Emperor Alexander Pavlovich together with his faithful servant, Cossack Ataman Platov, come to London after the war of 1812.

The British are trying to persuade the king to come on their side by showing him various inventions, but Platov insists that the Russians are more skillful.

His brother, Nikolai "Palkovic" tells Platov to look for artisans who will make better handiwork than the English flea.

The Left-Hander sees that the British do not clean guns with crushed bricks and asks to be sent back.

But on the way he has drinks with the ship's skipper, and on arrival while inebriated and lacking identification is sent to the Obukhov Hospital for the destitute.