In which a resourceful soldier, Tarrion, seeks to improve his fortunes in the hill-station of Simla by enlisting the aid of the formidable Mrs. Hauksbee, whose sharp wit and inadvertent acquisition of confidential papers set in motion a series of discreet manoeuvres through the labyrinthine workings of official appointments. Together they navigate the delicate balance of secrecy and influence in the colonial administration, shedding light on the curious workings of power and favour beneath the stately surface of the Raj.