'A fruity, foxy masterpiece, defender of our wilting faith in mankind' Sunday TimesHorace Rumpole is in a strange state that could only be described as a kind of air-conditioned he has retired to Florida with his wife, Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed). It is safely assumed the Old Bailey hack's wig has been hung up for good. But when a rather unkempt civil servant is mixed up in the mysterious death of a minor aristocrat, Rumpole seizes the opportunity to escape a life of leisure. He is soon back in court (via a budget airline) to do battle once more with Judge 'Mad Bull' Bullingham.