Part 1 ('Various Gambits'): We're introduced to the characters through the viewpoint of a man named Hartley, who has been instructed to investigate John Wilder's relationship with Sue Weldon, and whether Wilder is using underhand methods to win a contract for a hydroelectric dam in Africa (he is, but not the underhand methods that Hartley suspects). At this point, the Secretary of the Exports Board is Townley. Part 2 ('The Knight Fork'): Caswell Bligh is using a front company to get construction equipment into Africa that isn't supposed to be there. The Exports Board (now led by Gillingham and Kemp) find out and try to force his resignation, but the Minister refuses to accept it. Part 3 ('The End Game'): Gillingham and Kemp plan to enlarge the Exports Board and force Wilder to resign. Scooping up Sue Weldon and sundry others, they head off to Gillingham's country house to put their plot into effect. They do manage to get Wilder to resign, but he promptly leaks the story to the press and the Minister is obliged to give him a six-month secondment in Brussels.
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Part 1 ('Various Gambits'): We're introduced to the characters through the viewpoint of a man named Hartley, who has been instructed to investigate John Wilder's relationship with Sue Weldon, and whether Wilder is using underhand methods to win a contract for a hydroelectric dam in Africa (he is, but not the underhand methods that Hartley suspects). At this point, the Secretary of the Exports Board is Townley.
Part 2 ('The Knight Fork'): Caswell Bligh is using a front company to get construction equipment into Africa that isn't supposed to be there. The Exports Board (now led by Gillingham and Kemp) find out and try to force his resignation, but the Minister refuses to accept it.
Part 3 ('The End Game'): Gillingham and Kemp plan to enlarge the Exports Board and force Wilder to resign. Scooping up Sue Weldon and sundry others, they head off to Gillingham's country house to put their plot into effect. They do manage to get Wilder to resign, but he promptly leaks the story to the press and the Minister is obliged to give him a six-month secondment in Brussels.