The Duchess of Mabillon was known as the queen of the Parisian demimonde. The most suspicious crowd gathered in her house, and when young Gardenia appeared there, Lord Hartcourt did not doubt for a minute that the old duchess wanted to find a rich patron for her relative. He is not averse to playing this role, but for some reason his proposal causes indignation among the young beauty. And then one day, returning to his office at the embassy earlier than usual, Lord Hartcourt finds Gardenia there rummaging through the drawers of his desk... Translation: Marina Pavlycheva, O. Bolyatko