While travelling by train, Mathieu Faber relates his love affair with Conchita Perez to the people sharing his compartment. He fell in love with his chambermaid, who had always shied away from his advances and fled from him. By chance, they kept on bumping into each other in different European cities, without Mathieu ever achieving his aims, whereas Conchita remained provocative and gave herself to other men. From this mutual stubbornness, which led to violence and absurdity, a subtle and strong bond, deeper than any other, united them.