The story takes place in a circus that is managed by "Papa" Briquet and his wife Zinida. At the beginning of the play a stranger approaches the manager of the circus and asks to hire him as a clown. Even if he doesn't have any experience, he convinces him to give him the job. Other characters are Consuelo, "the equestrian tango queen", her instructor Bezano, "the bareback rider" Consuelo is in love with, Count Mancini, who regards himself as Consuelo's father, a lustful and rich Baron, Regnard, to whom Mancini is trying to give his daughter away in marriage.

This scene takes place in act II, right after the Baron approaches Consuelo to tell her how much he loves her. Feeling like his "plaything", Consuelo is not impressed by his advances. Right after that Mancini has a conversation with HE and tells him his troubles with a girl. The Count, being very promiscuous, has had a relationship with an underaged girl and is now is trouble with her family. He is afraid he will go to jail and laments his situation to HE.