In 1887 Paris, the aristocratic de Bonafé family hides several secrets from one another. Seventeen-year-old Douce (Odette Joyeux) is in love with the estate manager, Fabien Marani (Roger Pigaut), but knows their class differences will always keep them apart. Unknown to Douce, the duplicitous Fabien plans to elope with governess Irène Comtat (Madeleine Robinson) with money he has stolen from the family. Meanwhile, widowed father Engelbert (Jean Debucourt) nurses his own passion for Irène.