A junior partner in a failing haberdashery attempts to save his business through an aggressive and dishonest advertising campaign that threatens to ruin the firm entirely. George Robinson, a former bill-sticker, maneuvers to control the capital of the haberdashery firm Brown, Jones, and Robinson. He faces opposition from his more conservative partners and the harsh realities of the competitive London retail market. The narrative is presented through the perspective of a member of the firm, providing an intimate look at the internal power dynamics and the absurdity of the business decisions made by the trio. The story follows a linear progression as the firm descends into chaos due to Robinson's obsession with public visibility over actual profit.

Readers and critics often identify this work as a departure from the author's more celebrated social realism, noting its sharper, more cynical tone. Discussion frequently centers on the novel's prescient critique of advertising culture, which remains relevant to modern readers observing the evolution of commercial media. While some find the protagonist's relentless foolishness exhausting, others appreciate the comedic timing and the satirical bite directed at the business practices of the era. The balance of character development and situational humor is frequently highlighted as a defining feature of the text. Overall, the work is viewed as a minor but significant entry in the author's bibliography that showcases his ability to experiment with different narrative styles.