This is the follow-up to the adventures of Stephanos and his teacher, the philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle has settled down into a sexual relationship with the slave Herpyllis, and Stephanos has married Philomela, the daughter of landowner Smikrenes, and is trying to establish his political position as an Athenian. However, Stephanos is finding the happiness of his marriage is marred by some vexatious lawsuits: one from a neighbour of his in-laws in the Hymettos property, another from the father of the girl he was once supposed to marry.

It is 329BC and a series of thefts (some comic, some sinister) puzzles Athens. They seem to have some connection with a little shop that makes statuettes of Demeter and Kore. Stephanos and Philomela decide to become initiates of Demeter and persuade Aristotle to join them. Their connection with the Mysteries at Eleusis allows them the chance to observe some phenomena that don't add up. The climax to it all comes during the celebration of the Mysteries at Eleusis when they have enough evidence to pin some important thefts and a murder on personages closely connected with the Mysteries.