The story features one of Saki's recurring characters, the mischievous antihero Clovis Sangrail. Clovis finds himself at a house party with a rather pompous man named Leonard Bilsiter. Bilsiter claims to be an expert in the mysterious forces called "Siberian Magic", and he is said to possess the power to transmute objects. When Bilsiter rudely refuses the hostess' request for a demonstration, Clovis decides to have a little fun at his expense.