简介：TomBarnabyjoinstheCaustonChamberofCommercetriptoBrightonasheissuspiciousofdodgymayorHicks'plantobuycoastallandonwhichtobuychalets.AlsoopposedtotheplanisLadyMatildaWilliam,whohashadthreateningletters,ashavethelocalvicar,oilypropertydeveloperHughDalgleishandhotelierJennyRussell.LadyMatildaisdescendedfromRichardofGuillaume,aruthlesscontemporaryofWilliamtheConqueror,andbelievesthathersonRichard,lastofthelineandbrain-damagedfortwentyyears,wasthevictimofancestraljealousy.InBrightonDalgleishismurderedwiththeswordstolenfromGuillaume'stombandHicksisarrestedforfraud.HavinglearnthowRichardcamebyhisaccidentBarnabyisconvincedthatRichardandnotthepropertyscamisthecauseofyetanothervictimbeingclaimedbytheswordofGuillaume.