Admiral George Edward Orkwright, upstanding and respected, is found dead--attired only in women's undergarments. The town constable says his death resulted from a drunken drowning, but Dr. Alexandra Gladstone disagrees. She is joined by her maid, Nancy, the London barrister, Nicholas Forsythe, and her faithful dog Zack as she searches for the truth. Finally she uncovers secrets that are even more shocking than the way the admiral is dressed.