en Cuevana 3. The young widow Marianne Renfelt, ruler of Svaleholm estate, is celebrating her 25th birthday with a big party. At the party three of her suitors appear: landowner Wadenhjelm, Major Crusenschöld, and priest Neander. One person that the hostess is missing at the party is the person she likes most, her childhood friend, the disgraced lieutenant Bernt Boo.