The staff at DeLouche College were delighted when Daphne Bowler, offered the services of her company - Two Wheels Good - for the annual college holiday. Pedalling through Italy would make a change from the usual drab locations of previous years. They were all looking forward to a bit of sun: Andrew Duncan, director of studies and family man; Cynthia Digit, house mother and widow; Pandora Fulbright, English Literature tutor and carer; and Steve Durrant, Classics tutor and Jazz musician. Colonel Smirka is in town to enroll his son at DeLouche, but Lindsey North, History and college 'lech', seems keen to speak to him on other matters.
All is going well in Italy until Daphne Bowler's daughter, Louisa, meets Utter Hoppe, alternative artist, and they run away together. Setting out to find Louisa the DeLouche party enlist the help of Inspector Giuseppe Grippe. Finding Louisa and Utter, the Inspector tells them that their lives are in danger from Lindsey North and Colonel Smirka. Events reach a climax at the Opera when Lindsey North attempts to assassinate Smirka. He fails and instead becomes the prey himself, pursued by Inspector Grippe.