Cirrus@Austlit

'Henry Marolan, former safebreaker and now British secret agent, arrives in Trinito, capital of the Central American Republic of Ventura, in pursuit of two war criminals, Colonel Brauchnitz and Mr. Sato. They have taken refuge in Ventura with the help of a local German magnate, Hermann Rohm, and the connivance of the head of the Republic, a racketeering politician, President Prosperoso. Marolan endeavours to contact another secret service man, G89, who is passing under the name of Fraser, but Sato kills him and attempts to murder Marolan, also receiving a wounded arm in the struggle.

Others in the story are Texa, daughter of Sancho Vegas, a notorious bandit, at the present hiding in the mountains, and Catherine Bently, an Englishwoman, who owns the Katerina Beauty Salon.

The President becomes worried in case the British Government learns that he has connived at the escape of Brauchnitz and Sato, and suggests to Rohm that Marolan be got rid of, as he already knows too much, and may learn more.

The two criminals hold a conference with Rohm at the latter's magnificent house on the outskirts of Trinito. Rohm suggests that Misss Bently, who is to some extent in his power, be called into the discussion' (Publisher's abstract)