In the wake of the riot naive civil servant Dundridge is sent to Worford by devious ministers as the PM opposes any other route for the motorway than Handyman Hall. Released from prison Lady Maud entertains him behind her husband's back, charming and flattering him and she is much cheered when he agrees that the motorway should take the form of a tunnel going under the grounds and not through them. A dismayed Sir Giles is all too happy for his solicitor to pay a young lady to get Dundridge drunk and compromise him.