Henry Fowler, the bank manager, tells his friend Edward Pierce that he has venereal disease. He believes that sleeping with a virgin will cure him. Pierce agrees to arrange a tryst for him. Two days later, Pierce writes to tell Fowler that he has found a virgin for Fowler, and Fowler sends a letter of thanks.

Meanwhile, Pierce has concocted a plan to break into Mr. Trent’s house and make a copy of his safe key. They will be performing a scam known as the “carriage fakement.” On November 12, 1854, at 9 pm, Miss Miriam (Pierce’s lover) pulls up in a carriage outside the Trent residence. When the porter comes out to assist her with directions to a nearby home, Pierce and Agar sneak into the house, pick the locks, and get to the cellar. Around 9:45, Pierce finds the key and Agar makes two copies in wax. At 10:00, Barlow releases rats into the Trent family dog kennel, which causes the dogs to bark. In the commotion, Pierce and Agar sneak out of the house undiscovered.