La Duchesse de Langeais plot
Armand de Montriveau falls in love with the Duchess of Langeais, a bon vivant from the Parisian wealthy world, at the time of King Louis XVIII. Despite her husband not loving her anymore, the Duchess wants a platonic relationship with Montriveau. The hopelessly in love Montriveau cannot understand this. Ronquerolles, Armand's best friend, believes, like several of their mutual friends, that it will be a drama for Armand. He advises Armand to take a break for a while. Armand is humiliated near Neuilly, where a prostitute waits for him instead of his love, the Duchess. Armand seems to have become indifferent to the Duchess because of this, but now she is hopelessly in love with him.