Sylvia Scarlett

Marseilles-based seamstress Mme. Snow has just passed away. Her husband Henry Scarlett, a bookkeeper for a lace factory, embezzled money from his employers, money which he lost gambling. To avoid arrest, he decides to travel to England smuggling a few pieces of lace with which he can start life anew. Although he initially decides not to take his daughter Sylvia with him, she convinces him to go along as she will disguise herself as a boy named Sylvester, the disguise as the authorities would not be looking for a man and his son. Along the way, they meet con artist Jimmy Monkley. Although their initial encounter does include a con, they ultimately decide to go into the grifting business together. When that doesn't pan out, they instead decide to use one of their fronts, as a traveling performance troupe of pierrots, for real, which will include one of Jimmy's friends, simpleminded Cockney maid Maudie Tilt. Complications ensue when Henry falls for Maudie and Sylvia falls for artist Michael Fane, who they meet during one of their performances. Sylvia must decide whether to come out as a girl not only to Michael, but to Jimmy and Maudie. The course of true love may be difficult for both Henry and Sylvia. Sylvia has the further obstacle of a refined Russian lady, Lily Levetsky, who seems to be the object of Michael's affections.