France, the thirties of the last century, the reign of Louis Philippe; political passions are raging; Scandals break out every now and then; some people are not averse to fishing in troubled waters. Numerous contenders for the throne appear - the children of the executed King Louis XVI. The attention of one of the impostors is attracted by the fabulous fortune of the village beggar Maturin and the possible inheritance of the eldest of the beautiful daughters of the Count de Chanmas. Will the noble Paul Labre and the cheerful tramp Pistol be able to prevent a terrible crime and punish the villains? The incomparable master of intrigue Paul Feval immerses the reader in an atmosphere of secrets, riddles, passions, love conflicts and... brutal crimes.