Sylvia Scarlett is a young woman who is forced to flee with her small-time crook father from Paris to London after her mother dies, and his swindling schemes catch up to him. Sylvia cuts her hair, dons drag, and dubs herself "Sylvester" to help them stay incognito from the law. While on the train to London, they meet a smarmy scoundrel. The trio of crooks team up and work it in London, until they get run out of town. The three hook up with a maid and become a travelling performance troupe. Sylvia (as a boy) falls for a smarmy artist-type.