AftervisitingthelovelyCountessofHelstonasherhusbandisaway,LordLanwooddidnotarrivehomeuntiltheearlyhoursofthemorning.Andaftersleepinglaterthanusualthefollowingmorning,heisreadytogoridingwhenhisvalettellshimthatastrangemanwaswaitingdownstairstoseehimurgently.Pierre,arough-looking,rough-speakingFrenchmangavehimaletterfromhisnephewCharles.Itsaidthathewasbeingkeptaprisoneruntilhetoldhiscaptorsandtheirpatron,theschemingComtedeRoulé,howtobreakintoLordLanwood’scastleastheyplannedtostealhisfabulouscollectionoftreasuresaswellashisvaluablepaintings,includingthreeexceptionalFragonards.TheletteralsosaidthatPierrewouldtakeLordLanwoodtoFranceifhepayshimwelltorescueCharles.LordLanwoodhastroubleunderstandingtheFrenchman’slowslangsoheengagesthehelpoftheVicar’sdaughter,thebeautifulIsa,whoisadeptatlanguages.WhentheyreachFrance,PierretakesIsatowhereCharlesisimprisonedand,disguisedasanurse,shedresseshiswoundedshouldereachday.BetweenherandLordLanwoodtheydeviseacleverplantorescueCharlesfromtheFrenchComteandtheruffianswhohaveimprisonedhim.TheyasktheComtetodinewiththemattheirhoteland,whileheisdoingso,theyspiritCharlesawayfromhiscaptors.HowwhentheyeventuallyreturntoEnglandthestoryendsingreathappinessbothforIsaandLordLanwood,istoldinthisexcitingtalebyBARBARACARTLAND.