The aged but indomitable Lady Crystal Balaclava, famous in her younger days for sybaritic socials, is celebrating a birthday at Foxes Trot, her country estate. Detective Inspector Henry Tibbett and his wife Emily are on hand because Lady Balaclava, for reasons known only to herself and the Ouija board she frequently consults, feels her life is in imminent danger. Henry watches her receive presents from her three daughters - a large cake specially baked in Switzerland, a case of French champagne, and a handsome bouquet of roses. Seconds later, before his amazed eyes, Lady Balaclava gasps, clutches her throat, and collapses; dead from an apparent heart attack.