
InVictorianLondon,thebotanistIrwinMolyneuxandhiswifeMargaretMolyneuxarebankruptedbutstillkeepingtheappearanceduetothesuccessfulcrimenovelswrittenbyIrwinunderthepseudonymofFelixChapel.Theircookhasjustleftthefamily,whenIrwin'ssnoopyandhypocritecousinArchibaldSoperthatisincampaignagainstthepolicestoriesofFelixChapelinviteshimselftohavedinnerinIrwin'shouse.Margaretdecidestokeepthefarceoftheirsocialpositionsecretlycookingthedinner,whiletheclumsyIrwinjustifiesherabsencetellingthebishopSoperthatshehadjusttraveledtothecountrytomeetsomefriends.HoweverSopersuspectsofIrwinandcallstheScotlandYard,assumingthathiscousinhadpoisonedhiswife.IrwinandMargaretdecidetohidethetruthtoavoidanexpositionoftheirfinancialsituation,movingtoalow-budgethotelintheChineseneighborhood,gettingintotrouble.







