Rosario, "La Tirana", is an actress who lives in eighteenth-century Madrid. She is Goya's friend and lover of the Duke of Fornells although her hidden love is the Count of San Esteban, who dies in a duel with Fornells. Diego, Viscount of Acari, arrives at the Court to avenge the death of his brother, the Count of San Esteban. At a masquerade ball he meets "La Tirana" and they both fall passionately in love but the Duke of Fornells intervenes again and tells Diego that "La Tirana" is responsible for the death of his brother. Diego's desire for revenge is met with his passionate love and, finally, history repeats itself: Fornells and Diego face each other in a duel to the death.