Topayoffhisgamblingdebts,Lembach,anex-officerofAustro-Hungarianarmy,extortsmoneyfromhiswifeLauraandherloverKrizovec.KrizovechimselfhasaloveaffairwithRussiancountessGeorgievna,whoherselfisalsointoromanticrelationshipwithanotherRussiancountess.Thistetragonalloveaffaircomestoitsboilingpoint.