Marleau is called to a beauty salon in Sceaux, where an employee was found poisoned. The victim's participation in community theatre leads Marleau to an actor, his family, and his entourage.
Oscar the coroner sends for Marleau after a man is killed in a "duel" staged by a group reenacting Napoleonic battles. The investigation pits Marleau against a lawyer from a past case.
A woman asks Marleau to locate her missing daughter, a performer in the local cabaret. The search leads Marleau to a drowned man, powerful businessmen, and the cabaret's colorful denizens. A buffoonish Commandant vexes Marleau.