Plot Summary

Mario Campanini, a theological student, makes the serious mistake of neglecting his young and pleasure-loving wife, Rita. Her dissatisfaction grows, until she meets the Count di Turino. The Count is very attentive and almost before she knows it Rita is infatuated with him. One night she elopes, leaving a simple note for Mario, who is stunned. At the count's home Rita is happy, for the Count is very good to her, but one day her curiosity leads her to try one of several locked doors in the castle-like home, and there she finds the Count is keeping in seclusion an insane wife. Now she knows the reason for the Count's many absences from home, during which he was supposed to be engaged in "diplomatic work." Horrified at what she has learned, Rita forlornly returns to her husband, but he sternly orders her to go back to her titled lover and stay there; she has become one of the Unforgiven. At this point Mario awakes from his terrible nightmare just as his wife smilingly enters the room.