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.