Two old friends banter near the end of a long day of walking and hunting. The younger, Colonel Philippe de Sucy, had served in Siberia. His host, Marquis d'Albon is a plump magistrate who desires to rest and eat. A remark by d'Albon causes the Colonel to shudder and he says, "Some day I will tell you my story." The sight of a house and the thought of sustenance causes d'Albon to plunge through the undergrowth. They see a fascinating but run-down building and grounds. Just as d'Albon likens it to the palace of Sleeping Beauty, he sees a slender, light, shadowy woman. The two men hear a cry as if a bird were caught in a snare.