The maverick German count Heinrich von Alternberg decides to adopt the more everyday nickname of Henry Altern and to earn a living working as a private investigator, discovering that he has a gift for it.

Heinrich von Alternberg returns home to find that the estate his father has left him is penniless. The non-conformist German count decides to adopt a more everyday appellation of Henry Altern and earn his keep through private detective work, discovering he has a knack for it. Often, he's aided by his ex-wife, journalist Lisa Prentice.—Jack Yan