Father Leonard Winger is nervously preparing for his first sermon, concerned that he does not know "how to touch a human heart". As he rehearses, he receives a frantic call for a priest. He finds a young man, who thinks that he has killed his unfaithful girlfriend at a masquerade party. Father Leonard locates the party and finds the girl unconscious in a back room; she dies at the hospital. Detective Sergeant Prouser investigates, knowing that Father Leonard knows what happened, but is holding to the sanctity of the confessional.

District Attorney Joseph Campbell is running for United States senator. His major opponent is Maggie Clements, widow of a popular senator who is being backed by her influential father-in-law. The nominating convention is being held in Campbell's city at the same time that he is dealing with a tricky prosecution. Jeanette Brown, who is under eighteen, is being held on a murder charge and the decision must be made whether to try her as an adult or a juvenile. Campbell asks the judge for a continuance so that he can seek the nomination without the trial being a factor, but the judge refuses. Part one ends with the convention in a deadlock on the sixth ballot.

With the convention still deadlocked, Maggie Clements offers to withdraw from the race if Campbell promises to prosecute Jeanette Brown as an adult. This would also gain Campbell favor with a powerful newspaper tycoon who will promise his support. Campbell refuses and addresses the convention in a climactic speech.

An American, Carl, and a Frenchman, Paul, who served together during World War II meet again in Paris. Paul is in trouble and needs Carl's help.