Our hero, Don de La Mancha, is a man of noble birth, he is a perfect gentleman with a kind heart and a lofty spirit. Don de la Mancha was raised in wealth and abundance, quite free from worry or cares from the world around him. He is trusting and vulnerable, without a doubtful or suspicious thought in his head. One day La Mancha meets Dornesia, a lady of exquisite beauty. Dornesia tells La Mancha that she is from a distinguished family of both nobility and wealth. He is entranced by her beauty and falls in love. In truth, Dornesia is the cunning daughter of Karabos, a chieftain of thieves, who disguises himself as a noble man. Karabos suffers from a chronic shortage of money, claiming he is down on his luck in "business". Karabos sees that La Mancha is a trusting soul and he pleads with his daughter to as La Mancha for his financial assistance. La Mancha, with no reason to doubt or suspect her trickery, prepares to give Dornesia the aid she needs. He is about to grant her request when a sudden incident reveals her deceit.