 King John IV of Cerdania (Victor Francen), who knows monarchs are a vanishing race but who plays his royalty role in state council or boudoir to the hilt, is in Paris to sign a treaty, and becomes enmeshed in intrigue with an actress, Therese Mannix (Elvire Popesco) and involved in a bit of cuckoldry with YouYou Bourdier (Gaby Morlay), the ex-seamstress wife of a French senator, who is un-awed by money, power or the King s kisses. For his part, her husband, Senator Bourdier (Raimu), is glad to use his wealth, wife and collectivist ideals for social position, in spite of his democratic posing.