Duke Claude de Bernard returns home exhausted from World War I. In the autumn of 1922, while walking in the Forest of Fontainebleau, he comes across an incredibly beautiful woman named Sharon Kazatti. Soon joined by ladies and gentlemen coming out of a soiree, she slips away out of his sight. Claude utters in spite of himself that she is a woman of sublime beauty. Hearing Claude's exclamation, a young man tells Claude that she is only a mannequin, not worthy of his praise and belonging to a world other than his. The young man's name is Louis Valentin and he is a gigolo. It seems that Louis cares for Sharon as well. Claude denies Louis's assertion, saying that she also has a soul just like him. A strange kinship grows between the two as they find that they both are attracted to the same woman. They decide to fairly compete to win Sharon's heart.