In Burgundy, persecuted Huguenots are dragged to the scaffold. The lord of Corneville, the Huguenot Marquis de Corneville, and his friend Count Grusenet are also facing the death penalty and must flee. The Marquis's property, the Count's daughter, is entrusted to Father Gaspar. Twenty years pass. Father Gáspár has now raised two orphaned daughters, the daughter entrusted to his care and a foundling. Serpolette is one of them, dreaming that one day she will be discovered to be of noble birth. Serpolette is in love with Grenicheau, a clever, cunning fellow, but he is more in love with the other girl, Germain. Germain is destined to be a judge by her stepfather, but she hopes a prophecy will come true that she will marry the man who will come from the sea and save her life, so she refuses him.