Mr. Ben Bolter, strolling down the street, sees the bill poster putting up bills of a burlesque show. He persuades his friend, Mr. Merker, to go with him to the show. While purchasing their tickets, they see Nina Celeste, the leading lady, and she makes an impression on the susceptible Bolter. He sends her a note, asking her to come out and have cakes and coffee. She is highly amused and tells him to come to New York City and call on her at the Hotel des Imbeciles. Bolter takes it in good faith and feels like a regular "cut-up." He goes to New York and wanders around the streets, asking for the Hotel des Imbeciles, gets himself mistaken for a lunatic, has his pockets picked, and finally lands in a police station, where he telegraphs to Merker to come and get him out of his scrape. Merker does so, but gives him a solemn warning never to make such a tool of himself again.