Gideon was a truly deprived child. In early youth he was turned out of the room he shared with his unmarried mother so she could earn a living. Some have greatness thrust upon them but Gideon has merit, and lots of it, thrust upon him by kind people to whom his limp seems pathetic. So when Gideon and his barrow-boy business partner Towser are implicated in murder most foul at the seaside, Towser was obviously guilty and Gideon clearly innocent . or was he?.