Marion Malville

At the beginning of the 20th century, the destiny of Félicie Nanteuil, a young girl from the provinces who became a big star on the stage thanks to a comedian who committed suicide out of love for her.

A theater troupe is touring Manon Lescaut, starring Denise, whose husband is a sick alcoholic. Tired of his violent outbursts, and wanting to rebuild her life, she runs away and finds refuge with a doctor who hires her as a nurse in his clinic. However, another jealous nurse commissions a detective to investigate, and ends up uncovering Denise's past.

A French novelist passes off an African shepherdess as a princess.

Clarisse (aka 'Venus') learns that she will go blind in a year or two .Although pregnant by her lover, Madère, she pretends she's cheated and he leaves her. Madère owns a boat, Le Tapageur. While Venus' friends try to bring eyesight to the blind and they take her to an imaginary voyage on Le Tapageur; her crippled sister describes for her the 'landscapes' of the countries they 'visit'.