Philémon, a wealthy dilettante, is going to do his military service in the provinces under the authority of a colonel friend of his father. Lucien, a lieutenant and Jeanne, the colonel's daughter, are secretly in love with each other; but the colonel plans for his daughter a marriage with Philemon. In the meantime, Folette de Saint-Pageot, a coquette, arrives in the village to claim money from the colonel, while also coveting that of Philémon. To protect himself, the colonel makes Folette pass ...