When an unfortunate predilection for the trumpet causes Jeeves and Wooster to part ways, the minor aristocrat retreats to a country cottage to practice his musical skill in peace. Unfortunately, Bertie soon finds himself in the midst of a love triangle, between old friend Chuffy and American heiress Pauline.

When Bertie takes up the trombone Jeeves is forced to leave him and take a position with his friend Lord Chuffnell. Bereft of a valet, Bertie engages the insubordinate and drunkard Brinkley and promptly retires to a cottage in the grounds of Chufnell Hall.

For financial reasons, Chuffy is about to sell the estate to a rich American J Wasburn Stoker, with whose pretty daughter Pauline, Chuffy is already in love. It now transpires that Bertie and Pauline also know one another, though much to the chagrin of Stoker himself, who is determined to keep them apart.

Pauline wants Chuffy to know that his feelings towards her are reciprocated. Chuffy declares his intention of proposing. Almost immediately an alteraction with Stoker aboard his luxury yacht, moored in Chufnell Harbour, means that the sale of the estate and Chuffy's dreams of matrimony swiftly recede.

Bertie attempts to come to the rescue with a well-intentioned plan, only to find himself in trouble with Chuffy as a result. And even Jeeves' normally ingenious suggestions fail to bring Pauline and Chuffy any closer together.

Events at Chufnell Hall do result in at least one triumph howver, for they re-unite Jeeves and Wooster and together they set off for London and the calmer atmosphere of Berkeley Mansions.