In which a mischievous and ill-conceived pageant of effigies parading through the town provokes a tumultuous response that deeply troubles one lady, while the local magistrates and constables, hindered by darkness and reticence, seek in vain to uncover the culprits amidst the shadows of quiet taverns. Meanwhile, a young man, urged away by a secretive summons, embarks upon an evening journey that unwittingly leaves the lady exposed to the gibes of her neighbours and the weight of her own despair.