- Duval travels to Northern India to interview a man about a case he is investigating. He discovers the man's room is booby trapped and needs to try and work out who had the best motive for trying to kill the man.
- Duval flies to Northern Kashmir to interview Pierce Clyde, an American businessman who has left a string of company failures in his wake. Arriving at a mountain hotel, Clyde has already left to make an attempt on a nearby peak. When Duval finds a booby trap in Clyde's room, it becomes clear that someone else is after Clyde - with deadly intentions.
- Inspector Duval (Charles Korvin) of Interpol is flown to a small hotel in northern Kashmir by Lieutenant Gupta (John Cairney), to interview businessman Pearce Clyde (Gordon Tanner) on behalf of the US authorities after the collapse of a number of his companies. Met by the hotel's owner, Peters (Howard Marion-Crawford), they are told if they want to see Clyde to look through a telescope - and can see him making an attempt on Nanga Chang, a nearby peak. Gupta points out the weather conditions - melting snow - are unsuitable for climbing. "That's what I told him" replied Peters, "He'll kill himself."
Clyde's secretary, Clouston (Anthony Dawson), and wife Miki (Ursula Howells) are in the hotel, Miki telling Duval that Pearce prefers climbing to business - or her - but insists there is nothing suspicious behind his business failings, or his leaving the US. Duval takes a discreet look at Pearce's room and finds it booby-trapped with a grenade, a wartime souvenir of Peters', but is able to throw it outside before it explodes. Coming down the stairs, he looks at the staff and guests - Miki and Clouston - "I wonder which one of you wants to murder Clyde."
Peters tells Duval that Miki had an argument with Pearse only the night before, and threatened to kill him, but she dismisses this as no more than a row that any couple might have. Clouston confirms Peters' account, but is also sure Miki never meant any harm, reluctantly telling Duval of her drinking problem. Called outside by Peters, Duval sees that weather conditions are worsening, and is told that Pearse's guide for the climb is in fact a novice, an Indian student named Baratopi (Julian Sherrier) whose sister is staying at the hotel.
Gupta has had checks made on the guests and staff, and brings Duval the news that Baratopi is the son of an Indian businessman, ruined by the collapse of Clyde's firm and driven to suicide three weeks earlier; his sister then approaches and says Baratopi has vowed to kill Clyde.
On Nanga Chang, Clyde and Baratopi are nonetheless making steady progress; able to reach the summit the following morning, Clyde suggests leaving a souvenir to mark their presence. Baratopi takes a can from his rucksack, "food for the gods", and Clyde is struck by the coincidence that it is one of his companies. "It was one of your companies, Mr Clyde" replies Baratopi. On the descent, Baratopi seizes his opportunity, and leaves Clyde on the end of a rope below him. "Goodbye Mr Clyde" he shouts, "Now you know how it feels to be abandoned," explaining his father had been promised a large contract which never arrived - which Clyde claims to know nothing about. Baratopi has no opportunity to make his own way down, as an avalanche engulfs them both - and it is Clyde who then pulls Baratopi to safety. Once they arrive at the hotel, later that evening, Clyde insists he knows nothing of Baratopi trying to kill him: he had merely slipped.
Duval explains the original reason for his visit, and also the booby trap in Clyde's room, but after hearing of the supposed contract with Baratopi's father - which Clyde again says he knew nothing about - Clyde and Duval begin to see what had been going on. Clyde's convenient death would take the pressure off those actually responsible for the promised deals. "There's only one person who could've done it" says Clyde - they look first at Miki, sitting at the bar, but then at Clouston, standing at the top of the staircase. "Your right-hand man" says Duval, Clouston admitting his role - but then drawing a gun, and demanding the keys to Gupta's plane. "Wait," calls Miki, getting up from her seat "I think I'll come with you." Clouston is prepared to take her along, but Miki throws her drink in his face, giving Duval and Gupta the chance to overpower him.
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