 Rumpole finds himself overlooked when Phyllida Erskine-Brown is set to defend a member of the Timson clan. It seems he insulted Mr. Bernard, their solicitor. This time Tony Timson is accused of theft but his defense is that the money was found in his washing machine and being a man, he would never have put it there. He also objects to a woman solicitor. At home, Rumpole is having difficulty with household duties, specifically installing a bookshelf. Claude Erskine-Brown has applied to become a Q.C. and seems convinced it is a mere formality. A member of Chambers is named a Q.C., to most everyone s surprise and to Rumpole s entire satisfaction.