Hans Breel is a diamond cutter who is prepared to go to any lengths to raise cash. He's a heavy gambler and loan shark William Walker wants Breel to make good on his losses of $15,000. Breel makes a deal with Irene Bedford who has a fabulous uncut diamond that if cut properly, could be worth $100,000. Breel has offered to pay her only $15,000 for it and then cons a diamond broker, Virginia Trent, into paying him substantially more- $30,000. However, the diamond is considered a very difficult diamond to cut as it might shatter. He loses the first $15,000 in a poker game and when he tries to cut the diamonds it shatters, vastly reducing its value. At around the same time, Perry Mason is approached by Sarah Werner who is searching for her missing husband Hugo who lost her daughters inheritance of $90,000 on gambling debts. It doesn't take Paul Drake very long to realize that Breel and Hugo Werner are the same person. When Breel is found dead, there is no shortage of possible culprits.
—garykmcd