The story is set in the late nineteenth century. Tullio Hermil (Giancarlo Giannini), a wealthy Roman aristocrat married to Giuliana (Laura Antonelli) lives his sexual life with a possessive Aristocracy (class)ic mistress (Jennifer O'Neill), Teresa. However, his interest in his wife Guliana is rekindled when he sees Guliana's happiness after she has begun a love affair with a novelist, Filippo d'Arborio. She becomes pregnant by him. Tullio urges an abortion. She refuses. d'Arborio dies of a tropical infection.