A nobleman posing as a necktie salesman falls in love with the daughter of a circus puppeteer although he is already married to the daughter of his country's war minister.

Life's merry-go-round goes full tilt for Agnes, a virtuous carny at Vienna's Prater just before the Great War. Her father is abused by their cruel boss Huber, who might force himself on Agnes. A Count who's engaged to the daughter of the Minister of Defense chats up Agnes one night while he's slumming; she thinks he's Franz, a necktie salesman, and falls in love with him. Is he using charm and guile to seduce her? Plus there's Bartholomew, a hunchback who's a barker at the Prater; his love for Agnes is unrequited. Are the fates blind or is there reward for virtue?—<[email protected]>