- Marguerite de Bourgogne had her father, the Duke of Bourgogne, murdered by Buridan, her page and lover. Once her aim achieved, she tried to get rid both of Buridan and of the two sons, Philippe and Gaultier, they had together. But, not only did Buridan manage to escape but Landry, the man assigned to kill the two children, was moved to pity by their lot and could not bring himself to stab them to death. Twenty years later, Buridan is back from war in Paris; Marguerite has become the Queen of France and the two babies are now handsome knights. More pervert than ever, Marguerite lures men into the Tower of Nesle where she makes love to them before getting them killed and thrown into the River Seine. Worse, her present favorite is now Gaultier, who she does not know is her own son. As for Buridan, she tries one more time to eliminate him by accusing him falsely and having him imprisoned...—Guy Bellinger
- This historical drama is adapted from Alexander Dumas' famous novel of the same title, and the events which form the thread of the story take place during the latter part of the reign of Philippe Le Bel, and the first part of the reign of his eldest son, Louis X, Kings of France. The first wife of Louis X was Marguerite, the eldest of the three beautiful daughters of the Duke of Burgundy. Previous to her marriage to the King, illegitimate twin children were horn to her, and in order to remove her father, who insists upon her entering a convent. Marguerite persuades Buridan, a page in the Duke's service and the father of the children, to assassinate the Duke in his sleep. After the first crime the heartless woman gives orders to her servant, Landry, to take the children away and kill then, in order that no suspicion as to the death of her father shall fall upon her. She also writes to Buridan, informing him of what she has done, and beseeching him to leave the country that she might never see him again, as she is about to marry the King, and become Queen of France. The servant, Landry, less inhuman than the mother, takes the children from the palace and leaves them on the steps of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, but not until he has marked a cross in each of their wrists does he abandon the little outcasts. The children are rescued, however, and grow up to be two fine young noblemen, known by the names of Philippe and Gaultier d'Aulnay. Buridan returns to Paris some years after and by chance meets his son Philippe in the tavern of Orisini, but fails to recognize the young man. The latter has come to seek his brother, Gaultier, a constant attendant at the court, and a favorite with the Queen. Both Philippe and Buridan are recipients of notes from a masked lady, requesting them to come to the tower of Nesle that night. Eager for adventure, the two men keep the appointment. in spite of the warning of Gaultier, who tells them of the bodies of strangers so often found in the Seine below the tower. That night Philippe is killed like so many others, but the servant, Landry, recognizing Buridan, allows him to escape by jumping from a window into the river beneath, where he swims to the opposite shore in safety. The next day, disguised as a conjurer, Buridan obtains access to the Queen's palace, and in the presence of the latter he informs Gaultier of his brother's death. Gaultier demands justice of the Queen, who, in her usual cruel demeanor, designates Buridan as the assassin and has him thrown into prison, but not before she becomes aware of his identity. Realizing that her former lover holds it in his power to ruin her reputation. Marguerite feels impelled to visit him in his cell, where she begs him to return her letters. The imprisoned man agrees to the bargain upon condition that she will release him from prison, otherwise he threatens an exposure of her many crimes. The Queen is forced to obey, but determined to entrap Buridan if possible, she arranges a meeting with him in the tower, and the latter promises to keep the appointment. After receiving the casket which is supposed to contain the letters, she gives the prisoner the key to her apartment, and allows him to escape. Upon opening the case, the Queen is horrified to find it empty, and beaming with rage she leaves the place, vowing vengeance upon her deceiver. Buridan, suspecting that the Queen is playing him false, gives the key to young Gaultier, who, jealous of what he thinks is a favor shown to another, sets out for the palace. He has barely left the tavern before Landry enters, and reiterates to the amazed Buridan the story of his two sons, telling hint how the children were marked with a cross on the wrist. Buridan starts up in horror, for he well remembers that Philippe's wrist was so marked, and that Gaultier also bears the same insignia. With frantic haste he hurries off to the tower, but too late; Marguerite's assassins, waiting for Buridan, have killed young Gaultier instead. Over the young nobleman's dead body Buridan tells the frantic Queen that she has killed his and her son.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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