The film is set in 1830, when the Italian provinces of the Austrian Empire are in revolt. Colonel Vultow is an Austrian cavalry officer and has been assigned to bring Lombardy and its rebellious nobles under control. He leads his cavalry forces to the castle of revolutionary leader Count Adrian Beltrami, with the intention of arresting him. By coincidence, Vultow arrives there during Adrian's wedding day. Vultow is charmed by Adrian's new wife, Countess Anna-Marie. Adrian briefly switches positions with Tangy the silhouette cutter to evade arrest, but is eventually captured. Vultow blackmails Anna-Marie to sleep with him in exchange for her husband's life. During a private encounter, the Countess narrates the story of her great-grandmother who had killed a man to defend her honor. It is a veiled threat, as Anna-Marie is tempted to kill Vultow. Vultow gets drunk on champagne and falls asleep before anything happens between them. He has an erotic dream about Anna-Marie, and wakes up with the conviction that she has become his lover. Under the effects of the pleasant dream, Vultow spares Adrian's life. Soon after the Italian revolutionary forces advance in Lombardy, and Vultow is forced to retreat. Anna-Marie reconnects with her husband, without having to submit to her would-be lover.
—Dimos I