Balduin, a student, is no longer interested in attending beer parties and resolving conflicts through sword fighting with his classmates. He longs to find love, but as a penniless student, he feels unworthy of courting any woman he would consider worthy of his love. Preoccupied with his gloomy thoughts and ignoring the attention of Lyduschka, Balduin is abruptly presented with an opportunity for wealth by the enigmatic lender, Scapinelli - but with a peculiar stipulation.