Provincial artist Voldemar Ogorodnikov asks private detective Tatyana Ivanova to find his painting. He agreed to sell it to a rich Englishman, and just during the buffet for this occasion, the canvas was stolen! Ogorodnikov is sure that only his competitor, the artist Sadalsky, who allegedly has long been jealous of the talent of the brilliant painter, could have done this. But Tatyana understands that Voldemar is a complete mediocrity and his paintings are worth nothing. But what then does the kidnapper need?