Jonathan Blake, a childhood friend of Lord Nelson, invents a news relay system hastening his blossoming promotion from messenger boy to an important position with Lloyd's of London. Haughty Lord Stacey hates Blake for his influential position. Not realising that she’s married to Stacey, Blake falls in love with Lady Elizabeth. Lord Stacey becomes Blake's mortal enemy when Lloyd's rejects his request for a loan to cover his gambling debts.