When Phryne’s estranged father, Lord Henry George Fisher, arrives unannounced in Australia after selling up the family estate in England, he does his best to ingratiate himself with Dot, Bert, Cec and Mr Butler, though his roguish charm is lost on his own daughter. When Phryne recalls a secret encounter she witnessed during the War, between her father and an angry visitor, she begins to suspect that the cousin the Fishers inherited their title from is still alive and could be out to exact his revenge.

L'omicidio dell'assistente di un prestigiatore mette Phryne in seria difficoltà, un litigio le sfugge di mano e la donna riceve la visita del padre.

Phryne przeżywa trudny okres: odwiedza ją ojciec, asystent magika zostaje zamordowany, a pewien spór wymyka się spod kontroli.