: Italy of the 19th century. An aristocrat falls in love with an ardent young revolutionary who has escaped from prison. Their feelings are mutual, but the young man has to make a choice between love and duty to the Motherland.

In the spring evening of 182 ... the banker, Duke de B. gave a ball to which the most beautiful women of Rome were invited. Vanina Vanini, a black-haired girl with a fiery gaze, was proclaimed queen of the ball. All evening the young prince Livio Savelli cared for her. Around midnight, the news spread at the ball that a young carbonary had escaped from the fortress of the Holy Angel.

Prince Azdrubale Vanini was rich. Both of his sons joined the Jesuit Order, went crazy and died. The prince forgot them, and Vanina was angry at her only daughter for rejecting the most brilliant parties.

In the morning after the ball, Vanina noticed that her father had locked the door to the ladder, which led to the rooms on the fourth floor of the palace, whose windows opened onto the terrace. Vanina found a window in the attic opposite the terrace, and saw a wounded stranger in one of the rooms. Prince Azdrubale visited her every day, and then left for Countess Vitelleschi.

Vanina managed to get the key to the door that led to the terrace. In the absence of her father, she began to visit a stranger who called herself Clementine.She was badly wounded in the shoulder and chest, every day she was getting worse, and Vanina decided to send for a surgeon devoted to the Vanini family. Clementine did not want this. Finally, she had to admit that she was not a woman, but the carbonate Pietro Missirilli who had escaped from prison. He fled, dressed in a women's dress, he was wounded, and he hid in the garden of Countess Vitelleschi, from where he was secretly transported to Vanini's house.

Learning about the hype, Vanina called a doctor. She herself entered Pietro's room only a week later. Missirilli hid his feelings behind a mask of faithful friendship, and Vanina was afraid that he did not share her love. One evening, she said that she loved him, and they surrendered to their feelings.

Four months have passed. Pietro's wounds healed, and he decided to go to Romagna to avenge himself. In desperation, Vanina invited Pietro to marry her, but he refused, believing that his life belongs to his homeland. Then Vanina decided to go to Romagna after her lover and there unite with him forever. She hoped that between her and her homeland he would choose her.

In Romagna, at a meeting of Venti, Pietro was elected its head. Two days later, Vanina arrived at her castle of San Nicolo. She brought with her 2000 guards, for which Pietro bought weapons. At this time, a conspiracy was being prepared, thanks to which Pietro would be crowned with glory. Vanina felt that Pietro was moving away from her. To keep her beloved, she plotted out a cardinal legate and persuaded Pietro to leave for several days in San Nokolo. A few days later, Missirilli found out about the arrest of ten carbonarians and surrendered himself to the legate.

In the meantime, Prince Vanini promised the hand of his daughter to Prince Livio Savelli.Vanina agreed - Prince Livio was the nephew of Monsignor Catanzar, Roman governor and minister of police, using him, Vanina hoped to save Pietro. With the help of Livio, she learned that Pietro is being held in the fortress of the Holy Angel. She achieved the promotion of her confessor, Abbot Kari, who was a housekeeper in this fortress.

The trial took place. Karbonariev was sentenced to death, which was then replaced by imprisonment. Only for the Missirilli sentence remained unchanged. Upon learning of this, Vanina entered the house of Katanzar at night and, using threats, flattery and coquetry, persuaded him to leave Pietro alive. Dad himself did not want to soak his hands with blood and signed a decree.

Soon Vanina learned that the carbonarians were being transported to the fortress of San Leone, and decided to see the Missirilli at the stage in Chita-Castellana. Faithful Abbot Kari arranged a date in the prison chapel. On a date, Pietro returned Vanina her word. He could only belong to his homeland. In a frenzy, Vanina admitted to Pietro that it was she who issued the plot to the legate. Petro rushed to her to kill with chains, which he was chained to, but was kept by a jailer. Completely destroyed, Vanina returned to Rome.