The family stage their most ambitious auction yet but with rich pickings around there are plenty sharp operators looking for a killing. A local aristocrat enlists the help of the House of Caradus when he needs money. The local aristocrat visits the House of Caradus to raise money to offset family expenses. A break at last for ailing House of Caradus, Lord Alvington, an impoverished peer hammered by inflation and taxation, has decided to sell off some of the family heirlooms and the Caradus firm will handle the highly lucrative sale. Victor and Helena decide to set up the sale in Alvington House itself thereby increasing the value of the of the objects. But are they big enough to attract bidders?

Lionel and Helena Caradus take time off from their auctioneering business to congratulate their mother her sixtieth birthday. Victor, Ruth, Helena and Lionel gathered together for Violet's birthday. Victor gives Violet a brass coal scuttle, which Helena had hoped to give to her mother. There is thus some tension when Violet shows a great deal of liking for the object. In the meantime, Violet's maid, Ettie, is worried when she finds leftover coal in the scuttle for there's a belief that it is unlucky. It seems to mean that the previous owner died before they could finish the coal.