 William Marble is a bank clerk living in south London with a wife, Annie, and two teenage children, Winifred ('Winnie') and John, desperately worried about money and unable to control Annie's spending.One evening without warning they are visited by his recently orphaned and very rich young nephew, James Medland, who has a large amount of cash on him.Unable to resist the opportunity put in his way, William Marble sends his wife to bed early that night, saying that he wants to talk business and suggests she pleads a headache so as not to seem unsociable.