A desperate bank owner recruits his butler to orchestrate a robbery of his own institution to cover up a massive financial deficit. Horace Appleby, a career criminal masquerading as a domestic servant to evade his underworld rivals, finds his sanctuary in an English country house unexpectedly compromised. He must navigate the absurd social expectations of the British upper class while managing the logistics of a bank heist. The narrative employs a third-person perspective, focusing on the rapid-fire dialogue and farcical misunderstandings that define the protagonist's predicament.

Readers frequently highlight the characteristic wit and linguistic playfulness that define the author's later works. Discussion often centers on the contrast between the perceived tranquility of the English countryside and the chaotic schemes of the characters. Critics note that the pacing remains brisk, prioritizing comedic timing over complex character arcs. The work is widely regarded as a lighthearted exercise in absurdity that showcases the author's mastery of the comic novel form.