Lord Jeff

Geoff fakes fainting in a jewelry store to distract the staff while Jim Hampstead performs the real theft. The plan hinges on Geoff's fake aristocratic persona to avoid suspicion. An astute insurance investigator, however, notices the ruse and pulls the criminals into the spotlight.

The insurance investigator's keen observation leads to Geoff's exposure and Jim's getaway. Geoff is sent to Russell-Cotes mercantile marine school as punishment. He is warned that misbehavior will land him in a reformatory.

The headmaster introduces Terry O'Mulvaney as Geoff's guide at Russell-Cotes. Terry is tasked with shaping Geoff's behavior and helping him adjust to life at the school. Geoff resents the arrangement but has little choice.

Geoff refuses to blend with the other boys and clings to the idea of returning to Doris and Jim in London. He waits for a letter that never seems to arrive. The distance between Geoff and his peers grows wider.

Geoff alienates most of the student body, sparing only the irrepressibly cheerful Albert Baker. The isolation begins to gnaw at him as the days go by. The school atmosphere grows tense around his stubborn attitude.

During a town banquet, Geoff slips away and tries to disappear. Terry tracks him down and, after a confrontation, returns him to the school. The escape attempt ends with a late-night reckoning for both.

Geoff's antics lead to consequences for Terry, who is stripped of his rank and loses a coveted chance to sail on the Queen Mary. Geoff refuses to reveal his part in the incident, further souring relations with the other boys. The school community grows suspicious and divided.

Geoff admits the runaway attempt to Captain Briggs, hoping to protect Terry's prospects and avoid harsher punishment. He asks Briggs to keep the information secret from the other boys. The confession creates a fragile trust between Geoff and the headmaster.

Doris and Jim reach Geoff, but he refuses to return to their crooked life. Instead, he promises to sail on the Queen Mary, seeking a legitimate path. The promise marks a turning point in his loyalties.

Jim secretly sews the stolen necklace into Geoff's coat as they book passages on the Queen Mary. Geoff remains unaware of the modification until the voyage looms. This twist pits his imminent departure against the truth of his past.

Captain Briggs confirms Geoff and Terry will join the crew of the Queen Mary. The assignment offers Geoff a chance at legitimate work at sea, if he can hold to his new resolve. The tension between past loyalties and future duties intensifies.

The stolen necklace is found at the school, triggering a test of Geoff's loyalties. With the evidence looming, Geoff must choose between Doris and Jim and the honest path he has started.

Geoff is questioned by the police, risking his chance to sail with the Queen Mary. The investigation threatens to pull him back into a life of crime. He endures the scrutiny while clinging to his intended voyage.

A fellow student recognizes Doris and Jim aboard the Queen Mary, leading to their arrest in time for Geoff to join the ship. Geoff reunites with Terry as they depart, leaving behind the tangled web of deception. The voyage finally marks his transition from con artist to apprentice at sea.