Fanny de Malrive, an American living in Paris, is trapped in a loveless marriage. She wants nothing more than to divorce her estranged husband and marry her childhood friend John Durham. But even if her husband could overcome his conservative, religious family and culture to acquiesce, she fears losing custody of their son. In hopes of finding a solution, Durham meets with Fanny's sister-in-law, the enigmatic Madame de Treymes, who suggests that she might be willing to appeal to her brother on his behalf--if, that is, he will help settle her illicit lover's gambling debts. Such a proposition surely won't have a catch...
