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Steed and Cathy are investigating the kidnapping of the Queen of Richenstein
- who was snatched from the derailed royal train.
The Police have arrived at the scene of the derailed train. Steed tells Cathy
that there are no clues at the crash scene, and that they should have another
look at the cottage. Inside, there is a general scene of neglect. Steed observes
that it is only used for a few months of the year, during the shooting season.
It becomes clear that the kidnappers had waited here as there are several dimps
on the floor. Steed picks one up and sniffs it. He says that it is a curious,
expensive, blend.
Steed and Cathy return to London by air. The next morning, he tells her that
a small plane has just been found burnt out in Kent - devoid of occupants. He
also tells her that the dimp was from a cigarette specially made for Count Sergovan,
who is always in the gossip columns, and that he is now off to see him.
At the Count's apartment, Steed has no luck. His butler says that he has gone
away for several days. Steed perseveres and tracks down the Count later that
night. Probed by Steed, he says that he was at a casino when the abduction took
place, and that he had given ten thousand of his cigarettes away to charity
- they were even turning up in Scotland. Steed makes his excuses, but he realises
that the Count has mentioned Scotland with no prompting from the agent...
Steed, trying to locate the kidnapped Queen of Richenstein, meets the mysterious
Count Sergovan. Steed feels the Count is worth watching.
Cathy gets dressed up to the nines and heads off to a casino the duo
have discovered the Count is gambling at that evening. Cathy ingratiates herself
into his company and, when a man calls to see him, she takes photographs with
a mini spy camera. The Count tells the visitor that next time he steals his
cigarettes, he should be more careful what he does with the stubs. Cathy is
spotted by the Count, but she manages to bluff her way out of trouble by saying
that she had become lonely.
Next afternoon, Cathy tells Steed that she will be going out with the Count
again that evening. Steed is going to get Cathy's film processed. He tells her
that the British Government has been told to break off all trade with Richenstein,
or the kidnapped Queen will be assassinated. The main Richensteinian export
to Great Britain is a very rare metal used in rocket research. The only other
source is in South America, at twice the price, and from a company conveniently
owned by Count Sergovan.
Steed leaves, asking Cathy to find out as much as she can about the Count. Unknown
to the pair, they are being observed by the Count, who had decided to pay Cathy
a visit. He suspects somebody is up to no good, so he calls an associate and
asks him to plan an unfortunate 'accident'.
Later that night, the Count calls round for Cathy. He tells her that they are
going to Soho, so she must expect a few surprises.
Steed, suspecting that Count Sergovan is behind the kidnapping of the Queen
of Richenstein, sends Cathy to keep an eye on him. But unknown to them the Count
is aware that Cathy's an undercover agent...
The Count and Cathy get out of his car in a dark alley in Soho. He tells her
that the alley is too narrow and that they must walk to the end of it to get
to the restaurant. As they move down, they are jumped by some men. Cathy fights
back, but the Count is knocked out. A man pulls a dagger on Cathy and just as
he is about to plunge it into her back Steed steps from the shadows and incapacitates
him.
Steed has been following the man who Cathy had photographed the previous night.
He is the captain of the Count's yacht. The man who had attempted to kill Cathy
is dead. Steed can see that it is the Count's way of attempting to get an alibi.
They decide to let him think that it has worked. Cathy lays on the ground, and
Steed awakens the Count. He tells the Count that Cathy is dead.
Later, Cathy, very much alive, has changed from her evening dress into a leather
fighting suit. She and Steed are heading for the Count's yacht.
Steed, trying to locate the kidnapped Queen of Richenstein, fools the mysterious
Count Sergovan by pretending Cathy is dead. But unhurt, Cathy agrees to
look over Sergovan's yacht with Steed.
Steed leaves Cathy watching on the jetty and arranges to signal her if he finds
anything on board. Using a rope to gain his entrance, Steed slips his
way silently below deck. He knocks out a guard and, finding the Queen
in a cabin, ushers her towards the door. They are stopped in their tracks
by the Count. He drives Steed and the Queen up onto the deck at gunpoint.
The Count says that he is going to set sail with the Queen as hostage.
Unbeknownst to him, Cathy has snuck onboard and clobbers him from behind.
He falls from the deck and is crushed between the yacht and the harbourside.
Cathy holds the crew at bay with a gun while the Queen escapes with Steed.
Later, Steed and Cathy are watching the Queen's parade and TV and are ruing
the fact that the anonymity of their positions is keeping them away from the
sumptuous banquet to follow.
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