Czechoslovakia 1918. The newly formed National Assembly has made Stoklasa the administrator of the Kratochvile Castle. Although with no aristocratic background, he is a man of fortune and is trying to buy the castle. To impress his neighbors and the local politicians he invites them to a great hunting party. Uninvited comes a man who claims to be Duke Alexej. Stoklasa believes him to be a hustler. This hustler, however, manages to charm all the women before he leaves.

Three short stories. The main characters of the story all gather for a grotesque gloomy funeral. Then their gloom turns into joy again, and the merry party disappears behind a hill.

The friends enjoy the charms of nature - and of their guests.

A grim portrayal of the shift from Paganism to Christianity in medieval central Europe - as a young virgin promised to God is kidnapped and raped by a marauder who her religious father seeks to kill in return.

A story of two story of two children tossed between their indifferent parents and a progressive boarding school.