The Yankee Consul

Summary

In a labyrinthine tale of mistaken identity, Dudley Ainsworth, a fastidious travel agent, finds himself catapulted into a perilous adventure when he is coerced into impersonating Abijah Boos, the American consul to a South American nation. As he embarks on a passenger ship bound for Rio, he becomes entangled in a complex web of intrigue orchestrated by the enigmatic Margarita Carrosa and a coterie of thieves who covet a chest of gold stored in the consulate. Upon arrival in Rio, Ainsworth alerts the U.S. Navy and precipitously rushes to a castle on the outskirts of the city to rescue Margarita, who is being held captive. Following a daring rescue, he apprehends the thieves and is greeted by the summoned Admiral, who arrives in tandem with the genuine Yankee consul. Ultimately, Ainsworth discovers that the entire escapade was a jest concocted by his friends, replete with a cast of characters that would be at home in a farcical comedy à la <a href='/movies/le-nabab'>Le nabab</a> or <a href='/movies/the-mystery-of-the-poison-pool'>The Mystery of the Poison Pool</a>.

Synopsis

Last-minute confusion forces travel agent Dudley Ainsworth to pose as Abijah Boos, American consul to a South American country. On a passenger ship bound for Rio, he meets Margarita Carrosa and becomes involved in a conspiracy involving Margarita and some thieves intent upon stealing a chest of gold from the consulate in Rio. Landing in Rio, Ainsworth notifies the U. S. Navy, then rushes to a castle outside the city where Margarita is being held captive. He rescues Margarita, captures the thieves, greets the summoned Admiral, who arrives accompanied by the real Yankee consul, and then finds that the adventure was all a joke devised by Ainsworth's friends.