The remarkable City of Pleasure is the background for a story of mystery, romance, humour and numerous complications. The dour, uninteresting, but rich Josephus Ilam finances Charles Carpentaria's dream amusement park, which in addition to all of the usual attractions has a concert hall, theatres, and an art gallery. They go up in a balloon, but Ilam is not amused and a business disagreement results. However, Illam is not all he seems - late one night Carpentaria sees him with something draped in black upon his back. Shots are fired, rope ladders used, poison administered...