In a European kingdom, Princess Orsolini is to have a state wedding, arranged by her mother the Queen, but she is in love with Captain Kovacs of the horse guards. She is forced to break off their affair, but the Captain, outraged by this treatment, plots his revenge by convincing them he is actually a well known swindler and will expose his affair with the Princess, ruining her. To avoid scandal, the Queen agrees to his price; to let him spend a night alone with the Princess in his apartment.