1901: Spy Sigmund Rosenblum is detained by Russian authorities, accused of stealing confidential oil surveys. When he escapes from custody, he leaves the young wife of an elderly vicar in a scandalous situation.

Intelligence from Reilly in Port Arthur enables the Japanese Navy to sink the Russian Pacific Squadron. Margaret Reilly has an affair with Greenberg and leaves her husband. Reilly is seized by the Russians.

1905: Reilly undertakes a mission to obtain the plans of a naval gun from a German armaments factory. But when the operation is at risk of being exposed, Reilly must make some hard choices.

Reilly is in France, searching for Margaret, his wandering wife, and an Australian oil tycoon, and also competing with the Rothschilds to buy oil concessions in the Middle East.

On a mission to St Petersburg, Reilly investigates a deal for German shipyards to rebuild the Russian navy.

1910: Reilly angles to win the weapons contract with a complicated plan involving seduction and bribery. Unfortunately, his wife's reappearance threatens to ruin everything.