Galahad Threepwood is in residence at Blandings Castle, where his sister, Lady Hermione Wedge, has hired a secretary, Sandy Callender.

Galahad finds himself dealing with Sandy and her now-ex-betrothed Sam Bagshott, who needs £700 to fix up his inherited family seat and sell it.

Meanwhile, Lady Hermione has learned that her prospective son-in-law Tipton Plimsoll has lost all his money in the stock market crash and is now impoverished.

Lady Hermione, having discovered that the letter was delivered and nullified, exposes Sam, declares Emsworth to be impossible to manage, and leaves.

[1] The US edition, The Brinkmanship of Galahad Threepwood, is dedicated: "To Scott Meredith, prince of literary agents and best of friends".