In France, United States Department of State employee Donald Free (William Powell) is caught trying to steal French state papers. Free is released from his job and is deported. Back in the US, Free has a hard time finding another job due to the Great Depression. Free convinces Dan Hogan (Arthur Hohl), the crooked and incompentent owner of the Peerless Detective Agency, to partner with him. Without Free's knowledge, Hogan becomes financed with gangster Tony Bandor (Gordon Westcott) and business booms.