When a master flees London to escape the plague, his servant remains behind to transform their house into a den of elaborate confidence schemes. Subtle, the servant, joins forces with a prostitute named Dol Common and a con artist named Face to exploit the greed of various gullible citizens. They operate under the guise of alchemical expertise, promising wealth and spiritual enlightenment to those desperate enough to believe them. The narrative unfolds through a series of rapid-fire encounters, exposing the vanity and avarice of the characters who visit the house. The play maintains a frantic pace, constrained by the single location of the house and the ticking clock of the master's eventual return.

Discussion often centers on the play's intricate plotting and the relentless energy of the central trio. Readers frequently highlight how the work serves as a sharp critique of the social anxieties prevalent in seventeenth-century London. Critics often note the balance between the farcical nature of the schemes and the underlying cynicism regarding human nature. The effectiveness of the play's atmosphere is frequently attributed to Jonson's mastery of language and his ability to maintain tension within a confined space. Many readers find the interplay between the various victims and the con artists to be a highlight of the dramatic experience.