The marriage of a wealthy and frivolous member of French nobility Loyette Merval to an American aristocratic idler named Willard Standish is a loving one except for their mutual dissatisfaction with Willards idleness After Willard becomes a chauffeur Loyettes subsequent disgust causes him to quit When the war begins Willard joins the French Secret Service while Loyette continues her social life upset about their separation After Willard wounded hides in a convent Loyette leaves to find him