The Prince of Wales buys for Carlton House an exquisitely painted 15th century picture of "The Virgin of the Lilies" by Stefan Lochner. Both he and his close friend the Marquis of Fane are entranced by it. They are, however, stunned when the dealer brings them a picture by Van Dyke painted a hundred and fifty years later, and the Madonna in it has the same beautiful face as the Lochner. How the Marquis is determined to track down the forger. How he discovers Cyrilla and how their love for each other brings them both misery and frustration until eventually they find happiness.

About a girl who forges art and gets caught. The Marquis put his arm around her, kissing her passionately, possessively, until she turned her face away.

"I will not frighten you," he said, imploring, "but, my darling, you are not only divine and ethereal, but also human. Let me take you away -- find a house -- we will be alone!" He kissed her once again and departed.

It was then she gave a cry that seemed to come from the very depths of her being, "I love him," she sobbed, "I love him. But... I am not a... I cannot do... what he asks!"