FelixMcClure,anOxfordUniversityprofessor,isstabbedtodeathinhiscollegestudy.NotonlywasheanexpertinhisfieldbuthewasoneoftheUniversity'skeyfund-raisers.TheinvestigationfocusesonBrooks,aone-timecleanerforMcClurewhoquithiscollegejobabruptlyafterastudent,MathewRodway,jumpedoutofacollegewindowhighondrugs.WhenMorselearnsthatBrooks'daughterwastheobjectofaffectionforbothRodwayandanotherstudent,hehasanotherpossiblesuspect.Brooks'wifealsoworkedforoneofMcClure'sfriendsandMorseuncoversaconspiracythathemaynotbeabletoprove.