Dédé de Montmartre, former king of the accordion, has become a bad boy who lives off drug trafficking and prostitution. He sets his sights on a young girl, fresh and naive, Odette, saleswoman at Galeries Lafayette. But he is touched by the charm of this midinette.
Herr Werther, a new magistrate to the Grand Duchy of Walheim who is a violinist and poet, seems to have fate on his side as he meets and pursues a beautiful local woman, Charlotte. But as Werther sets to propose marriage, Charlotte reluctantly tells him she has been promised to another, Werther's superior, Judge Hochstätten. Werther and Charlotte decide to keep their romance from the judge and each descends into depression. Will they be able to keep their feelings a secret?
Nina Petrovna is a Russian beauty claimed by two Austrian officers.