Carteret, an artist, adopts Célestine, a French orphan who gives evasive answers to questions about a certain young "man", her close acquaintance. A detective observes the movements of Célestine and the mysterious stranger, whom he believes is involved in a murder case. The artist, realizing that he is in love with his adopted daughter, is about to propose to her when she "runs away" with the stranger, who is actually the girl he had adopted and who has married an army officer, with Célestine acting as his proxy. Delighted by the turn of events, Carteret decides to marry Célestine immediately.