The young Marquis de Saint•Arnaud and Alain de Madly first met at an inn in Germany when Alain was being forcibly conducted out of the local Grand Duke's territory. The Marquis came to the rescue, and they journeyed back to Paris together. Once there they set out on another journey—to visit the Marquis's sister in her convent in Names. She was to be persuaded to give up her dowry in order to allow the Marquis to restore the family fortunes by a rich marriage. But the young lady proved unwilling to retire from the world, and the Marquis was too soft-hearted to insist. He agreed instead to conduct her and her friend to Paris. On the way they were all most dangerously involved in Alain de Mailly's mysterious affairs. The Marquis's life was put in danger, and his plans for a loveless marriage were totally disrupted.