The South African unscrupulous millionaire Charles Van Drift spends his time travelling to exotic locations with his family. One of these trips leads them to the Riviera where Van Drift suddenly has to deal with the swindler Colonel Clay. Charles’ diamond fortune is at risk. Colonel wants to trick the millionaire out of his wealth. His weapon will be Van Drift’s own greed and vanity. But what does Colonel have against Charles and will his plan be successful?

Grant Allen was a Canadian writer who lived in the period 1848 – 1899. His writing career began around 1876 when he published a series of essays on science. His first books, "Physiological Aesthetics" and "Flowers and Their Pedigrees" took up this subject as well. Grant Allen was also a pioneer in science fiction. He wrote about thirty science fiction novels in the period 1884-1899. In his later works, Allen also took up some revolutionary theories for the time regarding marriage. "The Woman Who Did" which depicts the life of an independent woman who takes care of her child on her own became a bestseller.