. . . that is, until a mysterious ship washes up on the town's beach. The lone survivor is a small, hairy figure the townspeople take for a Frenchman. While thirteen-year-old Emmaline Perth and her best friend, Flurp, the Town Fool, welcome Monsieur Eek, the rest of the town is a little uncertain of the stranger. In fact, Shmink the Bailiff thinks Monsieur Eek is a spy In short order, Eek is arrested and put on trial for his life. As the town's fear of foreigners grows, Emmaline and Flurp find themselves not only defending their new friend's life, but also trying to save their own.