Happily married city gent Jim Chesson is sent a birthday telegram from old flame Josephine Cachet, telling him that if he doesn't meet her for dinner and, it is implied, give her money, she'll tell his wife all about their past. Jim has always told his wife that she is the only woman he has ever kissed. By coincidence, Jim's wife finds among his belongings a photograph of the glamorous Josephine. Jim describes Josephine as a former client before feeding the photo to his pet parrot.

Mrs Chesson receives Josephine's telegram while Jim is at work, and discusses it with her friend, the wife of Jim's friend and colleague Jerry Hawkes. Meanwhile, Josephine turns up at Jim's office while he is larking about with Jerry and tells them about her telegram. Jim telephones his wife to ask whether she received it, which on the advice of Mrs Hawkes she denies. Jim tells her to ignore any telegrams that come in.

Josephine, purportedly short of funds, asks Jim for £500, and reiterates her threat. He agrees to dinner. Jerry advises he ring his wife and tell her he has a bad cold, which Jim promptly does. She and Mrs Hawkes concur that he is lying, and call his bluff, telling him to come home for food and rest. Jim agrees to return for dinner at home with the Hawkeses, planning to sneak out to see Josephine after pretending to go to bed.

Note: The surviving reel of the film ends here; from reviews of the variety sketch on which the film was based, it seems that Mrs Chesson, while not doubting Jim's fidelity, chooses to play a trick on him in revenge for his attempted deception, coming up with various uncomfortable cold remedies.