Because Captain West had won his position in the army by virtue of his superior intelligence rather than because his uncle had been a lord or anything of that sort. Captain Ashmay considered West “something of a rotter.” Ashmay’s resentment at the fact that he must perforce remain in the same regiment with a man so markedly beneath him in social position was considerably heightened when West beat him in the aeroplane race at the Autumn maneuvers. When he discovered that his sister was actually in love with West, Ashmay’s feelings rose to the boiling point, and he forbade her to have any more to do with the man. Burgovitch, a mysterious individual, ostensibly a tourist, actually the secret agent of a foreign government, was in England for the single purpose of getting possession of the new biplane plans which were safely kept in Colonel Coldyke’s safe. Burgovitch was a clever man. He studied men, and when he laid his plans, they were generally successful. Captain Ashmay ‘s father, in serious financial difficulties had been obliged to borrow large sums of money from a broker named Goldman. Burgovitch bought Mr. Ashmay’s notes, and requested an interview with Captain Ashmay. In his talk with the captain, Burgovitch waived all thought of diplomacy or tact. He had the notes. Mr. Ashmay was unable to pay. If Captain Ashmay wished to save his father from certain disgrace, he must get the biplane plans for Burgovitch. Unfortunately for the complete success of Burgovitch’s plan, Mary, the barmaid at the inn in which the interview was held, overheard the conversation, and hurried with the news to Captain West. West received the news just after Ashmay had made his mind up, and had succeeded in extracting the papers from the colonel’s safe. West pursued him in an automobile to the inn, and interrupted the proceedings just as Ashmay was about to hand the papers over. West seized the papers and hurried back just in time to slip them into the safe before the colonel had had time to miss them. Then West went over to the Ashmay’s and told the threatening Burgovitch that he must either give Mr. Ashmay more time on his notes, or else submit to immediate arrest as a spy. The repentant Ashmay begged West’s pardon for his snobbishness of the past, and the play ends with West’s arm about Dora Ashmay’s shoulders.