Italy, the early 19th century. A villa is the home of a small English community, all rich and superficial people lounging about in its beautiful surroundings. Claire, George's wife, and Robert, her son, are murdered by a mysterious killer. Thinking the murderer is one of the family, distraught George devises a plan to unmask the culprit. Having met a woman, Ann, who is a dead ringer for Claire, he takes her back to the villa and announces their imminent marriage. Ann is considered an outsider and treated with contempt and hostility, while George fails to find any significant clue to the solution: everybody is to be blamed, at least morally, but the final revelation is more bitter than expected...

George Dennison incontra casualmente una donna molto più giovane di lui, Anne, che gli ricorda la moglie Claire, morta assassinata qualche tempo prima insieme al loro figlio. Portata Anne nella sua dimora, la famiglia Denninson si comporta con ostilità nei raffronti di Anne. Tutti i parenti dell'uomo hanno qualcosa da nascondere.