Lord Montbarry breaks off his engagement to Agnes Lockwood to marry the Countess Narona. The couple end a continental tour in Venice where they live reclusively in a large, decaying palace. They are accompanied by Baron Rivar, brother of the Countess, and by Ferrari, their courier. Agnes learns from Montbarry's brother, Henry Westwick, that Montbarry, whose life was insured for 10,000 in favour of his wife, has died of bronchitis. The courier has disappeared without trace although Ferrari's wife receives an anonymous note containing 1,000. The insurance companies carefully investigate but find no evidence that Montbarry died other than by natural causes.