Bertie's friend Boko Fittleworth, the popular writer, had been engaged to Florence Craye, as had Bertie in his day. Now Boko wants to marry Nobby Hopwood. Florence being his daughter and Nobby his ward, Lord Worplesdon objects to Boko as a flitter-and-sipper, half dotty and financially unsound, and won't give his OK to Nobby's marrying him. Lord Worplesdon is on the edge of a big shipping deal with American Mr Clam and wants a private place in which to meet him for final talks. On Jeeves's advice Lord Worplesdon provides a cottage on his Steeple Bumpleigh estate for Bertie. It is here that Clam is to nest for the secret pourparlers. Boko has a cottage nearby and Stilton Cheesewright is the local policeman, and now engaged to Florence. Edwin the Boy Scout, trying to catch up on his good deeds, burns Bertie's cottage to the ground. Lucidly Bertie's Aunt Agatha, now Lady Worplesdon, is away, ministering to young Thos at prep school: he has mumps.

Stilton is furious with jealousy when he hears that Florence was once engaged to Bertie. Boko locks Clam in the potting shed thinking him to be a burglar. There is a fancy dress dance at a neighbouring village. Lord Worplesdon goes as Sinbad the Sailor, with ginger whiskers, Clam goes as Edward the Confessor, Bertie goes in a policeman's outfit pinched by Jeeves from the river bank where Stilton is bathing. Boko, not knowing that Lord Worplesdon is asleep, tight, at the back of his car, locks him in the garage overnight. But Jeeves organizes forgiveness and some happy endings. Boko and Nobby are off to Hollywood with Lord Worplesdon's hard-won blessing. Jeeves rescues Bertie from his second (but by no means last) engagement to the dread Florence. Lord Worplesdon, his business deal completed at great profit, is relieved that his wife has been away and may never hear of the dire doings of the last forty-eight hours.

Source: Richard Usborne. Plum Sauce. A P G Wodehouse Companion.