Antiques dealer Lovejoy tours the auction rooms of Norfolk with his barker Tinker and young assistant Eric looking for bargains. After being hauled in by the police over a stolen chalice he misses the opportunity to buy a Japanese firefly cage,carved from coal,but tracks down the purchaser, Nicola Page,stepdaughter of the late George Hepplestone,an expert at coal carving. When Drummer,an elderly beach-comber who found the chalice and knew Hepplestone,is killed Lovejoy and new friend Lady Jane Felsham investigate,uncovering a racket involving stolen antiques and damaging his landlord,Charlie Gimbert's boat as he brings the killers to justice.
—don @ minifie-1