Publisher's Synopsis
The events of the novel take place in late XVII century. The story begins with short description of the La Mottes - the family which used to live in Paris in riches and abundance, but which has to leave their good life because Pierre de La Motte, the head of the family, has to escape from his creditors and the persecution of the laws. So, their group: Pierre, his wife, their servants go ahead hoping for some place for safe living. Their son, Louis, serves in the regiment at this time, so he can't join them. They keep their way through the desolate lands in order their family doesn't fall into the hands of the authorities. Once going through the field they stumble upon a house. There they meet the gangsters who give them a very beautiful young woman and order to take her away and not to come back to this house anymore. The La Mottes take her and continue their way. The woman is called Adeline and she tells them her story: when she was a baby her mother died and her father sent her to a monastery, where she lived until recently her father decided to take her from there, and he brought her in this house, where Pierre saw her.
