Paul Ashcroft, thief and philanthropist, son of an English businessman and a French mother, arrives in a resort in the south of France. Seeing a villa to let, he disguises himself as M. Durobat, a middle-aged Frenchman, to inspect it, and then has telegrams sent saying that the Count Auxier's villa is being lent to his young English friend Paul Ashcroft. He now raises cash by pawning the Count's ornaments and small paintings, and sets about becoming acquainted with rich ladies at the Casino.