On an ocean liner making its way to New York, Simon Templar, "the Saint", rescues a fellow passenger from card cheats, though she refuses to give him her name and is offended when he kisses her without invitation.

The Saint learns that his friendly nemesis, Inspector Henry Farnack, has been suspended from the police force after $50,000 was found in his safe.

He has been framed by "Big" Ben Egan on behalf of his race-fixing gang, which Fernack was investigating.

The other members of the gang - "Rocky" Weldon, Leo Sloan, Sam Reese and Max Bremer - each pay a quarter share of the $90,000 cost of the frameup.

Rocky himself has just been cleared in a trial after the testimony of his bodyguard, Clarence "Pearly" Gates and the murder of the main prosecution witness, Johnny Summers.

Their unwitting confessions are broadcast to the police via a hidden microphone and radio transmitter.

Ruth makes a deathbed confession to the three previous murders, then dies before Templar can tell her something important.