Once upon a time, the stern Philip Hawthorne, Marquess of Kane, mercilessly expelled from his home the cook's daughter, with whom his younger brother had fallen in love. He saved the family from scandal and had every reason to believe that he would never again hear from Maria Martingale, whom, without understanding or reasoning, he considered her a cynical “gold digger.” But now Maria has returned to Philip’s house again... She is dangerous, very dangerous - and the Marquis understands this perfectly. But he does not realize that the danger threatens himself first of all... Every day, Philip falls more and more under the power of Mary’s magical charm. And soon neither pride nor the conventions of the world are able to keep him from the thirst for possessing this woman...