At the death of the old banker, Curtis, his entire estate, including a gold mine, is willed to his niece, Lady Mabel. Count Skettitch, who has cleverly schemed for the hand of Mabel, arranges to have his spy employed by her as a butler. Under the terms of the will, the safe is not to be opened until a month has passed. Mabel, desiring to know its contents, calls on the great detective, Protea, who by the aid of the ultraviolet rays is able to read the document describing the location of the gold mine, but finds it incomplete with a note stating that the missing words will be found tattooed on the shoulder of Fred Sharp, the dead banker's valet. That evening Skettitch, by the aid of his spy, enters the house and blows the safe. Being in possession of the same knowledge as Protea, at once starts to seek Sharp. She, however, is of the same mind and has already started on her journey. Finding Sharp bathing, falls into the river.