When a bottle of pills goes missing from the Doctor's surgery, Harry Grout is worried that investigation of the theft by the prison authorities will jeopardise some of his activities. Grout insists that Fletcher must find the pills and return them before the warders can take action.

Fletcher's new cellmate turns out to be the judge who sentenced him to five years in Slade Prison.

Fletcher is worried that Judge Rawley might rob him of his main source of income - writing letters for illiterate inmates.