The story depicts an encounter between three travelling performance artists and Ernst Abrahamson, a 60-year-old judge who is investigating an alleged act of obscenity in their music hall show. The trio "Les Riens" consists of Hans Winkelmann (56), the manager of the troupe, Thea Winkelman, (24), his wife and Sebastian Fisher (35), Thea's lover.

The judge meets with each artist in turn. Hans tries to bribe the judge not to interrogate Thea, giving Abrahamson the psychological upper hand. This soon passes to the troupe when he meets Sebastian and Thea. Sebastian accuses him of being dirty and malodorous through excessive perspiration. Removing his jacket and tie the judge makes a series of desperate confessions. When he asks Sebastian about his religious convictions, the artist responds that performers are their own gods and have their own demons and angels. He tells the judge of a scene he plays with Winkelmanm involving a man who, seized by an insatiable appetite, eats his family and servants, then cuts a piece out of an old man who is God himself.

Thea's interrogation starts on a polite note as she relates a religious game she plays. The Judge tries to direct the conversation to the point of the investigation. She breaks down, rolls on the floor, begins to undress and drags the judge down to the floor whilst he is both angry and consoling. Suddenly realising what a compromising situation he is in, he calls for Winkelmann who arrives and quietens her down.

The key episode is a re-enactment of the scene to which the charge is related. Hans calls it a ritual game and a magic formula. He dons an enormous phallus, Sebastian a pair of giant breasts and Thea is dressed in a transparent frock and a stylised wig. She holds a drum in her lap and Sebastian puts a long knife at her feet. Before they start the judge confesses he has always had a secret ambition to be a musician but his parents forced him to go into the law. He expresses envy and admiration for the troupe and tells them he is a willing spectator to their act. Suddenly Sebastian hits him so hard his nose bleeds and following a second blow he appears to have a seizure. Hans explains the ritual act and the trio perform it while the judge weakly states that he understands the ritual. He is dying.