The Frenchman Father Dagobert lived in New Orleans for approximately thirty years, around the late eighteenth century. Dagobert, a Capuchin and vicar-general, listens to confessions during the day in the house where he lives with his friars and their servant and cook, Anna Marie. After a particularly frustrating day, Father Dagobert decides to walk into town. However, he must remember his walking stick, which he always leaves home with. Suddenly, he finds himself in the area in the city referred to as the Swamp, known for its violence and crime. He concludes that something must be leading him there, so he enters a nearby tavern instead of returning.

In the tavern, Dagobert announces himself and his title, and, in response, he is greeted affectionately and given a glass of wine. Soon, an African woman named Annie Christmas enters and is persuaded to perform a song. When she sees the vicar-general, however, Annie apologizes for the crude nature of her song. A few minutes later, a man escorts the Father outside to relieve himself, but when they are alone, he knocks him down and steals his watch. However, Annie Christmas can safely retrieve the watch, return it to Dagobert, and help him.

Dagobert then returns inside, where a fight has broken out. He sees a man fall to the ground, having been stabbed and killed by a knife. Quickly, an African man accompanying Annie rushes to Dagobert and escorts him away from the commotion and outside into the night.

When Dagobert returns home, he sees his walking stick leaning against the door. Until then, he was unsure where he had left it. The Father enters the house and tells Anne Marie about the night's events. Still, she is shocked and does not believe him, and even Dagobert struggles throughout the night to believe what he has seen.