Summer 1869 and Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene celebrate her 16th birthday by attending the theatre to watch the newest London sensation, a celebrated magician make a real dragon appear on stage. Sherlock and Irene meet the magician, Alistair Hemsworth - just as he is arrested for the murder of his rival, The Wizard of Nottingham. Traces of the missing Wizard's blood and his spectacles were found in Hemsworth's secret studio. Hemsworth has a motive: the Wizard is a rival who caused scandal when he lured Hemsworth's wife. But is he guilty? Sherlock has his doubts.