As much as the residents of the resort town have been enjoying the circus, the circus has been enjoying the particular hospitalities of town. The Lion Tamer comes stumbling home in the early morning after an eventful night at the Dog and Duck; never one to neglect his co-stars, he goes directly to the cages to feed (and perhaps serenade) his beloved charges. But as he doubles back to impart a second helping to his favorite tigress, Scheherazade, the Lion Tamer finds the unlatched enclosure empty—a realization that is enough to sober any man.
Tom Parker is immediately alerted to the danger. The entrepreneur reasons that the matter will soon be taken care of, the tiger recaptured, and pleads for the discretion of his family members. This escape must be kept a secret to avoid a panic—and not a word of its occurrence must be breathed to Lady Denham!
But in the age of Whistledown, some whispers soon grow to a roar...