Southern France, 19th century. Teresa, a young girl, arrives at an isolated female boarding school that is tyrannically mastered by Mrs. Fourneau, the strict headmistress, whose protective shadow haunts Luis, her weak son.

Due to the triumph of a revolution, Carola, a young and beautiful heiress to the throne, leaves her country to save her life; but her new existence, constantly watched, threatened by her enemies, subjected to the punctilious demands of her position, bores her desperately.