend him without embarrassing Erskine-Brown.