Hortense Dubois, the elder sister. Jaques Dubois, the brother. Henri, servant to the Dubois family. The story begins in another time, somewhere in France. A letter arrives, bringing news that the ship has been sighed, an hurried preparations are made for Monsieur Dubois to travel to the coast to meet it.
Belle asks for a single beautiful rose.
A mysterious black-clad figure is seen in the forest shadows, accompanied by two faithful servants. Proudly he shows them a portrait of Belle, his lovely daughter, which one of them shows to the figure in black, who has watched everything from the shadows. Thinking himself alone, Monsieur Dubois remembers his promise to Belle . . . The terrified Monsieur Dubois is now aghast to see the face of the mysterious stranger for the first time . . . The servants, fearful of what their master may do, remind him of Belle's beauty.