Handlung

In France, opera star Enrico Baroni has tired of his mistress Pompom. After a performance, Enrico goes to a cabaret with his manager, Muldoni, and some friends. When Pompom arrives, Enrico leaves the cabaret with his servant, Fresco. Hearing music nearby, Enrico and Fresco discover a band of gypsies. Enrico is fascinated by what seems to be a carefree life and by Irma, a gypsy, who returns his interest. Sofía, Irma's mother, warns her to be careful of Enrico, but when Boris, to whom Irma has been promised since she was young, becomes jealous of Enrico's attentions, Irma insists that she will never marry Boris because she does not love him. Enrico decides to remain with the gypsies, but Fresco summons the police, claiming that Enrico has been kidnapped. Enrico returns to his old life, breaking Irma's heart. Then Sofía tells Irma that she is really the granddaughter of Count Molnar and was kidnapped by Sandor, Sofía's husband, when she was a child. With Sofía's help, Irma is reunited with the count and once again is called by her real name, Elvira. At first Irma rebels against the count's efforts to make her into a lady, but when she sees a picture of Enrico, she decides to make herself worthy of him. A few years later, some friends take Irma to hear Enrico sing. When they visit his dressing room, Enrico finds Irma familiar, but does not really recognize her. He is smitten, however, and visits the count's castle the next day. When Enrico flirts with Irma, telling her she is the only woman he has ever loved, Irma feels betrayed. Unexpectedly the gypsies camp near the castle and, at the same time, Pompom appears, begging Enrico to return to her. Wishing for revenge, Irma dresses as a gypsy again and tells Enrico's fortune. She tells him that once he abandoned a poor girl because he did not love her. Finally, Enrico realizes that Irma and Elvira are the same woman and announces that she will be at his side forever.