Seven years ago Millie Lord was abandoned at the gates of Crane Mansions, the harsh school run by Dr Crane according to his philosophy of Pigeonnic Augury. Knowing the amnesic Millie is an heiress, scheming Trish Vowles entices Senior Master Hogue to help her gain control of Millie’s fortune. Len Clemons is trying to infiltrate the school to steal a device that could revolutionize pigeon-racing. The plots of Trish, Hogue and Len collide and unravel as Millie and Dr Crane grow close in cake-fuelled conversations that restore Millie’s memory and radically change Dr Crane’s view of the world.