At the close of the nineteenth century, Francisca, the daughter of a provincial gentleman in Valencia, falls in love with Miguel, a young sculptor. When Miguel leaves for Paris to complete his studies, the lovers promise to wait for each other. During Miguel's absence, however, the Duke of Montesino calls on Francisca's father and asks for her hand in marriage. Her father, pressed for money because of gambling debts, agrees to the match. After Francisca and the Duke are married, they go to live in Madrid, where Francisca does her best to survive a loveless marriage. She gives birth to a son, and when the boy is five-years-old, Miguel returns from Paris and insists that Francisca run away with him. Although she resists him at first, she becomes overwhelmed by his pleas and agrees to run away with him the following night after a party. Learning of the plot between Francisca and Miguel, the Duke reminds his wife of her duties as Duchess and mother, causing her to give up Miguel
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