The film takes place in the fictional European country of Bandrika, where wealthy young Englishwoman Iris Henderson is staying with a couple of friends. The trip is sort of a last hurrah for her... when she returns to England, she is going to be married. It isn't a love match; her father wants a title in the family, and her noble fiance needs money. So, as one of her friends comments, she's marrying a "blue-blooded cheque chaser".
While they are in the country, there is an avalanche which blocks the railroad tracks for a time, meaning that the inn the girls are staying at is overrun with stranded tourists. The guest rooms are all filled, and some of the tourists are forced to stay in the hotel workers' rooms. This includes a couple of Englishmen (Charters and Caldicott) who find, to their disgust, that not only have they
Unable to understand why they would say that, and concerned by Miss Froy's continued absence, Iris leaves the compartment to go and look for her. As she searches the other cars, Iris runs into Gilbert, who is inclined to tease her about the previous night. However, seeing that she's unwell and troubled, his gentlemanly instincts kick in and he offers to help her search for the missing woman.