The Marquis of Mirabeau is tied to a pole in the courtyard of a noble decadent palace, a place now little frequented by the owners, and worn by time and weather. In the fog that invades the garden there is his persecutor, the Count who wants to interrogate the prisoner. The Marquis is not intimidated by the sarcastic words of the Count, who reproaches him the killing of one of his protected, a young lover killed by the troops of the Marquis. Indeed, the Marquis threatens his assailant, presaging the intervention of his soldiers against the Count. It's an elegant clash between two powers, one tied to the crown, the Count, and the other one connected to the new popular uprising that rebels against the crown, the Marquis. The Count is persuaded that this imprisonment will soften his victim. A few hours later, he returns to the Marquis followed by a hooded figure: the young Guillaume de Benetton, a lover of the Marquis, to whom the Count is bound by feelings of love. He is another victim of the Marquis, another reason that moves the Count to require satisfaction to his rival, another element which opposes the two figures, both so strong and sure about their power. Another element that Count hopes can bend the Marquis to his will. And, like in a trickle, the Count walks away at the end of the argument, leaving the Marquis concerned about his fate. And the Count knows that the Marquis will fall at his feet at the end. He has his aces to win the game. When the morning comes, the Count is back again to his prisoner and reveals to him that the hooded figure is actually his brother, stoned by drugs, a slave of the will of the Count. And this is not the only thing. The Count has letters that prove the Marquis is a traitor to the people: a correspondence between him and the French king reveals his ugly intent. The Marquis can't stand at the hit struck from his opponent. He slaps violently the Count, making to him an injury on his shoulder. The Marquis begs his tormentor to unleash his arm, torn by grief, and affects the sense of piety of the Count, who unties. Imprudently. Because now the Marquis is free to jump to the opponent, and squeeze his neck in a choke hold. But at that moment, when the two men realize they are both fascinated by the power, they recognize them as equal, and they are swept up in a kiss full of passion.