They didn’t figure in the trade figures but somebody was importing goods into Britain —human goods When a waiter at an Indian restaurant is crucified in a Soho garage and when a patron of that restaurant is the famous Simon Templar, it spells trouble for the most nefarious export-import business ever. In particular it spelled trouble for: Shortwave —a man so tuned-in, he couldn’t turn off. Kalki —who takes an underwater plunge which lasts a whole lot longer than the regulation three minutes. Fowler —the Boss who plays very dirty indeed — and fouls once too often.
On an errand of mercy to help an elderly neighbour, the Sainted Simon Templar meets a very distraught — and very beautiful young woman. Seems she is missing a brother, and someone is missing a Rembrandt. Together they track the fiend behind it all: The Masterpiece Merchant. On the other side of the Atlantic our “afficionado of the unexpected, the master of the unpredictable,” Simon Templar, makes the acquaintance of a lovely young heiress at a Mainline charity ball. But a little sleuthing reveals that one member of the Social Register is also listed on the Who’s Who of Organised Crime...