The story concerns a succesful writer at the height of his career. He is in a state of crisis, unable to forget the girl he had a brief affair in the 40's. At the promotion of his new book he meets her after the years and reminisces about the past, when he was on a government mission to recover a missing art treasure, a triptych. After the years the girl, now married, barely remembers the whole thing, while he re-examines the affair which he has so much romanticized.

Krajewski, a young bank clerk, is a romantic and dreams of perfect love. One day, he accidentally meets a beautiful girl whom he helps dry her clothes in his apartment after she falls into a puddle while getting off the tram. Enchanted by her beauty and delicacy, he falls madly in love with her, believing that he has found the love of his life. Frania, as the girl is called, disappears every evening, claiming that as a seamstress she has a lot of work and has to work at night as well. In reality, under the assumed name of Irena, she spends her nights as an escort at the Orfeum cabaret. Afraid of losing her beloved, she does not reveal the truth to him. However, the idyll does not last long.