Roger Norton Vane is dead. 20 years ago he went for a walk in the Thai jungle with his partner, Tim MacDonald, and never returned. After years of wild speculation, fruitless searches and unconfirmed sightings, finally his death is to be made official and somebody will inherit his accumulated wealth. But at his memorial service, a man interrupts proceedings, claiming to be Vane. He installs himself in his old flat, evicting Tim MacDonald, and sets about proving his right to Vane's money.