Commerce Counselor Römer is a respected man who acquired his wealth through successful speculation and business dealings. Befitting his status, he keeps a large house - a converted castle - into which he has also taken in his close relatives: his sister-in-law Flora, a beautiful young woman, arrogant, over-confident and passionately devoted to all intellectual fads; his second sister-in-law Henriette, a sickly girl with an almost fanatical love of truth; his aunt, President Urach, who always pays attention to good form and strict adherence to etiquette. After all, this is Dr. Bruck, Flora's bridegroom, a quiet, modest but important doctor whose relationship with his bride suffers from her cold-hearted arrogance.—ARD