Guthrie Featherstone, with Rumpole as his junior, defends a safe-cracker who claims to have been framed by the notorious Inspector ""Dirty"" Dickerson. Rumpole risks his reputation by attacking police corruption before a police-friendly judge - and as a result he finds himself called to a disciplinary hearing. There is even the possibility that Rumpole may be forced to retire, but he digs his toes in.

Yet another of the Timsons needs Rumpole's services as an advocate, this time to answer charges of fencing stolen liquor.

Rumpole accepts Ms Liz Probert - a radical left-wing activist - as a pupil, though not without certain misgivings.