Trapped in an unhappy marriage with a boorish inattentive and socially ambitious husband Julie de Chaverny enjoys a flirtatious dalliance with the elegant Major de Chateaufort. However the sudden reappearance of an old admirer who has returned from Turkeyalong with a tale of breathtaking derring-do and chivalry to add to his charmsreawakens in Julie a forgotten passion. She pursues a rash and dangerous course of action one that will have tragic consequences.