 Paolina is the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Vallenza, and lives as a beggar. She meets with Nunzio, a blind man who plays violin, exploited by his stepfather, and the two fall in love. The old Duke, remorsing, tries to find his daughter but he doesn t manage and leaves everything to his latest concubine, Livia, while Nunzio and Paolina will live in misery.