When Mr. Thomas Tapley, a respectable but somewhat decrepit gentleman, is found beaten to death in his living room, his neighbor, Scotland Yard Inspector Benjamin Ross, immediately rushes to the scene. Tapley recently returned from abroad, but otherwise little is known about the man. When Crown Counsel Jonathan Tapley learns of Thomas' death, he comes forward as a witness and the truth about the tragic past of the man who was his cousin begins to surface. Ben's wife, Lizzie, is convinced that Tapley was being followed on the day of his death, and after a little research, she discovers that he received a mysterious visitor in a beautiful carriage a few days before his death. The list of suspects begins to grow and Ben must uncover who could benefit the most from Tapley's unfortunate demise.