Max Friteau stands to inherit a fortune one day from his late father — but only if he abides by the terms in his will.
Robert Friteau, a rich Belgian merchant living in the Friteau family home of Château Granbois, was violently anti-British.
Many years ago during the War, his son Max had an affair with an English woman while serving with the British Royal Navy.
The romance resulted in an illegitimate daughter, Mary.
Robert’s will states that if Max returns to England before his fiftieth year, all of his possessions will pass automatically to his cousins, Pierre and Jules Friteau.
But Max, who has yet to reach his fiftieth birthday, is forced to visit England to prevent Mary from marrying jobless gambler Harry Blane.
Jules is determined to secure the family fortune for himself and would love nothing more than to prove that Max has been in England.
Mary suggests that Max go back to Belgium before he is found in the UK and arranges for him to hitch a lift with her good friends Nat and George, who are driving to the continent on holiday.
But when Nat and George arrive at the London flat where Max is staying, they find the dead body of a man.
They know that if Max dies in the UK, the Friteau fortune will pass to Jules and Pierre, while their friend Mary will be left with nothing.
But what if the body somehow made its way back to Belgium?
Would it not look as if Max had died there instead?