Young Sherlock Holmes helps his friend, Irene, celebrate her sixteenth birthday in the summer of 1869 by taking her to see the latest sensation to hit London--the magician, Alistair Hemsworth, promises to make a real dragon appear on stage--but before the act, Hemsworth is arrested for the murder of his rival, and though he has motive, Sherlock is not convinced he is guilty.

Title proper from title frame.