Thanks to a bit of string-pulling by his aunt, Jean du Bois d'Ombelles, a young recruit who has blue blood in his veins, hopes to go through a nice and comfortable military service. Unfortunately he becomes Corporal Bourrache's pet aversion. Nevertheless, against all expectations, Jean ends up taking a liking for military life.
The farmer Remy has just invented a new fertilizer and spies are trying to seize his documents, taking him for the famous Remy, inventor of a device of interest to national defence.
A woman of the world has fallen in love with a metalworker, and one evening gives herself to him. Some time later, the worker becomes blind. One last time, he will touch with his hands the machines with which he will no longer work while the countess returns to her life of pleasures.
