Meyer Lacombe and his twin sister, Tziporah, move effortlessly between the world of Judaism and Islam, accumulating great wealth. Nicholas Firthwhile is fascinated by the ease with which they live in both cultures-claiming neither as their own-while their incestuous love is ignored. Firthwhile becomes arrogant and wants to learn more. His marriage into English aristocracy provides courage and opportunity. He at first observes Meyer Lacombe from afar until he is befriended and then betrayed by him. Released from a French prison by the man who imprisoned him-Meyer Lacombe-Nicholas Firthwhile is hired by Lacombe to commit a murder. But the intended victim is a man Firthwhile has grown to respect. Nicholas flees to Hong Kong to collect a promised reward he has not earned, sending Tziporah on a life-ending quest to find him. While in Hong Kong, Firthwhile falls in love with the mystical Layonna. Through fate, coincidence, or destiny, Tziporah's daughter, Pamela, is also in Hong Kong, and she is captivated by Nicholas Firthwhile. She cannot shake him from her heart. Firthwhile is pursued by Pamela-while made helpless by his love for Layonna-and stalked by Tziporah to an unimagined tragedy.